Atlanta Hawks: Good fit for Fesenko?
The Hawks plan to sign a center and it almost certainly will be a guy on a 10-day contract rather than a permanent addition. They’ve discussed Kyrylo Fesenko, Erick Dampier and Dan Gadzuric but, as far as I know, they haven’t inquired with those guys yet to gauge their interest in a short-term gig in Atlanta.
(Ravell Call, Deseret News)
I’ve always thought Fesenko, the massive 7-foot Ukranian, is probably the best item in the Big Man Bargain Bin (excluding Joel Przybilla, who has eyes for the Heat or Bulls). But you figured something was up when the Warriors reportedly had an agreement with Fesenko in December but balked at signing him and then passed on him again after Kwame Brown went down last month. Word is the knee injury Fesenko suffered playing for the Ukraine last summer remains a concern; his conditioning and work ethic were suspect before he got hurt and so you have to wonder how much he can give.
But it might be worth it for the Hawks to find out on a 10-day because if Fesenko can give them 8-10 minutes a night he’s a good fit (and he’s only 24-years old, too, so Hawks could get a jump on looking ahead). Fesenko recorded amazing on-court, off-court defensive numbers in Utah: The Jazz allowed 11.91 fewer points per 100 possessions in 2010-11 with Fesenko and 8.68 points fewer in 2009-10 according to basketballvalue.com. Synergy Sports Technology ranked Fesenko ninth in the league in 2010-11 with .71 points per possession allowed (on just 93 possessions used in 53 games, but still). And 82games. com had Fesenko’s opposing PER at 10.4 last season and 12.9 in 2009-10.
In other words, Fesenko has provided an even better Twin Effect than Jason Collins with better rebound and blocks rates (and, to be sure, lots and lots of fouls). Fesenko offers next to nothing offensively but he’s got Twin beat there, too, in large part because he can score on putbacks–1 point per possession on offensive rebounds last season, according to Synergy.
Finally, from my selfish perspective, bringing in Fesenko would at least add some intrigue for the Hawks. Don’t get me wrong: It’s been fun to see Ivan Johnson defying the odds to become a bona fide rotation player. But wouldn’t it be even cooler to see a giant Ukranian taking on Roy Hibbert and Dwight Howard this week?
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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271 comments Add your comment
Just Joe
February 6th, 2012
3:06 pm
3-team trade (around March deadline):
Hawks get Tyson Chandler, Markieff Morris, Grant Hill
Knicks get Steve Nash, Robin Lopez
Suns get Josh Smith, Marvin Williams, Iman Shumpert
Suns get a young PG & finally have an athletic, shot-blocking front line with Josh Smith & Marcin Gortat.
Knicks get the veteran PG that they want.
Hawks finally have a true center in his prime, a young PF with 6′10″ size, and another expiring veteran contract in Grant Hill. Hawks could package Hinrich ($8M expiring) & Grant Hill ($6.5M expiring) and go shopping for an impact SF, or keep what they have and go in to next season owing $56M to Teague, Johnson, Horford, Morris, Chandler & Pachulia.
SteveW
February 6th, 2012
3:07 pm
KevinM – Agree with Josh’s FT shooting.
Jody – when I first thought Josh and 15m per, it was when he was playing really well in that 8-10 game stretch. Your right, probably not worth that much now. I wonder what he will get in that next contract, either here or somewhere else?
SteveW
February 6th, 2012
3:13 pm
OB – About Josh and tickets, if he was marketed right, he may create a huge buzz with his dunks and blocks.
But I think wherever he was, after awhile, people would be groaning when he went to shoot a J.
69% at the rim for Josh and 39% everywhere else? Shoot at the rim Josh, shoot at the rim
Najeh – If that’s the Stein article, it got broke down pretty good a couple of blogs ago. Deng, Jennings, and Hibbert over JJ, Rondo, and Iggy? You could make some arguments either way.
I still think Josh is playing his way out of the All Star game the last few games. Hope he makes it however.
And Stein put Peirce at SG to keep JJ out. Peirce does deserve the game however. But so does JJ in my opinion.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 6th, 2012
3:19 pm
New blog up. That trade posted by Just Joe is one of the better Josh trades I have seen.
Grandad
February 6th, 2012
3:20 pm
Blodus
BB = a big ol’ slug of a white boy; played at wisconsin;
tough as nails; inj his knee sometime or nuther,
knee hurt his status as a prospect.
Comparison = Brian Scalabrine
SteveW
February 6th, 2012
3:21 pm
Najeh – I say travel to the All Star game with just two C’s – Howard and Bosh. That’s all you need. Amare can play some spot C also.
Put Josh, and Peirce as backup F’s
JJ backup SG
DeRon at reserve PG.
