1. There were two ways to handle this frustrating, 96-79 loss to the Utah Jazz. One was for the Raptors to carry it with them. The other was to leave it at the EnergySolutions Arena. The Raptors chose the latter. Really liked the way T.J. Ford handled his ejection after the game. Ford was a raving lunatic when he left the floor midway through the fourth quarter, but in the locker room he was a different man, one willing to explain what set him off, not take the tantrum to new heights. He was dressed, sitting at his locker and announced that he would “answer any questions you have.” He proceeded to explain his eruption calmly. Also, Sam Mitchell was ribbing Jamario Moon about taking out his own man, Andrea Bargnani, with an inadvertent elbow and the three of them had a good chuckle. Mitchell even cracked a few one-liners in his post-game remarks. After a 0-5 road trip complete with a lose-your-cool finale, the Raptors could have fumed in the locker room, on the bus, back at the hotel, and even on the long flight back to Toronto on Tuesday. Instead, they moved on. Almost instantaneously. It should serve them well this week against Miami and Cleveland – not that they need any help with the former.

2. Ford said he exploded in frustration because of what was transpiring during this game alone, but we all know it’s frustration from what has happened over the last several games or weeks. He is just a confused guy right now, passing when he should shoot, shooting when he should pass, and coming off the bench when he is accustomed to starting. If Chris Bosh returns Wednesday and can get Ford back to normal, that might be as valuable as 20 and 10 per night.

3. Mitchell said that both Ford and Jose Calderon were complaining that the Jazz guards were riding them with their bodies throughout the game, cutting off penetration with physical contact. Mitchell and the point guards talked to the officials several times during the game about the tactic, but their pleas fell on deaf ears. When Ford was called for an offensive foul on a play where he felt body-riding was taking place, it was more combustible than gasoline near a bonfire.

4. Although it fought the Raptors tooth-and-nail over Jorge Garbajosa’s participation in the EuroBasket championships last summer, just can’t imagine that the MLSE lawsuit against the Spanish Basketball Federation is going to see a courtroom. For one, spoke with someone who knows international basketball and was told that the Spanish federation is one of the best organized and most professional going. International basketball has its quirks and its rogue operators, but the Spaniards are pros in comparison to some others. For two, the EuroBasket tournament was in Spain and the federation wanted all its drawing cards on the bench, so take the Spaniards determination with several grains of salt. For three, the MLSE claim has the look of one of those loaded-up suits that lawyers make when all they really want is a settlement. Yes, $14 million is a lot of money, but it isn’t a fortune on the scale that MLSE operates. I think MLSE is more concerned about the precedent, and letting it be known that it won’t be taken advantage of – in hockey they call it “sending a message.” For five, don’t know why the Raptors didn’t insist on a policy that was written in English, or why they wouldn’t retain a Spanish-speaking lawyer to review the policy at its drafting. It’s quite possible the Raptors fumbled that ball. For six, it will be difficult to prove that Garbajosa re-injured his leg at the tournament, especially since he played seven NBA games in October and November. And for seven, Bryan Colangelo likes European players too much to have his franchise in a prolonged war with an international federation like Spain’s. Presumably, the Raptors will be adding internationals in future years and trying to buy out their contracts in negotiations. They don’t want to lose leverage by being known as the NBA franchise that brought Spanish basketball to its knees. Both sides just have too much to lose, especially the Raptors. If they win, the Raptors risk alienating two players -- who take this matter very seriously -- and looking like NBA bullies. The Spanish are made to look manipulative. If the decision goes the Spanish way, other international federations feel emboldened and the Raptors have to answer to their peers, namely other NBA teams not fussy about internationals putting patriotism above professionalism. Here's guessing a cheque will get cut.

5. Oxymoron of the road trip: St. Patrick’s Day in Salt Lake City, Utah. Not exactly a bastion of Irish Catholicism, nor of drinking establishments. That said, the Jazz do something that is increasingly rare in professional sports these days: provide beer in the press-room after the game. As they say, this Bud (Light) is for you, Ireland.