Reader comments
Utah Jazz: 5 burning questions as the Jazz open camp

AllThatJazz | 7:08 a.m. Sept. 28, 2008

[Reposted w/o URL] I'm disgusted with the continued love affair with Kosta Koufos. Kosta was supposed to be this polished product on offense who (in the RMM) shot the ball once every 2.3 mins on the floor at the rate of 38.1 fg%. For a point of ref, Boozer shot once every 2.2 mins @ 55 fg%. Yet somehow he's ahead of Fes on the depth chart, eventhough we need defense, not a guy who loves to shoot and miss, and Fes (for all his faults) got 0.956 blocks / foul in the RMR while still guarding the other teams best post player??? Kosta got 0.342 b/pf, btw, and had lots of boards because he wasn't playing defense (like how Boozer does it). Last season's block/pf ratios for inside players: AK 1.04, Fes 0.47 (0.51 NBADL), Millsap 0.29, Memo 0.24, Boozer 0.16, Collins 0.08. We don't need outside shooting (or missing, if you look at Kosta) from our backup center, we need blocks and intimidation (right Jarron?) . . . who do you really think brings that, Tim? A rookie shooter who got 0.342 b/pf or a 2nd yr guy who got 0.956?

Anonymous | 9:10 a.m. Sept. 28, 2008

Craig:To me, how good the Jazz can be this yr will depend on how much IMPROVEMENT our young players can show. Fes knows he didn't do what the coaches wanted in the RMR and was supposed to stay here for the summer and work on his game and conditioning. I hope he did. He is the player that could help us the most if he can learn to play to his potential. He is big, can block shots (which is what we need, we need someone to control the paint)rebound, and has good offensive skills (needs polishing). He almost seems like a immature kid that is not focused on his job. I just hope he comes ready to show Sloan what he can do and is determined to make it happen. CJ has so much potential, I hope he comes ready to prove something this yr. and Milsap if he can show an improved and consistant outside shot he could be awsome. He rebounds great and plays much better defense than Boozer, he could get even more minutes this yr if he improves and shows more consistancy with his offense (especially his outside shot). Brewer should improve also.

PurplePeopleEater | 9:22 a.m. Sept. 28, 2008

None of those questions are burning ME.

My ONE burning question is whether Boozer will play defense this year. That's all that was missing last year in getting us to the finals. Inside defense is the Achilles heel of the Jazz. Fix that and the team has as good a chance as any team to win it all this year.

Barring key injuries, the team has one of the toughest offenses to defend.

All of the rest will sort itself out under D-Will's leadership on the floor and competition for playing time.

Comments continue below

Re All That Jazz | 9:38 a.m. Sept. 28, 2008

Just let the training camp, preseason and early season bear out who is going to stick, get playing time, and contribute this year. Trying to predict from the Rocky Mtn revue is stupid. Now is when the cream will rise to the top. So lets just be patient and see who wants to be a player. Tough competition has a way to sort these things out. Your percentages in the revue and the development league mean absolutely nothing.

kwt | 9:46 a.m. Sept. 28, 2008

I sure hope we find a way to keep the guys that are on the last year of their contracts. I think it really would be sad if we lost Millsap. I think he is a real fighter. An up and coming star too. I am confident that Jazz will find a way to keep them. In my book, we need Korver for his shooting. Especially down the stretch of games. He saved many games with his game ending free throw shooting. Okur and Boozer would be important to keep. I just hope their salary demands wont break the bank.

Rose Holladay | 10:10 a.m. Sept. 28, 2008

Kosta Koufos is another Lectner

Ing | 10:18 a.m. Sept. 28, 2008

That doesn't necessarily tell the whole story, though. How much good does Fes's blocks-per-foul ratio do you if he's completely inept on offense (making it easier for the other team to guard us), and fouls at such a high rate that he's only in the game for a couple of quarters? Plus, fouls tend to give points to the other team, so the only guy on the Jazz who benefits the team by the blocks-per-foul measure is Kirilenko. And that's not by much.

I'm not disputing that we need a big guy who can play good defense and be a threat to block shots. We really, really, really do. I'm just saying that Fes isn't going to be that guy. Not yet, anyway. Who knows what might happen in a year or two?

A Busy Offseason??? Ha!!! | 11:22 a.m. Sept. 28, 2008

WOW!!, The Jazz sure made alot of moves this offseason!!! NOT! Why is Kirilenko still here?? and Collins??? what a joke!

? | 11:45 a.m. Sept. 28, 2008

Please let go Boozer to be the "Star" in another team, bring someone who can play ofense and defense like the "Big guys"
Kirilenko back to Russia. Collins back to I dont know...home. CJ Miles back to crying with mama and Get more good players!

