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5 NBA Teams Approaching Critical 2017 Playoff Runs

By Gerald Bourguet

Feb 6, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) grabs a rebound in front of Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) in the first quarter at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 6, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) grabs a rebound in front of Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) in the first quarter at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 5, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Utah Jazz guard George Hill (3) and forward Gordon Hayward (20) talk mid court during the first half of the game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Utah Jazz defeated the Phoenix Suns 104-99. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Utah Jazz

The Utah Jazz have the youngest core on this list, so this may feel like a premature inclusion. Rudy Gobert, Derrick Favors, Rodney Hood, Trey Lyles and Alec Burks are all under 25 years old! They’re fine, right?

Maybe. Injuries have prevented this team from reaching its fullest potential over the last few seasons, and clinching a playoff berth in mid-March — with first round home-court advantage still in their sights — is a step in the right direction.

However, with Gordon Hayward able to opt out of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent this summer, plus Derrick Favors hitting the market next summer, there are still plenty of question marks that need more definitive punctuation.

Favors has been unable to stay healthy this season, further complicating matters. Re-signing the 27-year-old Hayward to a max contract is a no-brainer, but with the 30-year-old George Hill hitting free agency, Joe Ingles being a restricted free agent and a potential Favors extension to consider for 2018, the front office will have some tough decisions to weigh in the near future.

A first round playoff loss certainly wouldn’t prompt the front office to blow up its young core, but would that kind of disappointment be enough to make Hayward consider teaming up with Brad Stevens, his old Butler head coach, and join a budding Celtics contender?

Even though the Los Angeles Clippers — Utah’s likely first round playoff opponent — are playing less than inspired basketball, they might have the edge simply because Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and J.J. Redick have all been there before. Utah’s best players have never played in a playoff game before, and that disadvantage gets even worse if the Jazz slip to No. 5 and lose home-court.

How the front office proceeds in a money crunch could very well be swayed by a second round playoff appearance…or a disappointing first round defeat, even in this group’s first trip to the postseason. After years of waiting for this core to be healthy enough to show the world what it can do, patience might not be the strongest of virtues anymore.