Still have 2 spots open – I say Rondo and Iggy. The East would be small, but very athletic, and with great D. You could make arguments for Deng and Jennings, but I say stick with Rondo and Iggy.
Stein wants to put a Pacer player on there. Shaft Rondo, and stick Hibbert on there if needed.
But I’m a homer, and I’m really pushing for two All Stars from the Hawks, so it is what it is.
Shaft DeRon since he’s on a losing squad, and record plays a large role on the selections, and throw Jennings in there if you want. I’m just not sold that Jennings is as good as people are saying. I prefer DeRon at the Point.
Grandad
February 6th, 2012
3:22 pm
* Comparison = Brian Scalabrine
* should have said:
Brian Scalabrine with a gimp knee.
STRETCH
February 6th, 2012
3:27 pm
Love Just Joe’s trade! Chandlers a tough guy that hits the boards and G Hill still has something in the tank. Dont know much about Morris but either way they get rid of Marvin and the crybaby Josh.
I mean seriously, how much more can one organization tolerate from a 7th year stubborn PF who constantly kills team chemistry? Oh, i forgot, we are talking about the Atlanta Hawks.
Rod from College Park
February 6th, 2012
3:38 pm
Buddy Grizzard,
Playing Marvin more minutes won’t result in his numbers increasing. He will just turn invisible for those remaining minutes. I have no idea where some here are getting the Marvin is having a career year nonsense from. He is averaging 10.4ppg, 5.6rpg, 44%FG, and 49%3pt. Same numbers as last year, with the exception of his 3pt % which is up. No team will trade for him, unless they are trying to get rid of some garbage. They guy can’t post up Jodie Meeks or Jrue Holiday.
I am not sure what your problem with Pargo is, but he is just as good as Kirk at this point. Pargo was an extremely good backup point guard behind CP3 two years ago, and had serious knee problems which forced him to have 2 knee surgeries. He seems to be just getting back to old form, and was doing a good job of running the second unit, not giving up leads, and knocking down shots before Kirk came back. Kirk is not a point guard anymore, and if his shot is not falling, he is useless. I have not been impressed with his defense either, as quick pg’s blow by him as well. I hope Kirk is only being played to showcase him for a trade, because the team has been much worse since he came back.
Grandad
February 6th, 2012
3:40 pm
SteveW
G-dad’s Scouting Report:
I realize I’m not on a pro team’s payroll, but, …..
keith Benson > Jeff Foote:
* Today
* Yesterday
* Tomorrow
* The Next Day
* Day after Tomorrow
* Next Week
* Next Month
* Last Year
** ** Kito is / was the Better Player -&- the Better Prospect ! !
Mr Mojo
February 6th, 2012
3:42 pm
We have to have the worst owners in Sports. I never seen a playoff team lose their allstar Center for the year and not add anything and then lose another center and still don’t add anyone even on a 10 day contract. This team will never take the nextt step with these clowns running the team. They are so hell bent on not going over the luxury tax that we will never take that next step.
pointguardslim
February 6th, 2012
3:45 pm
“69% at the rim for Josh and 39% everywhere else? Shoot at the rim Josh, shoot at the rim.”
Well, if its that easy…smh the problem. the problem’s always been running plays that get him there and open.
He’s 6′8 and we have him rolling into 7 footers as if he’s going to score over them. He rarely gets leakouts in transition because he is playing PF and trailing/rebounding (instead Marvin play/runs the wing). How about we take advantage of Josh with this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3abug9frGOY
pointguardslim
February 6th, 2012
3:50 pm
Offensively, Hinrich and McGrady wont work.
passing guard Hinrich (not a shooting guard offensively Willie Green is better, Pargo is better)
passing guard McGrady (defers)
shooting guard Pargo (gets his own shot)
Recognize Hinrich is a better facilitator but who’s he facilitating? We need quickness and change of pace scoring off the bench, BG.
Grandad
February 6th, 2012
4:01 pm
Najeh -&- others
Josh / v / P.Gasol – shot blkng
Gasol career numbers consistent 1 +
Josh career nunbers have spiraled downward from +2.
*[currently +2 after 7 blk game]
spiraled is probably a poor choice of words;
*downward trend, perhaps is better.
My point; Josh is not a signicant defensive upgrade over PG.
Not any person in their right mind would oppose a Josh for Gasol trade.
gasol clearly the Better player, then, now, and most probably,
for several more years to come.
note- I consider def. rebs. part of overall defense. PG a better rebounder.
_____________________________________________
doc
Jefferson is better the Josh -Now- !
Jefferson is an All-Star ‘`caliber`’ Center !
I would trade Josh for Jefferson today;
Utah would not do that deal !
