What a run the Jazz had. I could not be more excited to be a Jazz fan. Michael Wilbon made an incredible point last night during the broadcast. He pointed to the fact that with Stockton and Malone, everyone was wondering when the window of opportunity was going to close. With this team, the window is wide, wide open.

I just can’t believe what a difference 17 games makes. Before the playoffs started, the Jazz were on a slide and nobody, with the exception the few truly optimistic fans, expected them to make noise in this years playoffs. The thinking was that they were young, inexperienced, and in the middle of a funk.

Now, the Jazz are viewed as a true title contender. And not just for next season, or the season after, but for the foreseeable future. Not only that, but the Jazz play an exciting brand of basketball, much more fast-paced than the Stockton-to-Malone era teams.

What this means is that the Jazz are in the perfect position to really get over the hump. In other words, they are now in a position to get the “Karl Malones” of the world (star players past their prime seeking a role on championship team). Utah may have a bad connotation with many of the athletes in the league, but I am sure they would gladly spend seven months here for the opportunity to win a championship. This is especially true in the luxury tax era, where few teams are willing to throw down loads of cash for a marginal improvement.

I am very optimistic about next year and beyond; as is everyone in the national media. What a difference 17 games makes.