Let's Talk About Mario

[Nemesis21]

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[NavalAviator94]

I hope he leave for his own sake. Those minutes he's getting now are just a way to get literally anything for him otherwise he'd be DNP or getting garbage time. Hope he's aware of that after all this time rotting on the bench. He lost 2-3 years on a team that didn't trust him and didn't develop him. I blame team staff first, but also himself for being too arrogant and cocky which only brought a huge expectations that he couldn't bear with. Also this team is the most selfish team I ever watched. Everyone is playing for themselves, contracts, zero chemistry, zero plays, just hero balls. The results are terrible. I am afraid it's not coincidence that every player who left Magic became better player and I wish the same for Mario.

meh, I really think its more of the staffs fault on this.

Mario, during his rookie year, has already shown flashes he can succeed in this role. But Vogel simply didn't know how to use him, like Skiles did.

This. I’ve never wavered on Mario and swore they wouldn’t decline his option. I was shocked when they did. It’s 100% on the team and year 2 was Frank trying to find just one starting line up to work after the team spent money. Mario was hurt developmentally and that’s on the coaches. Skiles had him primed to be a point forward going into year 2.

I could see a scenario where Frank wasn’t a believer, WeHam said ok we’ll decline him, but you need to play him for value purposes. We’ll see if the sense of urgency and playing time changes things. As expected, it has.


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[Sanvi]

Hi guys, new here. New on realGM and new here at the Orlando forum.

I was intrigued by and sold at Hezonja's promise back in 2015-2016, watching some of the highlight films, watching him perform some flashy dunks and other plays, dapping opposing coaches and saying Messi should come see him instead of the other way around.

Yes, I always been a fan of flashy players like Jason Williams or Rubio. Teodosic's passes get me excited often. Players doing no-look stuff, things like that - I like it.

Anyway, since Mario plays here I watched the Magic for 2,5 years, saw tons of Magic games and saw the good, the bad and the ugly from both Mario and the Magic. I spare you guys the bad and the ugly from the Magic as a whole since you guys seem to know everything about that already, but I just wanted to share some of my thoughts and share my joy on Mario's recent play.

Yeah, he has had a rough couple of seasons in which I saw everything: the glimpses, the potential, rookie mistakes, overconfidence turning into the worst turnovers, bad habits, bad defense, nice dunks (the dunk against Milwaukee 1.4.2016, OMG ) , pouting you guys call it, the DNP's, some very good games late in the first season with even some game-winners (wasn't it against Atlanta?) and now - the resurrection?

Anyways, I always believed or wanted to believe in Mario, since I kept believing (or hoping) Mario is a highly talented, athletic player, perfect for today's NBA; quite fast, athletic ability, nice shooting stroke. Passing ability and vision is very good.

I will not tell anyone "Told you so - you were wrong" since at moments I was barely at the phase of giving up. But somewhere I always kept believing (and/or hoping) Mario's game was the victim of his situation for a large degree, and not only of his own shortcomings (habits, defense).
I mean, Orlando's win-now mentality (which lead them nowhere), having lots of good or decent players ahead of him at the SF/SG/PF spots, playing vets ahead of him because of the win-now thing, two coaches; getting yanked after mistakes, etcetera.

Yes, he certainly did play bad last year but I saw promising things in year 1 and certainly now. He looks to have turned it around defensively and looks very confident. This is what playing time and confidence from your coach can get you.
I don't want to think about what would have happened if all the injuries didn't happen - it probably would have resulted in a lot more DNP's or ample playing time. I know. But I'm just glad Mario seems to make the most of this opportunity right know.

I'm just sincerely happy for him, watching him play with joy and confidence again (the 4-on-1 fastbreak, LOL; with Mario you get the good with the ugly, but that's him). I see him making great dunks again lately, slashing the rim like he often did in Europe, and just enjoying the game again. I hate to see talented wasted; and I think he still has a lot of talent. And with confidence, he still can be the FUN to watch player he was supposed to be.

Lastly: with all the recent praise of Mario, doesn't it strike you that Mario just looks much healthier, fitter, faster lately? Maybe it's just me, but this is not last year's player.

Didn't he put up a lot of weight after his first season and wasn't he slightly injured throughout much of last season but kept on playing, like he or somebody else stated (think I read that somewhere)?
Recent Mario just looks way more fit, faster and just better equipped for his type of game. At least, I think. I didn't really see anyone else talking about his health, so maybe it's just me.

This was my humble take on MH. Good luck with the Magic and have fun watching tonight's game (or hoping for another loss).

[Hoyti Von Totiy]

Man he is dunking that ball left and right.

Watch on YouTube

[T12]

As much as i'd like to believe the contrary, Mario is a rotation player on a decent team...nothing more. He isn't a good enough shooter, passer or scorer to justify his lack of defensive acumen. Hopefully i am wrong.

[RickB-Orlando]

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I'm not so sure those stats say something positive about Mario as much as highlighting just how pathetic this team is at the moment.

[Furinkazan]

As much as i'd like to believe the contrary, Mario is a rotation player on a decent team...nothing more. He isn't a good enough shooter, passer or scorer to justify his lack of defensive acumen. Hopefully i am wrong.

no
hopefully you are right
because we are losing him so he better suck or its going to be ugly here

[Zion Wembanyama]

ORL, what would it take from New Orleans to trade him to us this season?

