What's new

Was Fes' Play Last Night An Aberration?

We're not going to see him because he's as soft as a baby's behind. Let's see...a soft Euro who can shoot from 10-15 ft. but plays no defense. Wait, haven't we had one of those for the last several years? OK, Tomic has a few inches on him, but Okur has the better range.

I just don't get all the love for Tomic.

Was P Gasol that much different at Tomic's age? (and no I am not saying Tomic is going to be as good as Gasol) Also why do you say he plays no defense. Certainly looked like he was in the world championships and blocked a few shots as well
 
The game tonight will be about the wings. Players like, AK, CJ, Hayward, Evans should all have a good game. Fess, well, I wouldn't expect his to be that great.

Can he be consistent?? Probably not!! What is his role when Memo is back?
 
Was P Gasol that much different at Tomic's age? (and no I am not saying Tomic is going to be as good as Gasol) Also why do you say he plays no defense. Certainly looked like he was in the world championships and blocked a few shots as well

There is a huge difference that most fans do not understand about big men. You need to have a wide frame to put on more weight. i have said this multiple times on this board.

Tomic is a small frame. Not just average or barely below average. He has a very slender frame. He cannot put on much weight. He will get pushed around in the NBA. He also is not quick enough to blow past NBA PF's. And he is way too thin to play Center.

Gasol has a wide frame. He might be skinny when you look at them but his frame is much wider and this allows him to get his shot off easier. And allows him to put on more weight. Which Gasol did and he did not lose quickness.

Tomic won't stay in the NBA. He will play 3 years than realize he can't handle the NBA game. Fesenko is a NBA center. Tomic is a PF in the NBA but a weak one.
 
Fess is gunna have his self a MONSTER year. He's up to 3 1/2 packs a day (Lucky Strikes, non-filtered) on his cigarette jones and it gives him the stimulation he needs to play with energy and keep his weight down. He gets a little edgy and pissed off because he can't light up during time outs, and he's gunna take it all out on the sorry ******** he encounters on the court. He's gunna be meaner than a junk-yard dog, I tellya!
 
Given Fes's poor work ethic and the possibility of Tomic next year, 1 year was the correct move.
Um, the move to bring him back for one year was financial. Utah didn't want to pay any more than they had to because if they had successfully made the trade for AK and had Fes on the roster for the QO, they would be able to get close to the LT limit.

Who cares about work ethic if a player is the best option anyway (which he was last year at backup C when it counted); there's no ring for "playing hard." It's about ability, and while Fes would be better right now if he had been more disciplined, he was often the best backup C available at current skill level anyway, and he has had very little development minutes over the three past years. You don't develop in an average of (633 / (82 * 3) =) 3 to 4 minutes per available game.

Not sure why you don't understand that; the past two games plus the playoffs only show that Fes's impact--albeit not polished--was obvious at existing levels, and he's barely tapped his upside. He won't likely be an 18/7 player anytime soon, but the evidence was there.
 
Last edited:
Nah. Fes himself said he doesn't want to move, mostly out of laziness. Most Euros seem to stick to one city when they can.

I can see how that makes sense, because it would be hard for them in some situations to socially re-establish themselves dues to a cultural/language barrier.

Good to see young Fes in shape and playing well. If our frontcourt shapes up we could be a pretty tough team this year.
 
On a back-to-back against a quicker team, it looks like Fes had a respectable showing. I'd expect Elson to be a better match-up vs. the Suns.
Jazz may have one of the deepest benches in the league, especially once Okur returns.
 
Who cares about work ethic if a player is the best option anyway ... and he has had very little development minutes over the three past years. You don't develop in an average of (633 / (82 * 3) =) 3 to 4 minutes per available game.

Not sure why you don't understand that; ...

You seem to think those who disagree with you don't understand your position. We do understand, we just disagree. No amount of "development minutes" will significantly improve a player who lacks in the "work ethic" area. While there are some things you learn on the court (vision, timing, poise), you develop your skills (shooting, passing, lateral movement) on the pratice floor and raw attributes (strength, endurance, speed) in the gym. If you lack development in the skills and raw attributes, what you learn on the court will be pointless.
 
Fess isn't going to consistently get even half the numbers he got last night. The 1 year deal was a great idea. Multiple year deals just spell Ostertag to me. Fess is an idiot and a poor worker. Once he gets his guaranteed money over a few years he will lose his incentive to actually work somewhat hard.
 
Um, the move to bring him back for one year was financial. Utah didn't want to pay any more than they had to because if they had successfully made the trade for AK and had Fes on the roster for the QO, they would be able to get close to the LT limit.

Who cares about work ethic if a player is the best option anyway (which he was last year at backup C when it counted); there's no ring for "playing hard." It's about ability, and while Fes would be better right now if he had been more disciplined, he was often the best backup C available at current skill level anyway, and he has had very little development minutes over the three past years. You don't develop in an average of (633 / (82 * 3) =) 3 to 4 minutes per available game.

Not sure why you don't understand that; the past two games plus the playoffs only show that Fes's impact--albeit not polished--was obvious at existing levels, and he's barely tapped his upside. He won't likely be an 18/7 player anytime soon, but the evidence was there.

Agreed, to the big fu**** time.
 
From what I have seen from Fes. He genuinely wants to improve. He may not know what to do in order to improve, but the desire is there. What he needs is a summer in Louisiana to show him what it means to work to get better. He will never work as hard as someone like Matthews or Malone, but by losing 20 pounds he has shown that he can put in at least an acceptable amount of effort.

