Was Fes' Play Last Night An Aberration?

[InGameStrategy]

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.

 

[homeytennis]

Elson will be doing the cream and the clear and play until he's 55.

 

[Jean-Luc]

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.

 

[Stifle Tower]

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.

 

[C l u t c H 385]

Am I the only one that feels as if Tomic is a mirage? I have doubts we'll ever see him in a Jazz uni.

wouldnt bother me at all. euros are *******. thats why we left.

 

[One Brow]

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.

 

[Deleted member 365]

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.

 

[TheSilencer1313]

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.

 

[Karadrys30]

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.

 

[NotDeadYet]

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...

 

[Stifle Tower]

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.

 

[Karadrys30]

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.