[Furinkazan]

ORL, what would it take from New Orleans to trade him to us this season?

you are coming here so make an offer

[fendilim]

ORL, what would it take from New Orleans to trade him to us this season?

I’d trade him for anything at this point. Lol you do know that the most you can offer is the free agency is not more than 5 million, right?

[YosemiteSam]

New article on The Ringer - they are weirdly more interested in us than other news outlets

Long Live Mario Hezonja

Hezonja’s first field goal in the NBA was a no-hesitation 27-foot 3-pointer from the right wing, 24 seconds after entering a regular-season game for the first time. He’d score eight points in less than two minutes. What followed: a bad pass, two quick fouls in succession, another bad pass, all in roughly 30 seconds.

In a sense, nothing has changed since then—fits of brilliance entwine with flights of fancy, and soon enough he’s Icarus, crashing down to earth like a ball of space junk. In another, everything has changed. One bald, neurotic defensive specialist of a head coach (Scott Skiles) became another (Frank Vogel), but any coaching change is a major adjustment. Under Skiles, Hezonja was allowed brief instances to relive his childhood days of playing point guard, which Mario once said was his natural position. Now, in his second season under Vogel, he spends roughly two-thirds of his time on the court as a power forward, which might be the last position you’d want a player with significant defensive issues assuming. In both cases, it was about finding spot minutes at any position to give the young player lest he lose his confidence entirely. Hezonja’s tenuous grasp of defensive fundamentals was the thorn in the side of both coaches, evidenced by his lack of consistent playing time. But getting jerked around the positional spectrum over his first three seasons has been a separate punishment unto itself.

[ORL_on_FIRE]

Couple years later and I still have no idea what’s going to happen whenever Rio touches the ball. Atleast he’s made it entertaining.

[Optimus_Steel]

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I'm not so sure those stats say something positive about Mario as much as highlighting just how pathetic this team is at the moment.

Its not impressive. This team is in desperate need of people needing to step up and his body of work since the injuries happened is not overly impressive. He will make some nice plays but overall not very effective.

[Optimus_Steel]

New article on The Ringer - they are weirdly more interested in us than other news outlets

Long Live Mario Hezonja

Hezonja’s first field goal in the NBA was a no-hesitation 27-foot 3-pointer from the right wing, 24 seconds after entering a regular-season game for the first time. He’d score eight points in less than two minutes. What followed: a bad pass, two quick fouls in succession, another bad pass, all in roughly 30 seconds.

In a sense, nothing has changed since then—fits of brilliance entwine with flights of fancy, and soon enough he’s Icarus, crashing down to earth like a ball of space junk. In another, everything has changed. One bald, neurotic defensive specialist of a head coach (Scott Skiles) became another (Frank Vogel), but any coaching change is a major adjustment. Under Skiles, Hezonja was allowed brief instances to relive his childhood days of playing point guard, which Mario once said was his natural position. Now, in his second season under Vogel, he spends roughly two-thirds of his time on the court as a power forward, which might be the last position you’d want a player with significant defensive issues assuming. In both cases, it was about finding spot minutes at any position to give the young player lest he lose his confidence entirely. Hezonja’s tenuous grasp of defensive fundamentals was the thorn in the side of both coaches, evidenced by his lack of consistent playing time. But getting jerked around the positional spectrum over his first three seasons has been a separate punishment unto itself.

He fancies himself a PG but you can't play PG if you cant dribble the ball. Its a basic necessity.

[bobbeaver]

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I'm not so sure those stats say something positive about Mario as much as highlighting just how pathetic this team is at the moment.

Cant it be both?

[yoyojw17]

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I'm not so sure those stats say something positive about Mario as much as highlighting just how pathetic this team is at the moment.

Its not impressive. This team is in desperate need of people needing to step up and his body of work since the injuries happened is not overly impressive. He will make some nice plays but overall not very effective.

so the guy got an opportunity to get playing time.... and starts taking advantage of it..... fits in and fills a role while not running out and chucking.... shoots good percentages for a sg/sf/pf.... and he still can't be cut a break? I thought we as fans should want to see this from our young players... especially someone that took a major step back after showing promise his rookie season. I will bet that Mario is well on his way up right now. And if people keep giving up on him... let's feel free to add him to the list of all the other player magic fans had written off prematurely just to come back and complain about how management messed up once again. It would have been awesome if we got picked up player the burst into the league looking like future stars.... but most of our players have been developmental... and "a couple years away". I don't need a constant 20+ scoring from hezonja to acknowledge that he is turning the corner. even the indiana game last night... i was impressed by him on both ends of the court. I would like him to replace simmons in the starting lineup as i see him as a better fit.... the guy is smart... and i swear his brain moves faster than most players in his decision making.... and also faster than his body can keep up ... lol... all of this makes him a lot of time look erratic and careless.

trust me... i understand everyones frustrations..... but we have actually stockpiled a lot of talent.... just need to have that alpha player that can shoulder the burden of the offensive load that the support players are currently trying do. It's been some rough years... hopefully we can turn the corner before our fan base continues spiraling down.

[Nemesis21]

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[darthmerrick]

Yep, he's turning it around, and now we'll have to bid with every team in the NBA to keep him.

[Rosque]

My blind belief in this dude is finally coming to fruition.

The summer off the NT helped a lot it seems.

[OrlandO]

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Why? In hindsight I'd take Turner without a doubt... Mario is about to have zero value to us.