Life, The Universe, And Everything In It

Posted by Keith Haney on December 10, 2007

‘The Soviet Threat’ (Melissa Majchrzak – NBAE/Getty Images)

I was watching “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” over the weekend (good movie, GREAT book) and was reminded of the the answer to the meaning of life, the universe, and everything in it. The answer is (SPOILER ALERT) 42 (END SPOILER ALERT). Douglas Adams got it wrong though. The answer really is 44. That’s Kyrylo Fesenko’s jersey number. The Jazz need to recall him from the Utah Flash ASAP if they want to stop the bleeding from this 3 game losing streak. Heck, if they want to give themselves a decent chance to play with the elite teams in the league (Dallas, San Antonio, Phoenix, Boston) they have got to address their defensive needs. K-Fes is the best way I see them addressing this glaring problem right now.

But wait you say – “He’s too young and inexperienced. He can’t play now.” I disagree. He showed everyone he could play in the Lakers game and he is tearing it up in the D-League. Worse case scenario, he comes in and learns the position for the rest of the season. Then he’s that much further along for next season when the Jazz REALLY should be contenders.

Look, I may be grasping at straws here to fix the glaring hole at interior defense. I fully admit this. But I can’t find any other solution. The Jazz need to make a move if they want to get improve on defense. I don’t care how much Boozer and Okur say they are going to pick it up on D. It ain’t happening. Ever.

So what to do? Beyond upgrading to Fesenko and letting him grow into the role they need, they could make a trade. I’ve played with ESPN’s NBA trade machine and haven’t come up with too much in the way of improvement. This is the best I could come up with: Wallace Trade. or Gasol Trade. Neither of those will happen for various reasons. I like the Gasol trade more, but doubt the Jazz would pull the trigger on a deal period. They love Millsap too much to let him go – although they should before he becomes too expensive. Wallace is a shadow of his former self. Gasol is a risk. He seems to be a step slower than he was before his leg injury of last season.

A 3 game losing streak isn’t the end of the world as we know it. I just don’t see the Jazz making a move this year to get above the elite teams come playoff time. They need to do something to get better. I say the answer is #44. If I’m wrong, well, they can always send him back down to the D-League and write Fes off as another Jazz “big man” draft miscue.

4 Comments

Tittle on December 10, 2007 said:

Just the stare on K-Fes in that picture makes me want to stay out of the paint. Is he going to block my shot or…….nevermind. I agree, bring him up from the D-League. If he is tearing it up, and I will have to take your word on that, then why not. Is his game going to improve by playing in a league that he is too good for?

Linda McFarland on December 10, 2007 said:

Maybe the reason he is tearing it up in the D League is the time he is getting on the floor. I don’t see him getting that much playing time if he is pulled up and sitting on the bench doesn’t do him a lot of good. Just my opinion.

LPCity on December 11, 2007 said:

There are several things about your post that I don’t agree with.

First, a three game losing streak is pretty typical for most teams at some point during the season, especially on the road and especially in back to back games on the road. Two months from now, most people won’t even remember this as being significant.

Second, the last line of your post is shortsighted. Your agument is to bring Fes up now and he can either suceed, or he should be relegated to the D league and written off as a draft mistake? Thank God that Jerry takes the opposite aproach with rookies and dosn’t throw them in the fire and cut them if they don’t immediately suceed.

J R Stewart on December 11, 2007 said:

Nice blog.

My very first blog was how much I liked Fess. I still do!

Too bad we can’t send Jarron down to the D-League.
I’m thinking that the Jazz will keep Fess in Orem until they can swing a trade. The ideal trade? Gira has an expiring contract and Collins has one more year left. That’s $5.4-$7.3 million combined salary (with the +/- 15%), which a 2 for one trade would be great and a luxury tax team might jump at, for a shot blocker, to augment Fess and cut down the roster to the 13 minimum, for maximum flexibility.

But, that won’t happen, if at all, before the Feb 22 trade deadline.

Jazzaholic

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