They were supposed to just go away.

Three-time defending NBA champions? Poof. Shooo. See ya.
     
Nice run, fellas.
     
Instead, the team so many figured, even hoped, might not make the playoffs this season keeps winning ? their latest victory at the expense of the 28-19 Jazz, who saw a three-game winning streak fall by the wayside at the tail end of a taxing stretch with four games in five nights.