By
Ron Richards
That's the title of this blurb, but it's not the story.
If you're a Jazz fan, and disappointed that the Jazz didn't win the game, then
you've missed something somewhere. I like to see the kids compete and try to win
as much as anyone, but in reality, there are only three important things to
watch, and possibly a fourth.
It would have been very difficult for the Jazz to play any worse Saturday night,
and they didn't disappoint me. They did play better. Much better. As the game
was starting, I turned to Paterooski and said the Jazz will play much better
tonight, simply because of the lineup change. Well, one lineup change, putting
Earl Calloway in as point guard. While he shot the ball poorly, he showed NBA
speed and athleticism and set the Jazz youngsters up for many a hoop.
I guarantee one of the main issues that Fess and Koof were buttonholed and
lectured constantly about in the warm-up yesterday morning was to not make silly
fouls. It worked. They both played with more restraint, played smarter, and
fouls became a afterthought.
I was constantly amazed at how big Fess and Koof really are. They're huge. Fess
has legs like tree trunks, and displays very surprising agility for someone his
size, and he has to be just short of 300 pounds. He's a monster. Koof at about
265 looks skinny compared to him, and he will soon grow into his body, and
believe me, will shortly become one of the athletic wonders of the NBA.
Fess has work to do, there is no doubt. That he can play in the NBA, there is no
doubt. I worried after the first night whether he wants to be an NBA player, and
my questions were answered. He does. He came to play Saturday night, and while
he didn't play anywhere near the level he's capable of, he played with intensity
and desire. It was good to see. If I was to take a guess, I'd say he played at
about 50% of where he's capable of playing. What's encouraging to Jazz fans and
to me, is that to jump another 30% or so won't take that much effort. As Mark
Eaton said, for Fess to improve greatly in key aspects of the game, like keeping
your hands high on defense and offense, does not require a large stretch of the
imagination. For Fess to become more dominant inside, and while he blocked 3
shots last night, would not require a large amount of effort and skill. He's
almost there, and just a relatively small amount of effort would pay huge
dividends on the court.
While Fess has great potential, he might not become the player we think he can
be. The same should not be even remotely considered for Kosta Koufos, or Koof as
his teammates call him. He's a lock to become a very, very good NBA player. How
good, I even hesitate to consider.
I remember the first couple of games that Deron Williams played in the RMR three
years ago. I also remember the Jazz fans jumping off the bandwagon and calling
for KOC's head for not drafting CP3. Deron looked very unsure of himself, even
something as basic as his dribbling skills were being ridiculed. He can't even
dribble a basketball the right way, he dribbles too high, it will never work in
the NBA. He can't shoot. His court awareness is sub-par. Yadda, Yadda.
Three years later he and Chris Paul are unquestionably the best point guards in
the NBA.
So how does this pertain to Koof?
It's very hard to project anything concrete after two games in the Summer
League. But when I think of where he could be in three years, a silly grin
creeps onto my wrinkled face, and I can't help but believe that he was not only
a steal at #23, he would be a steal in the top five of the draft, and should be
the best big man coming out of this draft, bar none. That requires a big leap of
faith, because there will be several NBA centers who start and give big time
minutes to their teams out of this draft.
Why do I say this? What does the aspiring ideal NBA center need to join the
ranks of all the great centers that have graced the ranks of the Hall of Fame?
Size. Check. He's 7'1", 265, extremely long and still growing. In two years, he
should be close to 280, and not a ounce of it baby fat. He literally has the
perfect body for an NBA center, and an unmatched and astounding work ethic.
Athleticism. Check. While he's not quite as athletic as say, Dwight Howard, he's
very close. He runs like a deer, has tremendous hops reportedly 36" vertical),
and has hands like meat hooks, very large meat hooks at that. He's already a
great finisher on the break at his size. There aren't five NBA centers of the
same size, in the league with that kind of speed and grace.
Skills. Check. He's a great shooter, one of the best on the Jazz team without
playing a game. Like Jerry Sloan says, when he shoots I expect to see it go in,
and am surprised when it doesn't. He's been playing PF the first two games of
the Revue, so he hasn't blocked a lot of shots so far, but when he's playing
center, they will come. He has great timing and explosion.
He does need to use his left hand, as it's almost non-existent at this time.
Knowing the work ethic, it won't take long.
Intangibles. Double check. You watch him at the games, in the warm-ups, and the
first thing I'm struck by is his utter concentration and seriousness. The
comparison that comes to mind is Deron Williams. The coaches say that you tell
him something once, it's done.
It's been said that I could make a disaster seem like a garden party, but in
this case, I don't have to exaggerate or expound at all.
This kid is a lock to be a great NBA player. Just how good, depends on if he
stays healthy. Other than that, it will happen.
The other player to really watch is Mo Almond. I'm pleased to say that I think
he's going to be a very, very good NBA player as well. He's been slammed for
being a black hole, shooting too much, not playing good defense, etc. Not so.
This revue team has absolutely no other outside shooting threats other than
Britten Johnsen and Koof, so someone needs to shoot. It's Mo. He's scored 17
points twice in the first two games, and only the very poor play of his Revue
teammates has limited his scoring. With a real point guard, an offense properly
executed, his scoring will soar. He looks much stronger and in better shape, and
he's got the ideal build for a shooting guard in the NBA. His defense looks much
improved, and he's still a very nice rebounder for a wing. The Jazz coaches
reportedly love the kid, and I can see why.
And while I think the chances of Britten Johnsen making the Jazz team are slim
considering the plethora of guaranteed contracts, I do think he can play in the
NBA. Not a star, certainly, but a valuable substitute who can play two
positions. It bothers me to no end that Collins takes the Jazz's money while
Britten Johnsen isn't playing in the NBA. He can shoot, is very, very athletic,
has great size the same as Jarron), is smart and hard working to a fault. Two
years ago I watched him play for a Revue team, and he was jacking up threes like
crazy. Not this year. He's doing the small things that coaches love and fans
never notice.
As a team, the Jazz Revue team is terrible. As individuals, they give tremendous
hope for the future of the real Jazz team.
I hope you're as excited as I am. It's a nice feeling. |
