Let's Talk About Mario

[Magic_Kingdom]

So, will Mario make the All-Rookie Second Team? I'm thinking no. A lot of first-rounders performed well this season. It will probably be the second straight season the Magic had a Top 5 pick that did not make the All-Rookie First or Second Team (#4 Gordon 2014-15, #5 Hezonja 2015-16). Although Elfrid did make the First Team last season as the #10 pick.

[seeingstars]

Mario Hezonja could end up being the best shooter and playmaker in last years draft. Of all our guys with "untapped potential" he and Gordon are the brightest gems. I keep having to say this every off season but our young squad is STACKED and guess what (they aint getting any younger)

[JF5]

Mario Hezonja could end up being the best shooter and playmaker in last years draft. Of all our guys with "untapped potential" he and Gordon are the brightest gems. I keep having to say this every off season but our young squad is STACKED and guess what (they aint getting any younger)

Yeah, he has a much higher ceiling than I originally thought he did. I thought he'd be only reach Klay Thompson/Glenn Rice potential but that seems to be more of a his medium. He can really pass the ball and his play-making ability while driving to the basket at the end of the season really shocked me. We already know he can shoot the ball but he also has a pretty good post game which raises his potential. He also has very good instincts, intelligence, and a natural feel for the game offensively. When you add all of that together it gives him the trajectory of being one of the best offensive players in the league within a 4-5 year radius.

I know it seems like a high expectation but with his supposed work ethic he might end up being a top 10 player in this league.

[SOUL]

I think Mario currently hits contested shots better than open ones. As soon as we can rely on him to hit open threes, it'll be gravy.

[Orlwillbeback]

Mario Hezonja could end up being the best shooter and playmaker in last years draft. Of all our guys with "untapped potential" he and Gordon are the brightest gems. I keep having to say this every off season but our young squad is STACKED and guess what (they aint getting any younger)

Yeah, he has a much higher ceiling than I originally thought he did. I thought he'd be only reach Klay Thompson/Glenn Rice potential but that seems to be more of a his medium. He can really pass the ball and his play-making ability while driving to the basket at the end of the season really shocked me. We already know he can shoot the ball but he also has a pretty good post game which raises his potential. He also has very good instincts, intelligence, and a natural feel for the game offensively. When you add all of that together it gives him the trajectory of being one of the best offensive players in the league within a 4-5 year radius.

I know it seems like a high expectation but with his supposed work ethic he might end up being a top 10 player in this league.

I agree with everything you said. However I think the primary obstacle that our player development coach will have will be improving his agility and foot speed. He doesn't have the best feet at least defensively.

He also needs to develop an in between game like oladipo has, Although dipo doesnt have nearly the perimeter shooting ability or potential Mario has. Mario can simply shoot over anyone with his height, vertical and high, quick release. As long as he is developed reasonably well I don't see how he doesn't eventually become one of the best 3 point shooters in the league, given his ability to shoot contested.

[seeingstars]

Mario Hezonja could end up being the best shooter and playmaker in last years draft. Of all our guys with "untapped potential" he and Gordon are the brightest gems. I keep having to say this every off season but our young squad is STACKED and guess what (they aint getting any younger)

Yeah, he has a much higher ceiling than I originally thought he did. I thought he'd be only reach Klay Thompson/Glenn Rice potential but that seems to be more of a his medium. He can really pass the ball and his play-making ability while driving to the basket at the end of the season really shocked me. We already know he can shoot the ball but he also has a pretty good post game which raises his potential. He also has very good instincts, intelligence, and a natural feel for the game offensively. When you add all of that together it gives him the trajectory of being one of the best offensive players in the league within a 4-5 year radius.

I know it seems like a high expectation but with his supposed work ethic he might end up being a top 10 player in this league.

I agree with everything you said. However I think the primary obstacle that our player development coach will have will be improving his agility and foot speed. He doesn't have the best feet at least defensively.

He also needs to develop an in between game like oladipo has, Although dipo doesnt have nearly the perimeter shooting ability or potential Mario has. Mario can simply shoot over anyone with his height, vertical and high, quick release. As long as he is developed reasonably well I don't see how he doesn't eventually become one of the best 3 point shooters in the league, given his ability to shoot contested.

