Mario Hezonja

[LofJ]

I want Mario in a Hornets jersey. It will make me forget the horrible disappointment this season has been. His personality and skill set are exactly what we need. We need to trade up to get him though and I hope we do.

[Mirotic12]

Well that did not happen,they went 4-6 in that one month and it had nothing to do with Hezonja playing.They were missing a large part of the team due to injury and had very tough games at the same time(Alba, Fener,Laboral, Panathinaikos, Real - they won against the last 2 that month) so it's not really odd that they lost some games while having half of the team missing or in poor physical condition.
Actually he was one of the guys that looked good and it was not an experiment - he had to play cos there was no one else. If it was not for all those injuries, only God knows if he would have gotten a chance to play at all. Him playing good that period bought him more playing time later.

I was watching all those games. He was most basic reason for all of their losses along with Huertas' horrible defense. Out of control and wild decisions. Not using his head and not making the right play and some not smart tactics. Low basketball IQ at some times, or just sometimes being a stupid player, just being a very all around foolish kind of player in some moments.

As soon as Navarro cam back, even at first when he was almost huffing around the court, the team instantly was back in form and under control and right away was back to winning the games and playing like a well oiled machine. The change was simply that he took Hezonja's minutes.

I am not hating, I am stating simple truth and fact. Someone comes here and says different and they are painting unrealistic picture of the level of Hezonja in the current time.

We just see in first Euroleague playoff game with Olympiacos how Hezonja tried to go into some kind of "I am so good mode" and thinks he is 10 times better than he really is, and every time he tried something out on his own, rather than just run the sets and do the plays.......Olympiacos players rejected him like a red headed step child and whole arena was silent. He was sent to the bench and was throwing a temper tamptrum and everything.

Look, he is a kid and he plays like one, and even he was maybe lucky Olympiacos coach looked like a moron the whole game for using a crippled Spanoulis, who is clearly playing with one leg and never should have played, and then also making so many mistakes in the game. But not really all that surprising I guess, because I never liked him when he coached Greek club Panionios in Eurocup. They had a quite strong roster and never could manage to do anything in Eurocup.

Anyway, point is that Barca was lucky Olympiacos coach blew up with many mistakes in that game, or else some of Hezonja's foolish nonsense could have caused a loss in a more serious contest. He better not play in such a way in game 2, because I am sure Olympiacos will be better prepared and if Spanoulis would be in any way possible able to play remotely even like at 75% health, such similar performance as Barca had could be a loss.

That is an issue. Hezonja is obviously many times better a player in his own head than he actually is. And maybe this is OK for confidence and wanting to believe in yourself, but it is not when you try to go into stupid nonsense on the court. His coach is doing no holding him back as people are accusing, he is reigning him in, because he can have tendency to be wild and stupid.

I like him as a player, and he's very good and talented, but also, he seems like he is stupid and selfish also, and he does not really seem to care if he causes his team to lose games. Just how he looks is more important it seems. It is not coincidence for me that some NBA managers were said to be at the game in front row and ones from teams in lotto and the reports were all about it. Then he goes into the game and goes all crazy trying to go 1 against 5 and looking like a complete clown. Especially since he was trying to dunk stuff on what is probably most athletic team in Europe, which also shows lack of preparation and discipline. Immaturity and arrogance type stuff. The "I am above everyone" syndrome. Otherwise he would know you can't dunk all over the most athletic team in Europe going 1 on 5. But after he got stuffed once trying it, he tried it again, and again got embarrassingly rejected.

Then threw his temper on the bench for everyone to see on arena and TV and with those NBA people there. So as much as I like his skills and his talent, there is definitely something wrong with his attitude, ego, mentality, or whatever.

[Von Bismarck]

Lot of nonsense you have put in a single post, Mirotic12.

There's no way it was his fault in any of those games. While those were injured he shot 60% for 2 and 50% for 3 while averaging 15pts/4rbd/2,5ast, he was the only reason Barca did not lose by 20 points every game. He set the records for three points in spanish league while shooting 8/8 for 3. He had some incredible plays.

