RealGM

Seriously, how did we pass on this guy? By draft time I remember not being sold on Mario, and relying mostly on feedback from people around here. And of course, I trusted Henny! But whom I was REALLY intrigued with was this kid Booker. It was evident he was a pure shooter, and even though he was and still is physically behind in terms of strength, his BBall IQ was well above avg and he could come in and immediately play some significant minutes at the 1 or 2 in the league. He also puts great effort on D and seems to be quite a leader, which brings me to think: did we miss our chance for a superstar? Will Mario's game translate to the NBA and develop into the level Booker has so far shown us?

Booker is averaging 35+ mpg over his last 10 games and he plays on a team deprived of scoring. Hezonja plays behind Fournier, Oladipo, and Gordon. The opportunities just aren't the same.

If Hezonja was on Phoenix you'd be singing quite a different tune.

I do love Booker's game though. Kid is a stud as well.

Def Swami wrote:Booker is averaging 35+ mpg over his last 10 games and he plays on a team deprived of scoring. Hezonja plays behind Fournier, Oladipo, and Gordon. The opportunities just aren't the same.

Understood. If that's the case and our playoffs chances are slim to none, Mario should be playing 30 minutes plus too. Let's not wait for next season to see what we have on Mario. Most of his scoring opportunities come from broken plays or shot clock rundowns. We need to have more plays to get him involved. Either creating for somebody else on the pick n roll, playing off the ball slashing to the basket or coming out of screens for jumpers. I cringe every time I see Elfrid, Dipo, or Jennings take a shot. We have a great young shooter in our hands and we are limiting what he can do, in a season that is now a summer league. We need to give him some minutes and get him involved!

He would end season with like 5ppg also if not for injuries of Bledsoe and Knight.They just unleashed him made him primary option after injuries and enjoy the ride.If Hezonja was made a primary option and could take 20+ shots a game...we would see similiar results or even better.

j-ragg wrote:If Hezonja was on Phoenix you'd be singing quite a different tune.

I do love Booker's game though. Kid is a stud as well.

Probably. And that's what I want to see. Given the opportunity, can Mario produce like Devin?

~Snoopy~ wrote:He would end season with like 5ppg also if not for injuries of Bledsoe and Knight.They just unleashed him made him primary option after injuries and enjoy the ride.If Hezonja was made a primary option and could take 20+ shots a game...we would see similiar results or even better.

Let's do it then. Honestly our playoffs chances have slowly evaporated ever since a couple of weeks before the all star break. Mario is the best shooter on our team (although stats might not support that given he has not been shown the green light and is thus lacking confidence IMO) and we also need to unleash him. We've had players like Elf, CJ, Dipo, Evan and even Jennings down, not to mention Harris's departure, and these situations have not resulted in any significant increase on Mario's usage. We are waisting an opportunity to develop the kid in real NBA games. Those come at a price that nobody wants to pay, losing. We are already there, we might as well use it!

mrtcsm wrote:

Def Swami wrote:Booker is averaging 35+ mpg over his last 10 games and he plays on a team deprived of scoring. Hezonja plays behind Fournier, Oladipo, and Gordon. The opportunities just aren't the same.

Understood. If that's the case and our playoffs chances are slim to none, Mario should be playing 30 minutes plus too. Let's not wait for next season to see what we have on Mario. Most of his scoring opportunities come from broken plays or shot clock rundowns. We need to have more plays to get him involved. Either creating for somebody else on the pick n roll, playing off the ball slashing to the basket or coming out of screens for jumpers. I cringe every time I see Elfrid, Dipo, or Jennings take a shot. We have a great young shooter in our hands and we are limiting what he can do, in a season that is now a summer league. We need to give him some minutes and get him involved!

yeah your singing to the choir there buddy. i am all for giving Hezonja more minutes but it isn't our call.

mrtcsm wrote:

~Snoopy~ wrote:He would end season with like 5ppg also if not for injuries of Bledsoe and Knight.They just unleashed him made him primary option after injuries and enjoy the ride.If Hezonja was made a primary option and could take 20+ shots a game...we would see similiar results or even better.