I saw Hezonja as having a great inbetween game, at least in passing to a popper like Smith or Vuc. He can shoot it from there and Ive seen him curl around screens to shoot that mid range shot he just needs some more consistancy. He also has the tools and timing for a nice turn around/fade away but again consistancy... Which comes in time of course

[zelenooq]

i think he is little bit stronger than before orlando magic
he got weight and muscles so i think that was major issue with his ballhandling and attacking the rim
when he become comfortable with that he will be much better player
and he has foot problem a specially on defense but it can be fix like tennis player with fast foot waiting for opponent service

[zelenooq]

and i can't wait to see his progress this summer
and freedom (unleashed) with national basketball team

[TheTrooper]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJsybCp7OP0[/youtube]

[NavalAviator94]

I think Mario currently hits contested shots better than open ones. As soon as we can rely on him to hit open threes, it'll be gravy.

It's because he's shocked that someone actually passed him the ball when he was open.

[Gordon]

He is terrible as a pick and roll player, one of the very worst in the league according to Synergy.

I hope we run more pin-downs for him next season, he seemed to do well in those type of plays.

I like the progress he has made on defensive end, offensively i was expecting more to be honest even in his rookie season.

[jezzer45]

My 2 cents: mario has the superstar potential. He showed flashes specially in the 4th quaters that once he has it on look out. Defense is getting there but if his offense pans out the way its expected im sure no one will care too much. Bbiq is one of the highest on the team which says a lot as he is a foreign 20 year old rookie. I hope next year he gets the opportunity not only from the coaches but from his teammates as well because he was often frozen out of the offense.

[Mc-o]

My 2 cents: mario has the superstar potential. He showed flashes specially in the 4th quaters that once he has it on look out. Defense is getting there but if his offense pans out the way its expected im sure no one will care too much. Bbiq is one of the highest on the team which says a lot as he is a foreign 20 year old rookie. I hope next year he gets the opportunity not only from the coaches but from his teammates as well because he was often frozen out of the offense.

Idk about superstar potential , he has potential to be an all star but idk about being a first option on offense . His handles will need to improve 10 fold if he ever is going to become the first option on offense . He is similar to klay Thompson, a great second option but not a superstar ! (Which is not a bad thing ) also his bbiq is not the best on our team , his court vision yes but his bbiq on defense is not good. Superstar players don't get "frozen" out by teammates because their talent is undeniable, I think that he was hesitant a lot this year on the offensive end. Now I hope Mario proves me wrong and just blows up and becomes a superstar but taking my homer glasses off I see an all star and great second option on a championship team .

[Von Bismarck]

He is terrible as a pick and roll player, one of the very worst in the league according to Synergy.

I have no idea how they calculate that but if my very own eyes are not twisting the picture, he's been very good at p'n'r

Now I hope Mario proves me wrong and just blows up and becomes a superstar but taking my homer glasses off I see an all star and great second option on a championship team .

I like Mario very much but anyone with a little common sense will tell you he's not a superstar potential nor he was projected to be that before the draft, no offense to the guy you quoted. So I agree with you, for once eh (better than never)

He has a potential to be a first option on a mediocre team and the second option on a contender. Few All-Star weekends are also plausible for him.

But he has a lot of work in front of him.

[Gordon]

He is terrible as a pick and roll player, one of the very worst in the league according to Synergy.

I have no idea how they calculate that but if my very own eyes are not twisting the picture, he's been very good at p'n'r

Well out of 136 players who have run atleast 82 pick and roll possessions this season, Mario ranks 129th accoring to PPP (point per possession) with 0.627. He is shooting just 34.7% on those plays and turns the ball over on 27.4% of those possessions, which is also one of highest rates in the league. Some guys ranked near his efficiency in pick and roll include Nik Stauskas, Kent Bazemore, Raul Neto and Shabazz Napier.

He just doesn`t look like someone who will be able to do a lot of ballhandling. We need to leverage his size and shooting ability by running him off screens and making him off the ball threat.

