Donovan Mitchell talked about it, so did Rudy Gobert and assorted other Jazz players. They’re the ones who spoke of contending for — and winning — a championship. It was coming from them, not just from outsiders.
That reality has taught the Jazz a few lessons, foremost among them that the climb to the top is an arduous one, something along the lines of summiting Annapurna, or maybe the Eiger. Beating the Pacers, the Kings, the Thunder en route to planting the flag is tough enough, let alone conquering the Lakers, Bucks and Clippers. The Jazz are not yet good enough to be included among the NBA’s elite, and while their struggles haven’t been catastrophic — sitting at 17-11 heading into Saturday’s game with Charlotte — their shortcomings, especially measured against their own expectations, are apparent.