Deseret News | Utah Jazz: Fesenko OK with tough love

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Utah Jazz: Fesenko OK with tough love

FES | 11:35 p.m. Oct. 29, 2009

He played well ... he can be the key ... but then again keys can get lost ...

Fez is starting | 11:40 p.m. Oct. 29, 2009

to mature. That is good. He altered the tempo of the game and DEN's approach when he went in. He has the ability to change the game if he can get his act together. He seems to be focused and catching on.

He can really contribute. He reminds me of the back up C for Orlando. It took him years to get to the point where Dallas wanted him for a starter.

I think Fez will come along faster. He will see a big change this year.

The Jazz have to rely on him. The team is short on players. There will always be injuries and the starters have to rest. The faster he develops the more options and versatility the Jazz have. The more wins they will get.

If he can guard Nene he can hold his own with Bynum and Oden.

If Sloan.. | 12:16 a.m. Oct. 30, 2009

will just give him the playing time to develop..!!!

Comments continue below

Give us Liberty! | 1:03 a.m. Oct. 30, 2009

Liberty from all our weakness and shame down in the paint. Give us Fes. The time is now already.

Anonymous | 4:40 a.m. Oct. 30, 2009

I liked Fesenko's game. It is better than Ostertags's game.

Memo to Sloan: Mix it up and play Fes. Let him play!!

Go Jazz!!

Anonymous | 4:52 a.m. Oct. 30, 2009

I think Fez might be the key to get past the Lakers.

FDR | 5:24 a.m. Oct. 30, 2009

I say give us Koufos. It is absolutely ridiculous how Sloan paints his big men over the years as incompetent. He never did that to any of his PF or to any of his point guards. That's Sloan. He just can handle big guys. But again I say Koufos is the better of the two, it is so obvious. Someday this will be proven. Fes is getting his chance now because he is a cheap option, and they will give Kosta his option and make him feel good. But if you want to win, you must have a strong presence on D inside and skill too. That is Koufos. Sorry Fes.

no chance | 7:09 a.m. Oct. 30, 2009

People please remember who is "coaching" this team. It is none other than Jerry Sloan. There is next to no chance that Fes will see more than 5 minutes a game. Did you notice how well he was doing against Denver? Only to be yanked and never see action again. Personally I think it is time for ole Yeller to retire so we can get somebody who knows how to use players and timeouts.

Bag Hornacek | 7:39 a.m. Oct. 30, 2009

Fes will never shoot while Hornacek is helping him. Korver slipped from being a threat to other teams to 56% in NBA 3's after Hornacek helped him last year. AK's shooting was terrible and beyond with Hornacek as a shooting coach, now you are turning him loose with Fes. If Fes were younger Hornacek would be charged with child abuse.

Lots of positive comments about and Fes but too bad Fes is still a child who needs the coach to yell at him. thing shappen so fast in the NBA game that you have to be able to think and react in a heartbeat instead of looking to the bench. When or if Fes learns that he may prove valuable to an NBA franchise. He is fortunate the Jazz are patient.

Re: Bag Hornacek | 8:54 a.m. Oct. 30, 2009

Choo-choo. All aboard the ignorance train. Hornacek is a great shooting coach. You blame Hornacek for Korver's shooting woes? Both Korver and AK credit Hornacek for helping them shoot better in rhythm. He can only help Fes.

For the 6 min Fes was in the game he disrupted the Nuggets flow. I hope he gets more opportunities to play.

Hornacek will be Coach | 9:26 a.m. Oct. 30, 2009

Hornacek will some day be head coach of the Jazz. Just watch. After Phil tries it for a few years after Sloan, Jeff will be the man.

If you don't like Hornacek, become a fan of another team.

Bag Sloan | 10:12 a.m. Oct. 30, 2009

Get a coach who has the guts to bench Boozer. WE NEED DEFENSE. Get a coach who will play Fes and Koufos, a coach who WILL shut down the paint. It's only the start of the season and fans do not want to go through this cake walk again this year.

Sokol | 11:26 a.m. Oct. 30, 2009

PLEASE, PLEASE PLAY THIS GUY....THE BIG TIME MEDIA WAS PRAISING HIM...I hope he gets to even start...He is just a good guy all around.

Yeah | 11:36 a.m. Oct. 30, 2009

Hornacek coaching jazz would be great.

Disappointed with first game.. | 12:14 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009

Yes...Fes defended well. No problem with someone acknowledging their weakness and getting help. Boozer on the other hand, did practically nothing. I am amazed Sloan is starting him, and I think it will wear on Milsap. I'm disappointed with coaching choices and believe that if we'd have played Fes more and Boozer less, we'd have won the Denver game. Think Boozer will get a lot of BOOs tonight at our first home game. We don't have the same chemistry with him in there. D-Wil doesn't look all that happy as in the past. I think they just try to hide their feelings, but D-Wil is wearing a faded look this year even though he's producing fairly well. I don't think he has the team around him that he deserves, and they need to let Booz ride the pine and play Milsap more. He's our future. Boozer is mentally gone.

Jazz Fan Texas | 12:14 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009

Korver lost out on his touch last year because he was injured. AK improved his overall shot, tempo and range last year. Hornacek has HELPED this team more than some might admit. He would make a great coach. You want someone to work with the Bigs, convince Malone to help out like Stockton did with DWill. Many teams are using former players to help develop the younger talent. Something that the Jazz need to do more of.

re;Bag Sloan | 12:20 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009

Sloan doesn't have the guts to bench Boozer and he's not going to play our bigs. How do you like our Utah Jazz now. Same ole, same ole. Free lay ups everybody.

Hypocrisy alert | 2:37 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009

Sloan sais that he doesn’t play contracts, but I am starting to think that he does. Fes has about the smallest contract on the team, so I doubt that we will see much of him. Mean while fans will have to choke from too much Booze.

Malone as a mentor. | 5:16 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009

I don't think aguy like Malone would be a great Mentor. Guys that have crazy talent and internal drive don't understand and can't relate to the lazy like Fes.. You could put him with Kasta but not Fes. He couldn't work with Milsap because Malone never had that scrappy style that Paul must master to survive. Boozer is only motivated by external things like fame and money which will never last long enough to make you a great defender.

Lucky | 8:14 a.m. Oct. 31, 2009

You guys are lucky to have two talented Big Men in Fesenko and Koufas. Giving Okur that big contract is starting look like a mistake. The guys already hurt and he's the worst defender on the team. Boozer is second on that list by the way.

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Doug Pensinger, Getty Images

Jazz center Kyrylo Fesenko, right, faces off with Nene of Denver during the season opener for both teams Wednesday night. Fesenko is being pushed hard by Jazz coaches to become a reliable backup for the club.

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Utah Jazz: Fesenko OK with tough love

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Utah Jazz: Fesenko OK with tough love