So, it’s the NBA’s newest coach against the NBA’s longest serving coach tonight in Utah. Um, who do you think might have the advantage? Jay’s going for his first win - well, second, if you count the fill-in job he did last year - while Jerry Sloan is going for win #1,102.

This is a tough preview to write, because I really don’t know what to expect in this game. From the Raptors standpoint, we can’t expect too much to change - after all, Triano’s only had a day and a half on the job and roster is what it is.

What’s impossible to predict is the emotional effect that a new voice can bring; sometimes, just having that different guy on the bench produces an energy level the team hasn’t seen before. So while they may not do anything drastically different, the Raptors may be inspired to actually play harder and execute better on the floor.

As for the Jazz, well, it appears Carlos Boozer won’t play; Andrei Kirilenko and Matt Harpring are questionable; and Deron Williams is having a tough time recovering from ankle problems (I would know, he’s on my fantasy team).

Nevertheless, when you’re a struggling point guard, playing Jose Calderon and his patented Matador Defense is the cure-all, isn’t it?

Sigh.

Anyway, without knowing who’s gonna play, it’s tough to predict how the Jazz will do. They’re 8-3 at home - it’s always tough for road teams in Utah, and the Raps haven’t won there since 2004 - but oddly enough, just 2-7 against the Eastern conference this year.

Regardless of who plays, you can be sure the Jazz will execute their plays and give 100 per cent on defense. They’re kind of the anti-Raptors in that respect. It’s amazing how disciplined Sloan’s teams are.

Ronnie Brewer is having a solid year - 13/3/3 on 48% shooting - and if our perimeter defense is as bad as it’s been lately, he and Kyle Korver will likely have field days. Mehmet Okur is usually a tough matchup, but with our versatile big men (I would assume either Bosh or Bargnani would guard Okur, with O’Neal on the much more physical Paul Millsap) we should be able to hold him in check.

The Jazz have been starting CJ Miles at small forward, and while he doesn’t feature much in their offense, he could be a tough matchup for the Raptors (assuming Triano sticks with the big three frontline of Bosh, Bargnani and O’Neal). With O’Neal on Millsap, that leaves Bosh and Bargnani to handle Okur and Miles. Smaller, quicker threes are a tough guard for Bargnani or Bosh, and you just know a coach like Sloan will be able to take advantage.

The key, then, will be how - or if? - the Raptors exploit it on the other end. One recurring problem under Sam Mitchell was that the Raptors rarely, if ever, took advantage of the mismatches that having Bargnani on the floor provides. (Some people are blaming this on Jose Calderon, but as Michael Grange reported yesterday, Sam was calling plays every time down the floor… and the play was Horns Up - high pick and roll - 70% of the time.)

I know it can be tough to think of Bargnani as a top option with Bosh and JO out there, but honestly… if 6′6″ Miles is guarding him, if they don’t go to Bargnani in the post early and often, I’m going to be extremely disappointed in Triano. That’s his first real test, in my mind.

Besides, given how assertive Bargnani has been on offense, and given JO’s struggles shooting the ball, I’d say Bargnani probably should be the second offensive option on any given play. And if he’s got a 6′6″ height advantage, he’s gotta get the rock.

The Raptors will really catch a break if both Boozer and Kirilenko are out, and it’s gonna be up to Triano to ensure the team takes advantage - the Raptors will have a serious edge in size and they’ve got to hit the glass, get out and run, and when things slow down, use that height to score some points on post-ups.

Assuming both of those guys are out, I think the Raptors will be up to the task and will win by 10 - I really think the emotional impact of the coaching change will carry them through.