Let's Talk About Mario

[Lazy10]

Mario Hezonja has disappointed me. Thought he be top 5 discussion for ROY but he looked most of the time. Terrible defender. Not as good athletically as the scouts said he was. His 3 point shooting was average to below average. Hopefully he turns it around in year 2 because if he doesnt he's a huge bust and Hennigan is gone.

You think the Magic should trade him?

Off the top of my head I know Nowitzki and Hedo had even worse first years then Mario had.

I saw some things athletically from him this year that not many players his size could do. Plus he's a better passer/playmaker then I thought. I think his low ceiling is a Hedo type player.

Magic should keep him but hes just been disappointing so far

[PennytoShaq]

Mario Hezonja has disappointed me. Thought he be top 5 discussion for ROY but he looked most of the time. Terrible defender. Not as good athletically as the scouts said he was. His 3 point shooting was average to below average. Hopefully he turns it around in year 2 because if he doesnt he's a huge bust and Hennigan is gone.

This is pretty in line with your screen name because it is clear you spent very little time actually watching Mario play basketball.

Ive watched Mario play and he has been disappointing

What exactly did you expect from a 19 year old from Europe in his first season?

[Magic_Kingdom]

He's actually 21, not 19. I expected more. The chatter on Hezonja was he was a little older than Porzingis, more polished, more game-ready, more likely to contribute this season. None of that was true. He had an ok rookie season, but that's the problem. Too many of the Magic's draft picks in this rebuild have been ok or pretty good. Nothing impressive. Hopefully Mario and AG and Elf will be late-bloomers, but you can typically spot a star pretty quickly. He could be a nice player in this league, but I'm not sure if he'll be that diamond in the rough star we were hoping for.

[BadMofoPimp]

I still can't believe Mario didn't play like Durant much less Kahwi yet . . .

[j-ragg]

Mario's shot is more impressive than I thought it would be, his athleticism not as much. I'm still pumped to see what improvements he will make, hopefully he works on that first step.


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[Magic_Kingdom]

I didn't think he'd play like Durant or Kawhi, but I did think he'd make the All-Rookie Team, which is probably unlikely. I guess he might sneak on to the 2nd team.

Not every rookie lights the league on fire, but the ones who are going to be really good, you can see it in their rookie season. It's probably not a great sign that the Magic have had top 5 picks in the past 2 drafts, and neither (potentially) will make the All-Rookie Team.

Of the 15 players who made the All-NBA First, Second and Third Team last season, 14 made the All-Rookie Team, and 12 of those 14 were All-Rookie First Team.

S. Curry (1st Team All-Rookie)
L James (1st)
A. Davis (1st)
J. Harden (2nd)
M. Gasol (2nd)

R. Westbrook (1st)
C. Paul (1st)
L. Aldridge (1st)
P. Gasol (1st)
D. Cousins (1st)

K. Thompson (1st)
K. Irving (1st)
B. Griffin (1st)
T. Duncan (1st)
D. Jordan (--)

Durant was injured last year or he would have been on this list, and he was First Team All-Rookie. So was Kawhi.

It doesn't mean AG and Mario won't be good. It just means that the really good ones usually show it early.

[MagicMadness]

I don't see why, talent-wise, he won't end up being at least a J.J. Redick type of player.

Which is pretty darn good. I'd take that.

[KillMonger]

i think he can be hedo 2.0, better than hedo at his best.....gotta tighten up that handle though but if he can he could be a damn good playmaker, his court vision is on par with elfrid's.

[BadMofoPimp]

Dude is already 21 years old and if he hasn't shown superstar talent by now, he sure must be a scrub . . .

[Catledge]

I don't see why, talent-wise, he won't end up being at least a J.J. Redick type of player.

Which is pretty darn good. I'd take that.

JJ didn't become a fulltime NBA starter until he was 30. I'm hoping for more than that.

