Kosta

[jazzfan1971]

Could he get any worse? I thought he looked like a player last year, this year he looks like he couldn't play in hte D league.

What the heck happened to his game?

[dalekjazz]

Another wasted first round pick as I mentioned in another thread. The Jazz didn't even try to develop by sending him to the D-League where he could get some meaningful game time action.

[DelaneyRudd]

Practice time with the team is as valuable. This is all on Kosta. He just isn't good. He won't be a player on any team. He will be lucky to become Kris Humphries.

[Sloanfeld]

Hoffa was better.

[HammerDunk]

He is a better dancer than he is a bball player. I figured he wouldn't pan out. Too bad, he seems like a nice kid.

[JDubJazz]

Fess looked absolutely lost last year too, but started to figure it out this season. Kosta is still young, cheap and has a great NBA body. Give him some time and see if he develops. If he doesn't, its not a big loss, but if he does, it could pay big dividends. Bigs always take longer to find their game. Expecting Kosta to do it at 21 with inconsistent minutes is a stretch at best.

[QuantumMacgyver]

Wow, you guys are acting like you've never seen a young big man enter the league before. Kosta MAY end up being a bust, but the odds are just as likely that he'll be a solid player.

Year Team G GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% OFF DEF RPG APG SPG BPG TO PF PPG
96-97 POR 45 0 10.2 0.451 0.000 0.603 0.9 1.9 2.8 0.2 0.0 0.6 0.60 1.02 4.1
97-98 POR 60 9 13.5 0.485 0.000 0.506 1.3 2.0 3.4 0.3 0.2 1.0 0.92 1.68 4.5
98-99 POR 36 1 8.6 0.434 0.000 0.514 1.2 1.5 2.7 0.4 0.1 0.4 0.39 1.14 2.5
99-00 POR 70 8 12.3 0.486 0.000 0.582 1.4 1.9 3.3 0.3 0.2 0.8 0.67 1.81 3.9

Year Team G GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% OFF DEF RPG APG SPG BPG TO PF PPG
08-09 UTA 48 7 11.8 0.508 0.000 0.706 1.0 1.8 2.9 0.4 0.2 0.6 0.54 1.46 4.7
09-10 UTA 21 0 3.6 0.409 0.000 0.750 0.4 0.7 1.1 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.43 0.67 1.3

The first stat is Jermaine O'Neals, the second is obviously Kosta's. I agree Kosta has looked awful this year, but it's got to be tough to get any sort of rhythm going well when you have 5 players in rotation ahead of you.

Kosta could very well end up being a bust but it is FAR too early to claim anything. And if sending a player to the D-League is somehow a sign of their team having faith in them, then how do you explain Morris Almond? If anything, the Jazz keeping him on the roster could just as likely show that they have some faith in him. It's only fair to give him some time before calling him a bust or otherwise.

[outerspacefella]

Ignore Koufos this season. Dude played hard games with his body during offseason and now, without PT, he just cannot manage his new mass... he looks really funny right now. Let's see if the youngster has the guts and the thoughness to get out of it...

[red4hf]

The thing is, in order to develop you need playing time, and you need to play with the starters....... Not during garbage time.......

[Racer X]

Its all mental. We all saw how he is capable of playing last year. He needs to be sent to the DLeague so he can get a rhythm. But honestly, if he doesnt pull himself together his option is not going to be picked up and we have another KOC bust on our hands.

[QuantumMacgyver]

Ignore Koufos this season. Dude played hard games with his body during offseason and now, without PT, he just cannot manage his new mass... he looks really funny right now. Let's see if the youngster has the guts and the thoughness to get out of it...

^^^^+1

Its all mental. We all saw how he is capable of playing last year. He needs to be sent to the DLeague so he can get a rhythm. But honestly, if he doesnt pull himself together his option is not going to be picked up and we have another KOC bust on our hands.

I'll bet even if he shows nothing over the next year, the jazz still pick up his option. Like they did with Fes, very surprising to me.

It's possible Sloan has his hands full trying to play people into showcase mode for any possible trades.

[jazzfan1971]

I'm not talking box scores. There is no need to bring Jermaine O'Neal into this. I'm talking what I see with my own eyes.

Last year I saw a promising young man with legit NBA skills.
This year I see a bust of a pick that couldn't even hack it in the NBDL.

It's the same kid, but, he's regressed dramatically. He used to be active on defense, blocking and changing shots. Being active. Now he just looks lost. He used to take shots within the offense (although he didn't make a lot of them, it looked like he was comfortable).

Now every time he touches the ball it looks like this goes through his head: 'I gotta score. I gotta show that I belong. Now what? Should I drive? Should I fade away? Maybe I should pass? Screw it, I'm gonna drive. Damn. Why is that a travel?'.

[Fido]

Its way too early to label Koufos one thing or another. He is just a kid--when guys get drafted so young they are going to be inconsistent. Consistency comes (hopefully) with maturity. And I don't buy the line that says he needs playing time to develop or the team is mismanaging their rookies. Their top priority right now is winning games. They are trying to move up in the playoffs and be the best they can be. Young guys and bench players need to be able to step in and take advantage of the opportunities (ala Yatta) knowing they will be few and far between. When you do get them if you look "lost", then you don't belong....yet. And not all teams can afford to wait while you are chewing up possessions in or making mistakes. What it all boils down to is when it is your turn to play, play. If you show worthy to get minutes over the guys around you, you will. If you don't, you won't. That is the way it should be.

[HammerDunk]

Unfortunately, any of the PT he could get on this team I wish would got o Fes. He has shown decent potential and that he has been working hard. Kosta really looks bad, and I don't need stats to see that. Give him some time in the D-league sure, but that is tough to gauge as well, a la Almond.

[GP]

The problem is that people here were talking about Kosta like he was the second coming of dirk, WAY too much hype. Personally, I never expected a lot from him, so I feel like he's playing at an appropriate level.

[carrottop12]

Yeah, I'm not putting much into what I've seen from Kosta this year. He's still young, he's been playing basketball for about a year and a half straight with no real break.

I'll be more willing to judge him next season after a full offseason.

[babyjax13]

Lots of guys have trouble in their second year, I'm not worried. Kosta is young, big and mobile and that is a great combination, right now he just needs to get some confidence.

[edfmx86]

#utahjazz will sign Sundiata Gaines for remainder of the season and move Kosta Koufas to the Utah Flash - effective Monday AM.

from locked on sports twitter

[StocktonShorts]

Kosta could really use some time playing real basketball and getting some confidence. That will be easier to do in the D-league.

[Fido]

I guess that means the backup minutes are now for Fesenko. Show us what you got kid! Koufos--keep working and your time will come.