____________________________________________
Marcin Gortat has a higher efficiency rating [not Hollinger]
than Josh. If PHX would toss in their # 1 pick;
(possible lottery shot at Thomas Robinson)
I would trade Josh for MG.
_____________________________________________
SteveW -&- those that say there are no Centers available for Josh.
I would possibly look at Bargnani + their lottery pick,
`or` another player on their roster as well ?
Sautee
February 6th, 2012
4:07 pm
Rod,
about this: “He is averaging 10.4ppg, 5.6rpg, 44%FG, and 49%3pt. Same numbers as last year, with the exception of his 3pt % which is up.”
You are correct about Marvin’s numbers. They are the same as last year (that is, marginally ok, at best), BUT, I’ll defend Marvin here because he’s giving the same numbers in 5 minutes fewer MPG playing time than last year. Now Rod, you KNOW that I’m no Marvin fan, but what this tells me is that he’s having his most productive year in the last few.
Is that enough for $7+M? HA! Not for me.
No one is likely to take him off our hands, so the best we can hope for is that he will produce to a decent level, given the minutes he’s played. I think he’s done that, though it just kills me when he has 6′3″ Jodie Meeks guarding him and he passes out rather than post up. So am I satisfied with Marvin? Hell to the naw, but at least he’s producing, per minute, better than many years.
Not that it says that much. But we should acknowledge his increased production.
pointguardslim
February 6th, 2012
4:11 pm
Watch the videos “Hawks Convoluted PnR (Teague’s/Hinrich’s Man Helps Defend Smith’s Roll)”
take the non ball handler to the other side of the key. We are overloading the ballside of the key.
Doug Collins and everyone else runs 2 man pick and roll. We have Josh rolling into a guard and get no layups.
Remember the Spencer Hawes teardrop? Ball handler and screener on one side. Everyone else weakside. Defensive 3 seconds prevents help rotation and you get easy layups or dunks.
Blake over Mosgov and over Perkins? exact same play.
Caron Butler gets the same play ran for him.
Popovich with Parker and Splitter. Collins with Vucevic and Hawes tear dropping all over us. Fat Josh Smith’s putback and fouled dunking over Joakim last year. That was all the same simple basic staple NBA play. Why we dont run it any more with Josh? No clue.
Yet We have our high flyer running it only to have him, Josh Smith, rolling into help defense.
Take the help defense away by taking your man away. Defensive 3 seconds prevents help from stopping this very simple play.
Have Josh+Joe or Jeff, on one side and spot up everyone else on the other side:
Run it dribbling over the top of the screen to attack middle. Josh is open hit him. Help leaves Joe open hit him. Jeff you are the PG, no matter if you are PO’d at someone look to pass and get assists, don’t force it.
This video named “- Hawks Finally Run Simple Pick and Rolls – Atlanta vs Toronto – MLK Day 2012-” shows us running it successfully.
I want us to dunk on some Suns today.
Grandad
February 6th, 2012
4:21 pm
pointguardslim
When have you seen Josh run pick & roll ?
1st of all Josh doesn’t know how to screen.
LD knows offense.
Slimjr
February 6th, 2012
5:09 pm
I never seen Josh pick and roll either? He does not trust his guards to give it back to him….
pointguardslim
February 6th, 2012
5:11 pm
Whoa Grandad so much at a time:
“1st of all Josh doesn’t know how to screen.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3abug9frGOY
Does Caron Butler show his great fundamentals screen 20 seconds into the vid? It does not matter there. Clear out 1 side for screen and roll and let the others crash or spot up?
It is embarassing the Hawks as an organization have not figured this out yet.
“LD knows offense.”
Larry Drew knows offense? Then why is Joe Johnson running off of 6 screens just so he can dribble into more help defense all game?
Where’s the proof? We dont have Horford to push the ball from the center position and now the halfcourt flaws are being revealed. The offense is convoluted and often pointless compared to that set “2 man pick and roll, 3 men crash” that countless teams run. It takes advantage of the defensive 3-second rule.
LD’s been a nice fit personality wise but Where’s the proof that he knows offense? Run the 2 man pick and roll and take advantage of the defensive 3-second rule.
All Im saying.
pointguardslim
February 6th, 2012
5:13 pm
“I never seen Josh pick and roll either?”
He runs it all the time… Problem is he rolls into traffic and we cant get the ball into him. There are dozens of different types of pick and rolls. Double screens, single screens. Overload weakside, overload strong side.
Im talking about a specific type of pick and roll that LD or the team never runs.
Atlanta Hawks adding Kyrylo Fesenko? | yoursportsinfo.com
February 7th, 2012
7:02 am
[...] of the names that have been discussed, the paper reports, are Kyrylo Fesenko, Erick Dampier, and Dan [...]