Back To Normal With Something Abnormal

The Raptors get back to some sense of normal life after their London adventure. They return to the ACC facing the Utah Jazz that no longer have Jerry Sloan on the sidelines. Also no Deron Williams as the Raptors are aware from their last two games in England. I have to be honest for myself it is hard to get back in the normal groove. The Raptors might have a little ring rust with all this time off. Practice is great, but it is not a game, just ask Allen Iverson. Raptors road losing streak has reached a team record level, so to be home at the ACC is a beautiful thing. Not that their 12-20 home record is any great accomplishment. Surprisingly though the Raptors are 6-8 at ACC vs West. Andrea Bargnani has the flu or is it flu like symptoms again? I wonder what Amir Johnson thinks about that? He has played trough a lot more than the flu or flu like symptoms this year. Reggie Evans should be back. I have been wrong on this before so I am just going to say I HOPE we see #30 in white tonight.

The Basics: Jazz 33-30 (Since Sloan Left 2-8) Raptors 17-46 ( 2-4 in James Johnson Era)

When Last We Saw Them: It took 3 overtimes in England for the Raptors to fade into the London fog. Bargnani not once but twice had chances to be the hero and win it. DeRozan had one shot as well and failed. Better effort than 1st game in England but the same result in the end an L.

Key Match Ups: Raja Bell hates Kobe Bryant and Demar DeRozan doesn't. Bell and Bryant had got into it on several occasions back in the day. My point is Raja Bell at one time was thought of as a solid defender and it should be a nice challenge for Demar to see how he stacks up against the one time "Kobe Stopper". Devin Harris is no Deron Williams and as such Jose Calderon should have an easier time of it with Harris. Least you would hope that is the case. Paul Millsap is a beast and Amir Johnson, Ed Davis and maybe a returning Reggie Evans, will all get a chance to battle with him. You also have Big Al Jefferson to match up with Bargnani assuming he had his "Chicken Soup" this morning. A huge contrast there and makes for an odd match-up. I could see Jazz using someone else on Bargnani maybe AK-47 might actually makes sense.

Other Things of Note: Dave Feschuk confirms that Sonny Weems is not happy in his article the other day. This is hardly earth shattering news. I had said after the James Johnson trade was done this would happen. I also have noted how Sonny has looked pissed after the first couple games when Johnson first arrived. I feel bad for Sonny who is a good guy. The irony in all this is the game before Johnson came, Weems led the Raptors in scoring with 19. But as the article suggests it is about the other end of the floor as to why Weems finds himself in this spot. Weems does make the point this team has not been good on defence and it is not all on him. Andrea Bargnani, Jose Calderon not mentioned but we can all imply. Sonny is a good guy and if this is the end of his run with Raptors I hope he is able to find a new home with what he has done in Toronto. By the way after his big comet like debut James Johnson has come back down to earth if you have noticed. In other news, the Raptors sent Solomon Alabi back to the Bayhawks for the 107th time this season. O.K it is actually the 3rd time this year. I am left to wonder now how am I suppose to know when the Raptors have given up. Alabi entering a game has become the Raptors international sign for a white flag. I don't understand the logic in shipping him back and forth between Erie and Toronto. It can't be doing anything good for his mental outlook. Ask Ed Davis about his time in Erie. He will likely have about as positive a response as he did about the prospect for playing for an NBA Team in London.

Where Is It On: Sportsnet 1 (Sportsnet announced a deal to be the Home of the UFC another reason to bump the Raptors to this network in the future)

"NBAz in 7 Dayz"

LeBron James kept his promise. When he agreed to participate in "The Decision" last summer - his hour-long special detailing how he was joining the Miami Heat - he wanted money raised for different Boys and Girls Clubs across the United States. He is finally seeing the fruits of this controversial tv production - all 3 million dollars worth. On Wednesday, the LeBron James Family Foundation opened a newly refurbished gym in Miami to the tune of 100 screaming kids. Now, not all the money raised is going to this particuliar gym. It will be spread out to other Boys and Girls Clubs in the U.S. There will also be work spaces with new computers courtesy of Hewlett-Packard and furniture from the HomeCourt line James designs with his girlfriend, Savannah Brinson. He says he regrets certain aspects of "The Decision" but believes the money raised made it more than worth doing. Let's hope this is the final proof needed to show naysayers some good actually came out of it. Let's talk about other decisions being made in the NBA like Mike Bibby taking his talents to South Beach, the Jazz signing a new Head Coach, and the NBA playing overseas.

