Unsung Jazz star Gordon Hayward praises team’s loyal fans as Warriors await – USA TODAY

Utah went on the road to eliminate Los Angeles and advance to the Western Conference semifinals against the defending conference-champion Golden State Warriors. USA TODAY Sports

Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors (15) sets a screen on Los Angeles Clippers guard Raymond Felton (2) as Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) drives to the basket in Game 7.(Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports)

LOS ANGELES Of all the NBAs superstar sagas, those annual subplots where a certain team is hoping to hold onto a certain player in free agency by proving itself in the playoffs, Gordon Haywards was as overlooked as they come.

All season long, the talk in NBA circles was about Paul George and his uncertain future with the Indiana Pacers, or this Clippers team that has Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and J.J. Redickheaded toward free agency this summer, or the Atlanta Hawks with Paul Millsap or the Toronto Raptors with Kyle Lowry. Playing in Salt Lake City, like the 27-year-old Hayward has since coming out of Butler back in 2010, sometimes means you get lost in the shuffle.

Unless, of course, you seize the national spotlight like Hayward and the Jazz did by downing the Clippers 104-91 in Game 7 at Staples Center on Sunday afternoon.And suddenly, with the Golden State Warriors looming in the second round and Hayward getting a taste of postseason success that can only help Utahs cause when July 1 rolls around, Haywards underappreciated talents are front and center for all to see like never before.

Yeah, its a huge win for us, especially because going from 20 to 30 to 40 to 50 wins, or whatever we did, and for me being there the whole time, it was cool, Hayward, who had 26 points and eight rebounds, told USA TODAY Sports. The fans being loyal through the ups and the downs (was big), too.

Los Angeles Clippers center Marreese Speights (5) defends a shot by Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) in the second half of Game 7.(Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports)

As Hayward sat at his locker after Game 7, his shirt off and a dog tag swinging from his neck, he reflected on this impressive Jazz rebuild that has put them at this point.It was only three seasons ago that after plucking general manager Dennis Lindsey from the San Antonio Spurs in the summer of 2012 they won just 25 games and seemed to be on the verge of losing Hayward.

He signed an offer sheet with Michael Jordans Charlotte Hornets, only to see the Jazz match and make it clear he was their foundation. Then came Rudy Gobert, the prized big man who came their way as the 27th pick from the Denver Nuggets via trade on draft night in 2013. Derrick Favors. George Hill. Veteran additions like Joe Johnson, Boris Diaw, Joe Ingles and the rest. Before long, Hayward had a whole lot more to be happy about when it came to his supporting cast.

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And now, the NBAs Goliath looms.

As playoff rewards go, it doesnt get much worse than this for a Jazz team that fell to the Warriors twice in three regular season matchups (Dec. 8 at Utah, Warriors win 106-99; Dec. 20 in Oakland, Warriors win 104-74; April 10 in Oakland, Jazz win 105-99). Not only do the Jazz have to face a Warriors team won a league-best 67 games in the regular season despite missing Kevin Durant for 20 games because of a left knee injury. Theyll be seeing the rested-and-recovered version.

Golden State will be playing Game 1 on Tuesday after eight days of rest, having last played in their Game 4 win over Portland in the first round on April 24.In that time, the calf problem that kept Durant on the sideline for two games in the first round has healed.

Oh man, I dont think you can give just a quick scouting report against those guys, said Hayward, who paused briefly as third-year coach Quin Snyder came to his locker for a postgame hug.No, its something where you try to contain those three (Durant, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson), make the other guys beat you, but I know well look at it (on Monday). I really havent even thought about it. I put it out of my mind.

Follow USA TODAY Sports' Sam Amick on Twitter @Sam_Amick.

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Unsung Jazz star Gordon Hayward praises team's loyal fans as Warriors await - USA TODAY