Thurl Bailey can finally breathe a little easier these days. His improbable return to the NBA with the Utah Jazz looks assured for the entire year now. Not bad for a guy who turns 38 in less than a month and who spent the past four seasons playing in Europe.
"There is some weight off my shoulders now that I know that there is a place for me here," said Bailey, who, despite being a former star with the Jazz, had no guarantees when he was invited to camp.Bailey could have gone back to Europe and earned a decent paycheck this year. Instead, he gambled. He decided to stay in Salt Lake City during the lockout, working out and playing pickup games with Jazz players each day in hopes of returning to the NBA.
When the Jazz failed to land a big-man free agent in during the signing frenzy immediately following the end of the lockout, Bailey appeared in good shape. He'd helped the Jazz in the first six games of the season, too, but that was when rosters were at 14 players -- and then he got hurt, missing seven games with a strained quadriceps.
It wasn't until he was taken off the injured list on Tuesday and Chris King was released to bring the roster down to the league-limit of 12 that he really felt comfortable in having an NBA job for the entire year. In just eight more days -- on March 13 -- all player contracts will be guaranteed for the full season.
"We're pleased with what Thurl has given us," said Jazz assistant Phil Johnson. "His offensive is big for us because he can make shots out on the perimeter, but the best thing about him for us is that he's a good help defender and weak-side shot blocker. It's been nice to have him back."
Bailey has been impressive in the first half of both games since his return. He scored six quick points in the second quarter in Portland on Tuesday gave the Jazz a spark again against the Grizzlies on Wednesday, scoring a season-high 10 points. But Bailey seemed to wear down a bit against the Trail Blazers, as Rasheed Wallace scored over him or was fouled several times down the stretch and in overtime.
"(Thurl) worked very hard to stay in shape, but there is only so much you can do when you're hurt like that," said Johnson. "To play as well as he did in those two games was good for him. We were concerned that we didn't want to play him too much, too soon. We'll just have to see how that goes."
While Bailey is now off the injured list and will play tonight against the Dallas Mavericks in the Delta Center, Utah's coach is now listed as "questionable." Jerry Sloan had arthroscopic knee surgery late Wednesday night after Utah's victory over Vancouver. It went well, but he may not be able to be at the game tonight. If not, Johnson will be the acting head coach. The wouldn't be a new role for Johnson, of course. While he's been Sloan's top assistant for nine years, Johnson was a long-time NBA head coach before that, actually winning the Coach of the Year award in 1974-75 with the Kansas City Kings.
Meanwhile, the Jazz don't know what to expect out of Dallas coach Don Nelson tonight.
"You never know with Nellie," said Adam Keefe, referring to the sometimes odd coaching methods of the Mavericks head man.
The last time the Mavericks were in town just one week ago, Nelson had them basically give up after one quarter of Utah's 23rd straight victory over Dallas in Salt Lake. Four of the five Mav starters never got back on the court after the first quarter -- even though Dallas was only down six at the time -- since the Mavs had a more winnable game the following night against Sacramento at home. Dallas ended up beating the Kings the next day, by the way.
Then there was the time Nelson played "stall ball" against the Jazz last season. Each time his team had the ball it would hold it until the final ticks on the 24 second clock. It kept them close, as the Mavs lost only 68-66.
"Don Nelson knows his team," said Sloan. "He's got to coach his team the way that's best for them, whether you like it or not. I'm sure that coming back in here it will be a much different matchup than it was last time."
Dallas got off to a horrendous 1-8 start this year. The Mavs lost Thursday night to the Spurs, but before that they had won four of their previous five games.