A Bit of a Stretch

This weekend's road trip for the Raptors and Nets will mark the NBA's first ever regular season games played in Europe. While I am excited Europeans will get to experience what the NBA has to offer, I am shaking my head at the pieces of pie the league decided to share. The games being played between two teams far off the playoff race is not exactly a big ticket match-up. The Raptors are 17-44 and 13th in the East and the Nets are really no better sitting at 17-43. I am gathering it has something to do with the culturally eclectic brand of the Raptors: Andrea Bargnani and his Italian roots, Jose Calderon and his Spanish heritage, Brazilian Leandro Barbosa, Lithuanian Linas Kleiza and Alexis Ajinca of French decent. It will be easier for friends and families of these guys to bring more friends and family to fill the stands (and the NBA's pocketbook). I have serious reservations if this is going to work. I realize this is all a part of the NBA trying to spread the sport's popularity on a global scale. However, if the goal is to eventually expand and establish an on-going NBA presence in Europe in the form of an actual team, red flags go up. Sure, basketball is one of the biggest events in any Summer Olympics, especially when big name NBAers are involved, but the sport has no grassroots appeal in London. There is definitely a strong hierarchy when it comes to professional sports in Europe and basketball is no where near the top. No doubt organizers of the 2012 London Olympics are thrilled to test out their facilities and host the players, staff, sponsors and some season-ticket holders who have travelled to England. Plus, FIBA hasn't decided whether Great Britain will get an automatic spot in either the men's OR the women's Olympic tournaments in 2012. If staging this weekend's event goes well, FIBA may decide in Britain's favour. There is also a concern out there the Brits don't deserve it because they would be excessively over-matched but denying a spot to an Olympic host would be the first time it's happened. Although NBAers like Chicago's Luol Deng, Ben Gordon in Detroit and even former Raptor Pops Mensah-Bonsu are all passport-carrying British, the level of basketball talent in Britain at the grassroots level still has a long way to go before being considered competitively Olympic. I'm not saying the games this weekend in London shouldn't be happening but rather reminding fans to take a step back and see the bigger picture.

Bibby Takes his talents to South Beach

It should come as no surprise Mike Bibby signed with the Miami Heat Wednesday night. On Tuesday, the Heat let go of former Raptor Carlos Arroyo which cleared a roster spot. Even though there are NBA rules for formally announcing these things, several players including James and Wade said they expected to have Bibby in Miami soon. Plus, when he was traded by Atlanta to Washington last week, there was talk right away concerning Bibby seeking a buyout from the Wizards. Then after the not-so-secret court side chat between LeBron James and Mike Bibby after a game last week, now things seem to make sense. The icing on the cake? Bibby agreed to walk away from the $6 million that was guaranteed to him next season to get out of his deal with Washington and join a championship contender. Then in walks the Heat. So in a week he's traded, clears waivers, becomes a free agent and is now looking for real estate in Miami. Nice. Bibby is expected to join his new teammates Thursday when the Heat host Orlando. Then we will get to see how this all plays out.

"We walked the walk" Utah Jazz CEO Randy Rigby

This storyline makes me laugh. So, the Utah Jazz signed Head Coach Ty Corbin to a multi-year contract on Wednesday less than a month after he took over for Jerry Sloan. This is where things get a little shady. Think back about 4-6 weeks. Jerry Sloan signed on to be Head Coach of the Jazz for at least another year. You would think this means management thought Sloan was their guy. He resigns shortly after signing and all of a sudden, he's not their golden boy anymore? This is the part which gets me. Jazz CEO Randy Rigby said it would have been easy to tell Corbin to ride out the season but "We don't believe in putting a coach in that position". Really? How about giving Jerry Sloan the reins only to set him up to fail. That's like saying 'Yeah, here's the wheel, Captain' just as the titanic hits an iceberg. Ty Corbin does have the experience by serving as an assistant to Jerry Sloan for the past 6 or so years and now becomes the seventh Head Coach in Jazz history. Good luck.

