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SALT LAKE CITY — Al Jefferson is celebrating a long road that is finally leading to the playoffs.
It's been a seven year drought for Big Al, marking his first postseason trip since going with Boston in 2005, his first year in the league.
"It's been a long road. It feels good," Jefferson told reporters at practice Wednesday morning, just a few hours after celebrating a playoff clinching win over the Phoenix Suns.
For Gordon Hayward, the boos have turned into cheers. After being booed on draft day in 2010, Jazz V.P. Kevin O'Connor told Jazz fans to "Judge this draft pick (Hayward) in two years."
Now it is two years later, and Gordon Hayward is a major reason why the Jazz are still playing.
"It's what we expected to do as a team this year." Hayward said. "It's fun to prove the naysayers wrong."
After celebrating the win and clinching a spot in the playoffs last night, the Jazz were back on the practice floor getting ready for their first round game at either San Antonio or Oklahoma City.
However, they still have one regular season game left - Thursday night against the Portland Trail Blazers.
So what's the game plan for a game that might not have much importance when it comes to playoff positioning?
Devin Harris says he wants to win and finish the regular season off with a bang.
Derek Favors told me he will approach it ‘like any other game', trying to win.
Alec Burks says, "We are professionals and will approach it like professionals and try to win."
Jazz and Blazers wrap up the regular season Thursday with an early tip, 6 o'clock at EnergySolutions Arena.
