But now coach Jay Triano thinks he'll get consistent effort and production from a backup two guard that will have a promising trickle-down effect on the team.

"I just think it's repetitions and confidence," Triano said of Belinelli's emergence. "I think sometimes guys sit on the bench and start doubting themselves on what they can and can't do. He?s had an opportunity to go into games and make some shots.

"He's a basketball-savvy person, so he understands the concepts of what we're trying to do defensively and he works hard at it."

Belinelli knows what the secret is to earning more playing time and more responsibility in his role. He's a creative and gifted offensive player in many regards, but he's got to pay closer attention at the other end of the court.

He said after his breakout game against the Clippers that "if you don't play defense, you don't play," and he has worked hard on that aspect of his game.

"I just have to work for more minutes," he said.

Belinelli's emergence has come while the entire Raptors bench has picked up its play, and a lot of that overall improvement can be traced to the energy the 6-5 guard brings. He and Amir Johnson and, every now and then, Jarrett Jack have provided a spark the team desperately needs most nights.

JAZZ 104, RAPTORS 91: After playing one of their worst halves of the season, the Raptors tried to stage a stirring rally but fell short and got the result they probably deserved. Twice they crept within a basket with a solid second half, only to fall prey to some poor shooting. But if they had shown half the effort in the first half they did in the second, they could very well have won going away. Chris Bosh had 32 points for Toronto.