Thanks for joining me this week. As always, I welcome your comments and suggestions. Keep them coming by following me on Twitter (@ddegraauw) and on Facebook (Danielle de Graauw). See you on Tuesday for more NBA coverage in "NBAz in 7 Dayz".

Same Old Tune?

Remember how the Raptors had won 11 straight (Now 12 straight ) vs the T-Wolves. Well you can flip the script tonight. Raptors have lost 9 straight to the Jazz one of those 9 being Jay Triano's first game as Raptor head coach last year in Utah. They have lost 4 straight to the Jazz at the ACC where they will hook up tonight. In the 15 year history of the franchise they are a pathetic 7-20 all-time. These are all not good signs for the Raptors heading into this one. They also after a brief couple days tied for 7th in the East fall back to 8th courtesy of a Bobcats win over the Washington Bullets...oops Wizards.

DNB Scoreboard Watching

Those Bobcats take on Minny tonight as they sit a half game in front of the Raptors. They will be the gracious hosts in that one. Miami and Chicago both have the night off before facing each other tomorrow night. The Bucks who are likely out of range for any of these teams host the Sixers tonight.

East Playoff Race

Miami 37-34

Charlotte 36-34

Raptors 35-34

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Chicago 33-37

That is how they stand heading into the night. The Bucks are 3 games in front of Miami and 4 in front of Toronto for the record.

Sloan Ranger

So as I mentioned in my V-Log yesterday there is no great secret to what the Jazz will do. Jerry Sloan has been doing it for like 20 years it is pick and roll offense run better than almost anyone in the NBA. Much like when you think the Triangle offense when you think Phil Jackson, for Sloan you think pick and roll. It is not unlike what goes on at Syracuse on the other end of the floor with their 2-3 zone defense. The names may change but the systems and coaches remain.

Jerry Sloan has never won the coach of the year as I also made mention of in that V-Log. But his reward or award is the fact he is the longest serving coach in North American Sports. In the 15 years the Raptors have been around they have had 7. Malone, Walker, Carter, Wilkens, O'Neil, Mitchell and Triano for those keeping score at home. Sloan was the coach when the Jazz played the Raptors for that 20-7 mark for the Jazz. There is something to be said for that. There is no question who is in charge in Utah it is Jerry Solan. No Raptor coach with the possible exception of Lenny Wilkens carried that kind of stroke. Wilkens was the all time leader in wins when he came to the Raptors. Although by the time he left you can argue he had very little stroke at all on the tail end of his coaching career. A brief stop with the Knicks after and his career was done.

The Road Ahead For Raptors

Given the low odds of a win tonight you tend to look ahead and you see the Nuggets at home and the 2 most important games of the Raptors season after that in Miami and Charlotte. It is hard to imagine the Raptors not heading into those games on a 2 game losing streak a game under .500. They will be must wins for the Raptors and will be vital to securing a better spot in the playoffs if not just making that playoffs altogether. Miami is 21-16 at home and Bobcats are 25-8 and had a big win over the Raptors on their home floor earlier in the season. Raptors road record is still pretty awful at 12-23.

Happy Birthday CB4

It is Chris Bosh's birthday number 26 for him. Raptor fans hope against hope it will not be last one he celebrates in Toronto. We will be having are own party at Brooklyn's for the Raptors and Jazz Game. We won't have any birthday cake but we will have Raptors Tickets for Raptors vs Warriors on April 4th. Along with some other goodies depending on how many folks come out. 291 Queenston road easy to get to off the Red Hill Creek Expressway here in Hamilton. Hope to see some of you in the house for the game tonight.