[PennytoShaq]

I didn't think he'd play like Durant or Kawhi, but I did think he'd make the All-Rookie Team, which is probably unlikely. I guess he might sneak on to the 2nd team.


It doesn't mean AG and Mario won't be good. It just means that the really good ones usually show it early.

If we are talking superlatives, did you see what he did in the Rookie game? He was easily one of the most dominant players there.

Some of this is usage. He didn't get carte blanche like Victor did.

People keep saying it is worrying that the Magic didn't get stars in their draft, but who would you have taken instead? I don't know any player better than Aaron that came after him in the draft. And while Portis and Turner look solid, they don't exactly project to be stars either. Mario has an incredibly fast release on a perfect shot, he just needs to adjust to the NBA game and then they will take off the reigns.

[MagicMadness]

I don't see why, talent-wise, he won't end up being at least a J.J. Redick type of player.

Which is pretty darn good. I'd take that.

JJ didn't become a fulltime NBA starter until he was 30. I'm hoping for more than that.

Yeah, being a quality starter would be even better.

Maybe my expectations are low, but since so many of these international prospects end up being busts, simply being a quality role player like Redick was/is would be good enough for me. So far, Hezonja looks to be at least that good.

If we are talking superlatives, did you see what he did in the Rookie game? He was easily one of the most dominant players there.

Yep. That was very promising.

[SaberT]

He's actually 21, not 19. I expected more. The chatter on Hezonja was he was a little older than Porzingis, more polished, more game-ready, more likely to contribute this season. None of that was true. He had an ok rookie season, but that's the problem. Too many of the Magic's draft picks in this rebuild have been ok or pretty good. Nothing impressive. Hopefully Mario and AG and Elf will be late-bloomers, but you can typically spot a star pretty quickly. He could be a nice player in this league, but I'm not sure if he'll be that diamond in the rough star we were hoping for.

Porzingis had a clearly defined role in Europe and played a lot of minutes where he was integral part of the offense. Hezonja played off the bench for Barcelona when their major players were out injured. Similar to how Skiles handled him this year. Hezonja's major problem is lack of competitive minutes as he never played as a starter in Barcelona.

I think this season was first time he got significant minutes on regular basis, which is saying something.

[drsd]

..

[drsd]

Mario's shot is more impressive than I thought it would be, ...

Book perfect form!
A couple hundred thousands of shooting reps in the gym, and he will be a light's out 3ball shooter.

[SaberT]

Mario's shot is more impressive than I thought it would be, ...

Book perfect form!
A couple hundred thousands of shooting reps in the gym, and he will be a light's out 3ball shooter.

Something that Hezonja did not mention, but I've heard other European players mention (especially shooters) is that the ball is different in NBA than in Europe. It takes time to get used to it as it feels differently in the hands.

[BadMofoPimp]

Mario's shot is more impressive than I thought it would be, ...

Book perfect form!
A couple hundred thousands of shooting reps in the gym, and he will be a light's out 3ball shooter.

Something that Hezonja did not mention, but I've heard other European players mention (especially shooters) is that the ball is different in NBA than in Europe. It takes time to get used to it as it feels differently in the hands.

Don't they use the women's basketball in Europe?

[Bensational]

It's all a matter of time, touches and usage. Once guys like Gordon and Hezonja start getting 1st, 2nd or 3rd option opportunities, their numbers will jump dramatically. But unfortunately they don't get the chance to play with training wheels the way Oladipo did, so they're not going to get those opportunities under Skiles until they're already executing at a high level.

[BadMofoPimp]

It's all a matter of time, touches and usage. Once guys like Gordon and Hezonja start getting 1st, 2nd or 3rd option opportunities, their numbers will jump dramatically. But unfortunately they don't get the chance to play with training wheels the way Oladipo did, so they're not going to get those opportunities under Skiles until they're already executing at a high level.

By their 3rd or 4th year, they will be hitting their strides.

Mario will prove em all wrong!!!

[Zappa012]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekJGOeL4uHI[/youtube]