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Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz invest in Euros
4/24/2008 12:47 PM ET
When it comes to luring big free agents, the Toronto Raptors and Utah Jazz are at a disadvantage for several reasons, from local taxes to weather to the demographics of their fans. But recently, both teams have found success going getting European names into their jerseys. Andrea Bargnani is just one of several Euros on Toronto's roster, with Mehmet Okur part of the Jazz.
Some NBA free agents can afford to be picky. With general managers falling over themselves, pen and contract in hand, it’s natural for a player to pick a team in a large market or a warm climate.
Toronto and Utah offer neither.
Playing for the Raptors will also result in a higher tax bill, and it’s impossible for an African-American to ignore Salt Lake’s demographics when deciding whether to sign a contract. Both teams have overcome this with solid drafting and a willingness, perhaps even a preference in Toronto’s case, to sign players with European experience.
The Raptors have aggressively harvested high-quality Euro talent since Bryan Colangelo assumed the titles of President and GM in 2006. Under his watch, Toronto has acquired Anthony Parker, Jorge Garbajosa, Andrea Bargnani, Rasho Nesterovic and Carlos Delfino to join Jose Calderon in the Euro brigade. They may not be household names in the United States, but their talent level has contributed heavily to the bankrolls of Raptors supporters.
The situation in Salt Lake is less harmonious. Andrei Kirilenko, the EuroBasket 2007 MVP, wanted desperately to get out of Utah during the offseason. His role on the Jazz has declined substantially over the past two years with the rise of Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer.
Mehmet Okur is now the top Euro on the Jazz, although his production is also way down this year. The Jazz might want to jettison both by the trade deadline – good thing for them that Kobe Bryant is the only known NBA player with a no-trade clause.
Toronto Raptors
24-19 SU
24-18-1 ATS
Over: 22-21
106.3 points per 100 possessions (No. 10 in the league)
102.9 points allowed per 100 possessions (No. 11)
Injuries
T.J. Ford (back); Dec. 11, out indefinitely
Jorge Garbajosa (leg); Nov. 20, out indefinitely
Utah Jazz
26-18 SU
22-22 ATS
Over: 25-19
108.7 points per 100 possessions (No. 3)
104.1 points allowed per 100 possessions (No. 19)
Injuries
Jason Hart (back); Jan. 27, day-to-day
Coming up this week...
San Antonio at Utah (-2, 195½)
Monday, Jan 28, 9:00 pm (ET)
The Spurs are genuinely unimpressive right now. They’ve fallen to fourth place in the Western Conference and third in the Southwest Division behind New Orleans and Dallas. Since Dec. 11, San Antonio is 11-11 SU and 7-15 ATS.
Bench strength has been a major concern for the Spurs this year; they went 2-7 ATS without Brent Barry during this slide, and they’ll be without him again for the next three weeks after he re-injured his left calf.
Barry’s absence means that Ime Udoka (plus-0.7 Roland Rating) is the only other regular player to deliver positive results for the Spurs, outside the Tim Duncan-Manu Ginobili-Tony Parker triumvirate. The Jazz have a decided edge in depth with six regular plus-players, enough to make them 2-point favorites with a total of 195½.
Washington at Toronto
Wednesday, Jan 30, 7:00 pm (ET)
There are some similarities of note between these two clubs. Washington has almost the same record as Toronto at 23-19 SU and 26-16 ATS. Both teams are missing their starting point guards. Juan Dixon played for the Wiz, Roger Mason for the Raps. They’ll have plenty of time to get reacquainted; this is the second half of a home-and-home series following Tuesday’s matchup at the Verizon Center.
The Wizards continue to roll along without Gilbert Arenas. While Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler are enjoying outstanding seasons, the story behind the story in Washington is Brendan Haywood. This seven-year center out of North Carolina is having a career season with 15.3 points and 11.3 rebounds per 40 minutes. He’s also bettered his free-throw rate from 54.8 percent to 73.2 percent. Toronto will be tested in the paint during this series.