Intelligent Jazz Fan | 3:26 p.m. Sept. 28, 2008

I love how people think how easy it is to trade somebody. Would it be ideal to have traded Kirilenko? Yeah but another team needs to agree to take him. Plus with his high salary you would have to take somebody else's garbage back. When he gets to the final year of his contract it will be easier to move him. COllins will be gone after this year he is a non factor anyway, so it doesn't matter. Lets see how camp plays out and who has improved where before we jump to conclusions about what is happening. This is still going to be a good team with potential to threaten the Lakers and Spurs in the west.

Read This Kevin O'Connor | 3:34 p.m. Sept. 28, 2008

Jazz Roster Should Look Like this

Starters

PG D-Will
SG ?
PF Boozer (Play him here, Never center)
SF A.K.
C ?

Back Ups

PG Knight
SG Brewer (Can start, but need great SG)
PF Millsap
SF Almond (Could also back up SG)
C Okur (Can start, but need solid Shot Blocker)

Reserves

PG ?
SG Miles (Outside chance that he could be great)
PF ?
SF ?
C Kosta (Less work than Fes and better athlete)

Trade Immediatly

- Collins (He is worthless)
- Harpring (Love his style of play, but getting old so trade him)
- Price (Love his hustle, just not big enough)
- Fesenko (COULD be great, but is a project. He has some trade value, let somenone else work with him)
- Korver (Great shot, slow on defense. Would rather see Almond play. Has trade value)

Trade these players for a tested Center who is a defensive presence. Draft an awesome shooting guard this spring. Brewer, can manage as starter for now.

To: Read This Kevin O'Conner | 5:38 p.m. Sept. 28, 2008

Let me start by, let's see, you're and idiot. You want to keep an old 5'9" PG and trade a young 6'2" PG because he is too small? And the roster should be full of question marks? Trade a dead eye free throw shooter because is has slow defense for and keep a good free throw shooter that has no defense.

Kevin O'Conner, Don't read that nonsense.

ak haters, boo | 8:48 p.m. Sept. 28, 2008

why does everyone hate on the ak. look at his playoffs performances for the last two years and tell me that he was not the second best player on our team behind d will. he is our defense and we need him. yes he makes too much money but what can you do about it. if ak is on form then along with the master dwill then the jazz are good to go. peace

Grant | 11:03 p.m. Sept. 28, 2008

It takes several years for big men to develop, be patient, it took Patric Ewing 4 years to reach his potential. Question do big men develop better in the D-League or in Europe? If it is in Europe maybe send Fez and Kofus to Italy. That will give us 4 players in europe. The D-League is like the summer league just an elaborate pick-up game.
I am not a Ute homer but I liked the desire and passion that Johnson plays with it would be nice to see him stick.

ak | 7:03 a.m. Sept. 29, 2008

Without him this team would be horrible. There is no defense without him. Sorry but you don't win championships without defense.

The Truth | 10:15 a.m. Sept. 29, 2008

Some posters here show good basketball IQ -- maybe not as much as the Jazz brass but enough to command respect. Then there are those who can't see past athleticism and PPG. "Read This, Kevin O'Connor," is typical of the fan who looks at box scores rather than final scores, who notices how well a guy puts the ball in the hoop and not how much he limits the man he defends, how well he hits the open man, or how well he plays team defense. A player who can play good team defense is a necessity in the NBA, where even the bad teams are populated by players who were All-Americas, McDonald's players, Mr. Basketball of their home states, conference player of the year, etc. This is why I believe the burning question is "Will Boozer trust his team mates and play good team defense? If the answer is no, the Jazz must get rid of him while his trade value is high. Question No. 2: Will AK play up to his potential as a team mate, concentrating on what he is good at, or will he mope if he doesn't get to shoot more?

james | 11:09 a.m. Sept. 29, 2008

I am very doubtful that Kosta or Fess will solve the interior defense weakness...at least not this yr. But it is a luxury to have a couple of young 7ft players who are willing to learn. Fess, again is a tremedous athlete, a guy who can run and jump...and has a huge frame. Kosta is a great shooter, and have mechanics and passing ability comparable to Memo. But...they will not help the Jazz this yr..and will make a very small difference next yr.

But..in 3-4 yrs, the same people who are pronouncing Kosta or Fess as a bust, are the same people who claim the Jazz should have drafted Chris Paul. They probably come from a family who felt Rickey Green deserved the start over John Stockton. lol

Fedor | 12:57 p.m. Sept. 29, 2008

You can tell who the casual Jazz/NBA fans are when they post. My favorite, "Trade Collins, he is worthless." There are a lot of GM's out there looking to trade for worthless players. And for the record, backup and reserve are two words that essentially share the same definition. KOC has done a decent job....and LM isn't interested in losing money so let these guys do their job and the Jazz will come out of it OK. I think these same types of things were being suggested the season before we stole....errrr, signed Boozer and picked up Okur.