[j_n]

He is terrible as a pick and roll player, one of the very worst in the league according to Synergy.

I have no idea how they calculate that but if my very own eyes are not twisting the picture, he's been very good at p'n'r

Well out of 136 players who have run atleast 82 pick and roll possessions this season, Mario ranks 129th accoring to PPP (point per possession) with 0.627. He is shooting just 34.7% on those plays and turns the ball over on 27.4% of those possessions, which is also one of highest rates in the league. Some guys ranked near his efficiency in pick and roll include Nik Stauskas, Kent Bazemore, Raul Neto and Shabazz Napier.

He just doesn`t look like someone who will be able to do a lot of ballhandling. We need to leverage his size and shooting ability by running him off screens and making him off the ball threat.

Those stats only include plays where Hezonja took a shot or turned the ball over, it doesnt include assists so you could say he doesnt finish well on pick n rolls but he mostly tries to hit the roll man and that doesnt shot up in the stats unless he committed a turnover.

[Xatticus]

My 2 cents: mario has the superstar potential. He showed flashes specially in the 4th quaters that once he has it on look out. Defense is getting there but if his offense pans out the way its expected im sure no one will care too much. Bbiq is one of the highest on the team which says a lot as he is a foreign 20 year old rookie. I hope next year he gets the opportunity not only from the coaches but from his teammates as well because he was often frozen out of the offense.

Idk about superstar potential , he has potential to be an all star but idk about being a first option on offense . His handles will need to improve 10 fold if he ever is going to become the first option on offense . He is similar to klay Thompson, a great second option but not a superstar ! (Which is not a bad thing ) also his bbiq is not the best on our team , his court vision yes but his bbiq on defense is not good. Superstar players don't get "frozen" out by teammates because their talent is undeniable, I think that he was hesitant a lot this year on the offensive end. Now I hope Mario proves me wrong and just blows up and becomes a superstar but taking my homer glasses off I see an all star and great second option on a championship team .

I think Klay Thompson is a really good comp. He needs quite a bit of refinement to get there though.

[Xatticus]

He is terrible as a pick and roll player, one of the very worst in the league according to Synergy.

I have no idea how they calculate that but if my very own eyes are not twisting the picture, he's been very good at p'n'r

Well out of 136 players who have run atleast 82 pick and roll possessions this season, Mario ranks 129th accoring to PPP (point per possession) with 0.627. He is shooting just 34.7% on those plays and turns the ball over on 27.4% of those possessions, which is also one of highest rates in the league. Some guys ranked near his efficiency in pick and roll include Nik Stauskas, Kent Bazemore, Raul Neto and Shabazz Napier.

He just doesn`t look like someone who will be able to do a lot of ballhandling. We need to leverage his size and shooting ability by running him off screens and making him off the ball threat.

I agree with all of this, except that he is presently poor at using screens. The same play that gets Fournier to the basket with regularity consistently resulted in jumpers from the top of the key for Hezonja.

[ezzzp]

Without better handles, Mario's ceiling drops considerably. His passing and floor vision don't really make an impact if he can't maneuver through traffic with his head up and create for himself and others. Even with screens, he moves incredibly slow and mechanically with the ball. If he had been put in that position more, teams would have turned him over even more than they already did.

I thought for sure he'd be a much more effective shooter than he was this season and be able to at least contribute to wins more by spreading the floor with that one NBA ready skill set...but he shot poorly from deep most of the year:



This is likely due to the adjustment to the NBA game...but its nothing to worry about unless it continues well into next season.

I was very happy to see his defensive improvement under Skiles over the course of the season. He has the tools to be above average and shows to be a willing student that puts in the work.

If he can keep developing that defense and improves his handles enough to merit having the offense run through him more, then his ceiling really jumps.

[MagicStarwipe]

His supposed elite athleticism did not translate to the NBA game this season. He had trouble finishing lobs and getting in the lane and finishing or getting fouled. That and his handles are the biggest concern. He also makes too many "WTF?" plays that result in bad turnovers, but you'd hope that will change with more experience.

On the plus side, he's a skilled passer and plays a brand of unselfish, winning basketball which is rare on our team.