What about today's game? On that first attempt he amazingly got rid of his guard but unfortunately wasn't agressive enough as he tends to be so Oly's PF blocked his shot. On that second attempt, he destroyed his guard, which was Oly's playmaker, but instead of dunking it he went to lay up and 2 guys blocked him. Yes, he was angry at himself on the bench, what's the problem with that?

Later on he went back and finished poor Olympiakos, especially with that monstrous alley-op (I shall put that gif as soon as I come across it) and that play where he had put 2+1.

Of course he thinks he's the best, I would too if I was him. On that youtube compilation of his from 2015, he has more incredible plays than whole Barcelona team combined in 2014-15, or Olympiacos for that matter.

[Von Bismarck]

Mirotic12, there you go, a video of how he completely ashamed his guard and his reaction. Do I need to mention that it was a clear foul on him at that lay up? I see nothing wrong in his rage, moreover, I think it's positive. Some players would get technical foul on the court because they couldn't hold their anger, he at least stood calm on the ground and shown his frustration out of the court.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIqHBGmT7vw

And please, spare us of your bs about him being a knucklehead and stuff, you should know better.

Plus, his alley-oop

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNOXlva2eIM

Now you can continue to spread your demagogy.

[Mirotic12]

There is no need for personal attacks and insults. I am not here to get into fights and to argue with people that are clear fans of Hezonja. Anyone can post highlight clips only of Hezonja. Where are the low light clips? You posted a set play. Nothing to do with what I was talking about. You also keep posting stats over and over and keep ignoring that Barca was losing games when they put the offense more on him.

Anyway, I am simply talking facts, and this obviously angered some Hezonja fans. Why? Because he's not Mr. Perfect and some of them are trying to paint a picture here like he is.

He played a very bad game against Olympiacos and the comments here would have it seem like he was almost Jordan of Europe in that game and dominated. For people not watching him play in Europe and just reading here, you need to either start watching those games, or just understand a lot of smoke is being blown up his rear in some comments here.

[Von Bismarck]

'Anyone can post highlight clips only of Hezonja'.

Well, go ahead and post highlights video of any other young European player, if it's even 50% as impressive as Hezonja's, I'll admit to you being right. You could also include college players, surely maybe only 2 or 3 guys have as many attractive moves as Mario has. I shall be waiting.

[greg4012]

There is no need for personal attacks and insults. I am not here to get into fights and to argue with people that are clear fans of Hezonja. Anyone can post highlight clips only of Hezonja. Where are the low light clips? You posted a set play. Nothing to do with what I was talking about. You also keep posting stats over and over and keep ignoring that Barca was losing games when they put the offense more on him.

Anyway, I am simply talking facts, and this obviously angered some Hezonja fans. Why? Because he's not Mr. Perfect and some of them are trying to paint a picture here like he is.

He played a very bad game against Olympiacos and the comments here would have it seem like he was almost Jordan of Europe in that game and dominated. For people not watching him play in Europe and just reading here, you need to either start watching those games, or just understand a lot of smoke is being blown up his rear in some comments here.

Just one game, but this clip has highlights and lowlights (against the best possible competition), and I'm still impressed

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpguQkC8tv0[/youtube]

[pohani komarac]

Hezonja defenetley has some limitations skill wise as his body control and agility is limited. Bud defenetly there is room to impruve especially back to basket

anway i always wrote he is cocky, arrogant etc....

but thig is all coaches like Pasqual, Repesa, Tesla etc. he was working and even one of my friend who played pick up basketball with him few years ago told me he is very nice and workholic. Perhaps he only looks that way on TV

Anyway, he has tons of potential, and it's on him to use it

[Mirotic12]

Hezonja defenetley has some limitations skill wise as his body control and agility is limited. Bud defenetly there is room to impruve especially back to basket

anway i always wrote he is cocky, arrogant etc....

but thig is all coaches like Pasqual, Repesa, Tesla etc. he was working and even one of my friend who played pick up basketball with him few years ago told me he is very nice and workholic. Perhaps he only looks that way on TV

Anyway, he has tons of potential, and it's on him to use it

Thank you for saying that he does have some weak areas and also the cocky and attitude issues on court. Some other posters here are making accusations just for when someone makes true posts about this kind of stuff and attacking over it. Like Hezonja is perfect or something. It is making the thread a bit ridiculous.