Let's do it then. Honestly our playoffs chances have slowly evaporated ever since a couple of weeks before the all star break. Mario is the best shooter on our team (although stats might not support that given he has not been shown the green light and is thus lacking confidence IMO) and we also need to unleash him. We've had players like Elf, CJ, Dipo, Evan and even Jennings down, not to mention Harris's departure, and these situations have not resulted in any significant increase on Mario's usage. We are waisting an opportunity to develop the kid in real NBA games. Those come at a price that nobody wants to pay, losing. We are already there, we might as well use it!

This wont happen here unless Dipo Payton Vuc Jennings Evan all will be out at the same time and even then I still doubt it...Skiles would make Illy 1st option or maybe even Smith or Napier before Hezonja...
not gonna happen with this current organisation at least this season

Pure hindsight. If we took Booker at 5 you'd have been crying havoc and screaming the blues loud enough to entertain a fifth quarter speakeasy.

Mario will be a better player and he was a better pick.

BlueBalls wrote:Pure hindsight. If we took Booker at 5 you'd have been crying havoc and screaming the blues loud enough to entertain a fifth quarter speakeasy.

Mario will be a better player and he was a better pick.

I haven't given up on Mario by any mean. It's just that, like some of you have already mentioned, Booker has been given the reigns of his team so early and the way he has performed is making me doubt our draft selection. I just hope that, with time, Hezonja gets to take a crack at it too and performs just as well.

I actually over a year ago said Booker was the one sleeper in the draft. It's not rocket science. The kid had been shooting great numbers for many years. Who would have thought that if you are a great shooter you can be a great shooter in the NBA?

But, just being a great shooter doesn't make you a great basketball player, we'll see what else he can do.

mrtcsm wrote:

BlueBalls wrote:Pure hindsight. If we took Booker at 5 you'd have been crying havoc and screaming the blues loud enough to entertain a fifth quarter speakeasy.

Mario will be a better player and he was a better pick.

I haven't given up on Mario by any mean. It's just that, like some of you have already mentioned, Booker has been given the reigns of his team so early and the way he has performed is making me doubt our draft selection. I just hope that, with time, Hezonja gets to take a crack at it too and performs just as well.

Its just how the chips had fallen for Devin + their organisation didnt hesitate to make him primary scoring option.

I'm sure a Phoenix fan will be along shortly to laugh at us and tell us how Booker is sure to be a superstar -- and good for them, I'm glad he's playing well -- but I'm content to be patient with Hezonja. I like his size and I think he'll turn into an average defender at some point.

What gets me with Booker is the same thing that gets me about seemingly every other player on every other team -- his free throw rate. My goodness, no one on this time aside from Aaron Gordon knows how to draw a friggin' foul. It's so frustrating. It seems like every other promising young player has a knack for it.

Save us, AG.

Just as everyone has said, opportunity knocked and he came calling. Ive seen Mario on a role before and still get pulled out smh. I wonder if a mike dantoni style offense could work here with

Elf mario evan ag and vuc

Quick ball movement, great floor spacing and cutting...

Anyways back to Booker. Really happy for him but I doubt he has the court vision and rebounding capacity of Mario. Ive also seen Mario block a shot or two. He does have the physical tools to have some defensive upside, its just waiting foe the bbiq to come around naturally

Always thought Booker was head and shoulders the best SG in that draft.

Come on,do not works that way,we all know that.

The only superstar material in 2013 was Antetokounmpo,but you can not blame every one of those 14 GM that not choose him.

At that time would have been crazy draft him in top 10,same if we would draft booker at #5 last draft.

Dont compare Mario to Booker. Those two are in complete opposite situation. When Knight and Bledsoe went out, they handed Booker the keys are he has been on a tear lately. The man is their primary option out there while Mario is more like 6th to 7th. Jason SMith and CJ watson are viewed higher in Skiles offense then Mario.

Booker is receiving the opportunity, Mario is not. Honestly, I dont think we could have predicted he would be this good this soon. If Skiles was his coach, he would be on the bench getting 15 mins a game max.

Edit: Its frustrating seeing Booker get shots off and thrive on the opportunity but AG is limited behind Dipo jacking up shots, Evan driving like speed racer, Jason thinking he is Dirk. AG scores so easy in that paint. He has improved so much. He is a matchup nightmare for PF with his quickness, and athleticism. Last night he had like 3 and1s and got to the line multiple times. Start trusting in him more just like PHX does with Booker. Such an incompetent coaching staff.


[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlrRu2OM30M[/youtube]
Why we are not going to him every possession is beyond me.

Inflated stats.

We need more Jason Smith long two's