Looks like his baby hook has improved this year as does his free throws. I am not sure if the footwork on offense is because of his loss of pounds or because he has worked on that as well. He may be a jackpotter, but he will get serious when he needs too.
 
What's that phrase; "You're never as good as you think you are, and never as bad as you might think".
Contrasting the last 2 games, Fes started sluggish in the Suns game, but seemed to right himself and had a respectable game. Remember it was a back-to-back. He's not gonna be "Superman" every night, but as long as he keeps a level head, which he says he's working at, he should help us at least some down in the paint EVERY night. As long as he doesn't tank it in practices like he's done in the past, we fans should see him in games regularily...
 
What's that phrase; "You're never as good as you think you are, and never as bad as you might think".
Contrasting the last 2 games, Fes started sluggish in the Suns game, but seemed to right himself and had a respectable game. Remember it was a back-to-back. He's not gonna be "Superman" every night, but as long as he keeps a level head, which he says he's working at, he should help us at least some down in the paint EVERY night. As long as he doesn't tank it in practices like he's done in the past, we fans should see him in games regularily...
Good points.
It was a back-to-back against an up-tempo team...after playing big minutes the night before. Fes would have needed oxygen last season if asked to do that.

While I partially agree with IGS that Fes needs actual game time to develop, up to this point he had done little to deserve it. I think the off-season was a huge wake-up call for Fesenko. He didn't get the big offers he probably thought he was going to receive, just on the basis of his size and "potential."

Whatever the motivation, you KNOW he put in the hard work this summer. His body shows it, his game shows it. As IGS said, trading AK and bringing Fes back at a small salary would have gotten the Jazz close to the tax threshold. I think that's the main reason the Jazz held the line on his salary.

If he has a monster year then I hope he gives the Jazz a chance to match an offer - provided Portland doesn't offer him $7M/per with a $9M signing bonus. The way their centers are dropping like flies, they just might be forced to go after Fesenko. I'm starting to really hate the Blazers.
 
If Fes can get you 10 points and 10 rebounds pergame on average I think he would be worth 7mil a year. I dont like the signing bonus but the salary is actually pretty low for most 7foot guys that dont completely suck.
 
Good points.
It was a back-to-back against an up-tempo team...after playing big minutes the night before. Fes would have needed oxygen last season if asked to do that.

While I partially agree with IGS that Fes needs actual game time to develop, up to this point he had done little to deserve it.
Here's how you "deserve" playing time:
Be the best player available at a given spot, independent of off-court activity. Just ask Allen Iverson. In Fes's case he "deserved" to be backup center for much of last year, even without the work ethic (which would've been gravy). He showed is repeatedly, although not consistently (as rookie-time players rarely do), even though it didn't show up on the individual stats.

And over time, Fes is proving my point that playing time was the #1 need. Don't give me BS about conditioning; Okur played for years out of shape, and AJ is the latest exhibit. Fes probably doesn't have as much talent as Jefferson, but he does have the potential to be a better center than Okur. Because centers are for interior defense and scoring before 3-point shooting.

Whether teams (including perhaps the Jazz) didn't recognize that is their problem. Even in these modern times, teams still overrate and underrate players all the time.
 
Here's how you "deserve" playing time:
Be the best player available at a given spot--in Fes's case, backup center, which he "deserved" to be for most of last year, even without the work ethic. He showed it repeatedly, although not consistently (as rookie-time players rarely do). \

And over time, Fes is proving my point that playing time was the #1 need. Don't give me BS about conditioning; Okur played for years out of shape, and AJ is the latest exhibit. Fes probably doesn't have as much talent as Jefferson, but he does have the potential to be a better center than Okur. Because centers are for interior defense and scoring before 3-point shooting.

Whether teams (including perhaps the Jazz) didn't recognize that is their problem. Even in these modern times, teams still overrate and underrate players all the time.

How is Fes proving your point that playing time was his #1 need? The way I see it, what we right now are seeing before our very eyes as a new improved Fes is proving the point that sitting him so he got Jerry's message (and not offer after offer like perhaps he and his agent presumed they would) and in turn worked his butt off to get into shape was exactly what he needed.

Bro, I understand your point. But it's very flawed and your obsession with Fes is as bad as write4u's with One Ball, Hopper and the Grassy Knoll.
 
How is Fes proving your point that playing time was his #1 need? The way I see it, what we right now are seeing before our very eyes as a new improved Fes is proving the point that sitting him so he got Jerry's message (and not offer after offer like perhaps he and his agent presumed they would) and in turn worked his butt off to get into shape was exactly what he needed.
How did Fes spend the playoffs? Gathering crucial playing time. The difference from first game Denver was dramatic.

How did Fes spend the summer? Gathering playing time in international play. He also lost weight, but the playoffs were already proof in the process. His conditioning is only a portion of the reason why he's better.

Bro, I understand your point. But it's very flawed and your obsession with Fes is as bad as write4u's with One Ball, Hopper and the Grassy Knoll.
Nope, because Fes showed during the playoffs in beforehand that he should've gotten more PT in regular season because he was an x-factor in beating the Nugs and held his own against the World Champions. Losing weight is helping him with length of minutes, but it helping him to make free throws or know where he is on the floor. In-game playing time is, and Fes didn't get even enough minutes to test his conditioning last year anyway.

BTW, it's not an obsession with Fes. It's an obsession with putting the best combination on the floor that can win a title. By given Fes 10 MPG last year (and more if he "deserved" more), they would have done better last year, and he'd be farther along this year. Probably wouldn't have won a title, but the #1 need last year and this year was controlling the paint. Sloan might have figured that out by now, but it might be by accident.
 
Back
Top