Anyway, I have no idea what kind of a kid he is personally, but if they say he is a nice kid, then I am sure he is. He looks like a nice kid actually, just to look at him, if that makes sense. But he needs to get his emotions under control.

He is definitely struggling a lot in the series with Olympiacos so far though in first two games. And now since Oleson got injured again it makes things much harder for him just as it did before when Oleson was injured. Because Oleson is their wing defender and now they have no one to stop good scorers. At least they still have Navarro to create on offense though.

But just as I said happened before, Oleson goes out with injury, and right away they lose. And despite what some are claiming here, Hezonja is looking very overwhelmed in that playoff series so far. And then in 2nd game, when it looked like Spanoulis recovered a little bit, maybe back to like 75 to 80 percent health, it looked like Hezonja would have zero chance to play with a player like that at this point in defense.

So yes, despite his obvious talent, he is still just a 20 year old kid, and for now he is looking pretty much no different than say Agravanis is in Olympiacos, and honestly even worse. There is no denying his talent, but the hype coming in these forums has gotten way out of bounds right now. He is the weakest player in Barca's team in Euroleague playoffs, except maybe Jackson, who replaced Oleson after he got hurt. But some people here are saying he is without question their best player. So we need to get back to reality with this discussion.

For his potential, he has lots of time, still just 20 years old. You are right though, it is just going to be how hard he works.

About Jordan Classic, which players did you like the most?

[pohani komarac]

I didn't watch JBC

[peZt]

@Mirotic did you watch the JBC? What's your opinion on the players, especially Onuralp Bitim?

[DickGrayson]

I want Mario in a Hornets jersey. It will make me forget the horrible disappointment this season has been. His personality and skill set are exactly what we need. We need to trade up to get him though and I hope we do.

I have Hezo dropped to the Bobcats or Bobcats trading up to get him or Russell. A back court of Walker/Hezonja would be godlike. Hopefully Zeller and Vonleh develop into 2015-16 to solidify their front court.

[DickGrayson]

Well that did not happen,they went 4-6 in that one month and it had nothing to do with Hezonja playing.They were missing a large part of the team due to injury and had very tough games at the same time(Alba, Fener,Laboral, Panathinaikos, Real - they won against the last 2 that month) so it's not really odd that they lost some games while having half of the team missing or in poor physical condition.
Actually he was one of the guys that looked good and it was not an experiment - he had to play cos there was no one else. If it was not for all those injuries, only God knows if he would have gotten a chance to play at all. Him playing good that period bought him more playing time later.

I was watching all those games. He was most basic reason for all of their losses along with Huertas' horrible defense. Out of control and wild decisions. Not using his head and not making the right play and some not smart tactics. Low basketball IQ at some times, or just sometimes being a stupid player, just being a very all around foolish kind of player in some moments.

As soon as Navarro cam back, even at first when he was almost huffing around the court, the team instantly was back in form and under control and right away was back to winning the games and playing like a well oiled machine. The change was simply that he took Hezonja's minutes.

I am not hating, I am stating simple truth and fact. Someone comes here and says different and they are painting unrealistic picture of the level of Hezonja in the current time.

We just see in first Euroleague playoff game with Olympiacos how Hezonja tried to go into some kind of "I am so good mode" and thinks he is 10 times better than he really is, and every time he tried something out on his own, rather than just run the sets and do the plays.......Olympiacos players rejected him like a red headed step child and whole arena was silent. He was sent to the bench and was throwing a temper tamptrum and everything.

Look, he is a kid and he plays like one, and even he was maybe lucky Olympiacos coach looked like a moron the whole game for using a crippled Spanoulis, who is clearly playing with one leg and never should have played, and then also making so many mistakes in the game. But not really all that surprising I guess, because I never liked him when he coached Greek club Panionios in Eurocup. They had a quite strong roster and never could manage to do anything in Eurocup.

