Jazz rolling in good times

SALT LAKE CITY — Midway through the season, after several years of rebuilding, the Jazz finally are playing for playoff positioning rather than spending all their energy trying to make the postseason.

Through 43 games, the Jazz sit in fifth place in the Western Conference, nine games behind the Golden State Warriors. But they also are nine games ahead of the lowest qualifier for the playoffs, meaning the Jazz almost assuredly will make the postseason for the first time since 2012.

Isn’t it about time?

Led by the HGH trio (Gordon Hayward, Rudy Gobert and George Hill), the Jazz are in the process of meeting expectations of making the playoffs. Individually and collectively, the three have been sensational for most of the season.

In his seventh season, Hayward has emerged as the team’s best all-around player and should be a lock to make the Western Conference All-Star team. Coming off a week in which Hayward was named the Western Conference player of the week, his game has improved in every aspect. In leading the Jazz to a 3-0 record last week, he averaged 23.7 points, six rebounds and four assists a game and shot an incredible 73.5 percent from the field.

A full-time starter for not quite two years, Gobert has blossomed into one of the best centers in the NBA. He is a 12 and 12 player (points and rebounds) and has recorded at least 10 boards in all but six games this season. Quite possibly, he could join Hayward in representing the Jazz on the All-Star team.

To most NBA observers, Gobert’s play has been a revelation. But for those who know the Frenchman, considering his passion and commitment for the game, his performance comes as no surprise.

For all the great exploits by Hayward and Gobert, Hill is probably the team’s most important player. Without a quality point guard, which the Jazz haven’t had in Quin Snyder’s three seasons as the coach, no way this team is solidly in the playoff picture.

In an odd and unfortunate circumstance, the Jazz have started a rookie as point guard each of the last three seasons. No offense to Trey Burke, Dante Exum or Raul Neto, but none of these players were ready to start at point guard in each of the last three seasons.

Obviously, the Jazz desperately needed an upgrade at point guard. Credit general manager Dennis Lindsey for acquiring a player with the ability to make a significant difference. The only knock against Hill is his durability — three separate injuries have led to him playing in only 19 games.

Lindsey also addressed a major weakness by improving the depth. Mostly by design, the Jazz lacked veteran presence coming off the bench the last three seasons.

But recognizing the urgency to make the playoffs this season, Lindsey acquired longtime NBA players Boris Diaw and Joe Johnson in addition to trading for Hill. While neither Diaw nor Johnson can produce in every game anymore, both have had their moments during the first half of the season. In the team’s most recent victory, over the Phoenix Suns, Diaw and Johnson combined for 27 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

Looking ahead, the most realistic goal for the Jazz is to wrestle away the No. 4 seed from the Clippers, who hold a two-game advantage. As it stands, it does not look like they have much of a chance to catch the top three seeds, which are occupied by Golden State, San Antonio and Houston, respectively.

To an extent, the Jazz also have to hold off Memphis and Oklahoma City, both of which are capable — but not likely — of moving up to the fourth spot in the West. Taking into account the entire rosters of all three, the Jazz are better than the other teams.

As the second half of the season starts, the great thing for the Jazz is this is only the beginning. Health permitting, the team figures to be in the playoff hunt for the next several years.

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