Utah Jazz Notes

What does it say that Lawrence Tanter, the Lakers’ public-address announcer, got mixed up in each half Sunday, crediting one basket to Goran Suton that really was Kyrylo Fesenko and another to Fesenko that really was Kosta Koufos?

Tanter quickly corrected his mistakes, but it suggests that the Jazz have a trio of centers who appear more than a little similar on the surface. 

In reality, Fesenko and Koufos couldn’t be any more different in terms of personalities. They also have guaranteed contracts for this season, as opposed to Suton, who is trying to make the roster as a second-round draft pick.

Both Fesenko and Koufos enjoyed bounce-back games Sunday against the Bobcats, combining for 20 points and six rebounds. Thanks to a late dunk, Fesenko finished with 11 points - - even if it was preseason, only the third double-figure scoring game of his career.

“They need to play,” Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said, “and it’s good for them to get a chance to play and have some opportunities to make some mistakes and have something good happen for them.”

As the Jazz created some separation in the fourth quarter, Fesenko had a tip in while Koufos followed up Eric Maynor’s miss for a basket as part of a three-point play.

Koufos hit a tough turnaround over DeSagana Diop with 3:42 left to give the Jazz a 101-94 lead. Earlier in the second quarter, Fesenko had a dunk and later converted a three-point play at the foul line.

“After I hit that free throw, I was the luckiest guy in the world,” Fesenko said.

Sloan noted that both Fesenko and Koufos are still young and better than where they were a year ago, though he cautioned that it takes time to learn on the job. He would not commit to either having a role going into the season.

With two preseason games left, though, Fesenko talked about the importance of earning minutes, saying, “It’s the most important thing right now for me.”

“There is nothing more important right now,” Fesenko added. “Nothing. Because after all the [comments] I already did about the breakthrough season I cannot step back. I can only go forward. I’m not going to stop. It’s going to get only better and better.”

I borrowed from one of Sloan’s famous (at least to us) descriptions of Fesenko in asking if the Ukrainian center was less “happy-go-lucky” this season.

“Some,” Sloan said. “I’m still not real happy with him being happy-go-lucky. He’s a young kid and young guys have a tendency, they want to have some fun. I don’t have too much of a problem with that, but sometimes it interferes with their progress. 

“You can’t jackpot around and get better and he could get a lot better. He’s in a lot better condition than what he’s ever been. Even though he’s still heavy, his conditioning is much better according to his physical and everything. 

“He couldn’t run up and down the floor three or four times last year and he was out of gas. He’s been able to run better. He’s a big body. We need a big body to try to help us play some.”

--Ross Siler