Anyway, point is that Barca was lucky Olympiacos coach blew up with many mistakes in that game, or else some of Hezonja's foolish nonsense could have caused a loss in a more serious contest. He better not play in such a way in game 2, because I am sure Olympiacos will be better prepared and if Spanoulis would be in any way possible able to play remotely even like at 75% health, such similar performance as Barca had could be a loss.

That is an issue. Hezonja is obviously many times better a player in his own head than he actually is. And maybe this is OK for confidence and wanting to believe in yourself, but it is not when you try to go into stupid nonsense on the court. His coach is doing no holding him back as people are accusing, he is reigning him in, because he can have tendency to be wild and stupid.

I like him as a player, and he's very good and talented, but also, he seems like he is stupid and selfish also, and he does not really seem to care if he causes his team to lose games. Just how he looks is more important it seems. It is not coincidence for me that some NBA managers were said to be at the game in front row and ones from teams in lotto and the reports were all about it. Then he goes into the game and goes all crazy trying to go 1 against 5 and looking like a complete clown. Especially since he was trying to dunk stuff on what is probably most athletic team in Europe, which also shows lack of preparation and discipline. Immaturity and arrogance type stuff. The "I am above everyone" syndrome. Otherwise he would know you can't dunk all over the most athletic team in Europe going 1 on 5. But after he got stuffed once trying it, he tried it again, and again got embarrassingly rejected.

Then threw his temper on the bench for everyone to see on arena and TV and with those NBA people there. So as much as I like his skills and his talent, there is definitely something wrong with his attitude, ego, mentality, or whatever.

All of this sounds personal and not factual.
You can watch games, but you can also watch them with hater glasses on. It doesn't give you credibility if you're not going to watch games neutrally.

[rumdiary]

As far as comparisons go, I'm thinking Hezonja is quite similar to Ben McLemore?

Good shooter, good hops, impressive dunks, bad handles, makes drives to the rim, gives me the same nagging feeling he will be sub-par in the NBA.

What's Hezonja's mentality like? He looks like a bit of a diva, which aint great, but the blind confidence could pay off in his transition to the NBA.

[pickIBL]

You guys that watch tons of international ball over analyze just like the guys that watch every second of college basketball do. These guys are prospects for a reason... because they are kids that are not in their NBA primes. What Mario is doing for FCB at his age is pretty amazing. He's actually at the top of my board. He's up against grown men unlike the college kids.

[HornetJail]

I want Mario in a Hornets jersey. It will make me forget the horrible disappointment this season has been. His personality and skill set are exactly what we need. We need to trade up to get him though and I hope we do.

I have Hezo dropped to the Bobcats or Bobcats trading up to get him or Russell. A back court of Walker/Hezonja would be godlike. Hopefully Zeller and Vonleh develop into 2015-16 to solidify their front court.

Long term, I want a starting five of Biz/Vonleh/MKG/Mario/Kemba with Zeller and shooters on the bench.

[Mirjalovic]

As far as comparisons go, I'm thinking Hezonja is quite similar to Ben McLemore?

Good shooter, good hops, impressive dunks, bad handles, makes drives to the rim, gives me the same nagging feeling he will be sub-par in the NBA.

What's Hezonja's mentality like? He looks like a bit of a diva, which aint great, but the blind confidence could pay off in his transition to the NBA.

what ??

Hezonja's ball handling is one thing i like from him.

[KF10]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVDk7YmmaDg[/youtube]

I don't think Mario plays similar like BMac, imo.

[rumdiary]

As far as comparisons go, I'm thinking Hezonja is quite similar to Ben McLemore?

Good shooter, good hops, impressive dunks, bad handles, makes drives to the rim, gives me the same nagging feeling he will be sub-par in the NBA.

What's Hezonja's mentality like? He looks like a bit of a diva, which aint great, but the blind confidence could pay off in his transition to the NBA.

what ??

Hezonja's ball handling is one thing i like from him.

Okay I'm almost certainly wrong about his ball handling then, all I watch are the highlight videos, most of them from this thread, lol.

[Gordon]

There are some similarities, but Hezonja is 3 inches taller than McLemore.