The Truth | 1:02 p.m. Sept. 29, 2008

Here is some of my burning questions..
1 Will Booze, A.k. and D-will burn out or get injured due to all of the summer play this year?
2. Will CJ make Harpring or Korver expendable....for a trade due to his contract/play?
3. Will the jazz let Korver, Okur and Booze all explore free agent status without trading one of them and get something in return?
4. Will Jerry develop any of the bigs, Fess or Kosta and put Collins on the tading block?
5. Will the jazz entertain a different COACH... if Jerry isn't getting it done again this year? or will Jerry walk away if he doesn't get it done?

Maybe a different style would help A.K's or others games? (Please anyone who says A.K. should be traded is an idiot unless they get a defensive presence in return.)
Lastly, Something needs to be done about this roster.. to many soft offensive players with similiar skill sets. Anyone who understands basketball, knows these guys aren't championship material as currently constituted. I just don't think the Jazz brass know what to do yet?? looking forward to another 4 seed?

the real burning question | 1:13 p.m. Sept. 29, 2008

Will the Jazz learn how to play defense?

Just Me | 1:49 p.m. Sept. 29, 2008

I like AK and Boozer. Great players. I hope they stay for their whole career. The biggest thing is why the Jazz are holding onto Collins? He is a nice guy but its a business and Collins is a waste of space on a team.

TJ | 4:32 p.m. Sept. 29, 2008

to ak haters, boo
I am not sure we were watching the same playoffs. AK only had 1 good game against Houston 2 years ago. When the Jazz made the conference finals it was DWill and Booz that got them there. Last season it was DWill and mostly Memo. AK had a few good games and so did Booz but neither one played well at all last year in the playoffs. I don't like AK at all but do not think we should get rid of him unless they can get a better defender. With Houston getting Artest I believe the Jazz need to start bargaining for Battier. Now he is one of the best one on one defenders in the league and can shoot the ball. He is a true champion but unless we can get someone better we better keep AK. From what I see the Jazz do not have a big inside stopper. Love Memo but he isn't a stopper and that is the job of a center...not a PF so rag on Booz all you want people but it is not his position to be an inside stopper.

Lo Porto | 7:29 p.m. Sept. 29, 2008

Three burning questions could be answered with 1 trade:

Trading AK to Memphis for Darko Milicic will free up the money to keep everybody, give playing time for CJ & Almond, and give us another big to strengthen our post. Memphis almost went for Randolph, but AK would be a much better fit for a lot of reasons. Korver could be just as good starting at the SF as AK. AK is getting too slow to guard the good SG's and SF's of the West and is better suited at PF. Let us now turn to Brewer to be that perimeter defender.

Moto X | 8:36 p.m. Sept. 29, 2008

Blah blah blah. Jerry said it today on KFAN "we will be a good team when we play defense and win games on the road". Amen.

This team is missing defense and toughness. They are one of the most efficient offenses in the entire NBA. BUT--losing all these games on the road just shows how young these players are still by believing that they can win with offense alone. They only won 14 games on the road last year. That is sorry!! This year--road wins means we have shot--road losses again means a repeat of last years results.

Kosta, Fes, and Almond will be living in the D- League because none of them offer defensive toughness.

The only thing that we have going for us this year is that many players are playing for contracts/money. They will play hard or they will be costing themselves money. That and there should be enough competition for minutes that somebody will want to play defense.

Jimmy Z | 11:13 p.m. Sept. 29, 2008

Like I have writing and writing for years, for
the Jazz to move on to the next level we need a
different coaching staff. Please Mr. Miller Jr.
realize the need for a change. Thanks Jerry, but
your time was up several years ago.

will | 7:44 p.m. Sept. 30, 2008

The Jazz have no chance of going all the way. This year boozer is a mistake always will be a mistake. Dump him while he is worth something. mabye a marion for boozer swap can be done. mabye throw in a 1st round pick and jaron collins. same goes with Ak-47 get rid off him one the most inconsistent players in the league. and cj miles that contract dont even know where to begin there is a reason oklahoma didnt match he dosnt deserve half that money. the Jazz however are a great team D-Will is one of the best point guards in the league. and if Morris Almond can crack the rotation he could be a stud. he is one of the best D-league players ever!

PHONIEX SUNS 2009 NBA CHAMPS!

Dwillgot snubbed | 4:17 p.m. Oct. 3, 2008

Thats it just trade Boozer for Marion. There are salary caps, midlevel exceptions, luxury taxes (of which the Jazz will never go over) and at the end of the day no matter what the NBA is a business. The Millers understand this and are in this business to first make money-- then win a championship. Someday they may get lucky and have their cake and eat it to.

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Stuart Johnson, Deseret News

Deron Williams is the Jazz's on-the-court leader, there's no question about that. It's a mystery, however, just who will be the gold medalist's main backup this year.

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