homeytennis
Well-Known Member
Fes can be a talent in the league.
Doufos is gone
- Thread starter Marty McFly
- Start date
InGameStrategy
Well-Known Member
OK fine, but I didn't see that Fes was a real chemistry problem. He was a goof-off, but not a real distraction.
If it was for the immediate good of the team, then why not play him? I think that the he was not getting minutes because Sloan thought (incorrectly IMHO) that it would hurt the team. However, Utah lost several games because of the bad interior defense that even a raw Fes could've helped countervail.
I wouldn't have an argument except that Utah did better overall with Fesenko on the court. And if he had gotten more burn, then he would've been able to do more than control the paint. I think that Sloan based his minutes on off-court behavior, which doesn't necessarily translate to on-court contribution.
Allen Iverson is the poster child of that principle.
What Sloan put little effort in doing is finding even minimal time for him, even when the outcome of the game wasn't in question. An average of about 3 minutes per eligible game simply isn't enough for especially a big to develop. A coach's job is to develop and to identify strategic advantages, and Fesenko was one of the few Jazzmen who could actually help to neutralize the Laker frontcourt and control the paint against many other teams. Fortunately Utah let go Boozer, who was part of the problem defensively.
I see Jefferson as a better center than Boozer was (alongside Millsap). But Sloan still should get Fesenko 10 to 15 MPG because (1) you don't want to wear down AJ's knees, (2) bigs need on-court time to develop. If Fes performs poorly, limit him to ten minutes. If Fes performs well, give him closer to fifteen minutes or more.
Coaching 101.
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Trading away the only healthy C on the roster, plus two firsts, for a guy that will probably never be 100% isn't the wisest thing to me, but we'll see.
The only reason I'm okay with this is because it gets the Jazz closer to under the LT. I guess, I still think it's *****.
The only reason I'm okay with this is because it gets the Jazz closer to under the LT. I guess, I still think it's *****.
Why would you care if the Jazz are under the LT? Just wondering.
So he's going to become a teacher? I don't get it.
A few reasons. Once over the LT, the Jazz might start dumping more assets (Harpring trade) just to get under. I also have a fear of financial insolvency for the franchise and that they become the Seattle Supersonics, the Vegas Jazz, or something like that. I know you couldn't be happier about that, but for us Utahns, that'd be terrible beyond words.
Gyp Rosetti
Banned
Yes, there may be no current chemistry issues revolving around Fes as far as the off-court/on-court dynamics of the team go. However, that doesn't mean they very well could exist at some point in time. If his antics (goofing around, smoking, mediocre work ethic) went unnoticed, and he was allowed to start or play 10-15 mpg as you suggest, a sort of cancer could set in on the team. It sets a bad precedent and essentially gives other guys the ability to become lazy or create ******** excuses (because that's really what they are) and still play, or if benched, bitch and moan that Fes plays yet is the biggest poo this side of TroutBum. Now, would Sloan lose control of a team like that? I doubt it. And I don't think that that's why Jerry benches him anyway. Sloan sits his *** down because, and I'm of course speculating here (but it seems fairly obvious though you think it's a meaningless point), he feels that giving unearned time to Fes would actually hinder his development and give him the impression that his half-assed work ethic is tolerable and he's meeting expectations. That's simply not true. Tough love can be very motivationally productive. And benching him may actually help his maximization of his development in the long-run more than hurt it, and more than playing him 10-15mpg could. Especially if him playing 10-15 mpg is only going to allow him to continue to form bad habits like not getting back on defense, getting into position, boxing out, rotating on d, etc.
Gyp Rosetti
Banned
No, you have to treat each player differently though a lazy work ethic, imo, should not be tolerated. And I wasn't pigeon-holing Jerry. He probably deals with Fes, based on what he's observed of the kid, as he best sees fit.
I think sometimes when a specific method used to motivate a player doesn't work, some times you try something else. I think this is Sloan's shortfall. He believe players should play, act and think like players of his generation.