New Grantland article the Magic/Hezonja

[shadrock]

https://grantland.com/the-triangle/2015-nba-preview-mario-hezonja-orlando-magic-scott-skiles/?ex_cid=GrantlandFB

Dear Scott Skiles: Please Just Put Mario Hezonja on the Court



There are a lot of questions that will be answered in Orlando this season. Was Jacque Vaughn the problem the past few years? Is Scott Skiles the solution? Can Victor Oladipo play with Elfrid Payton? Is Vucci Mane actually good, or just fantasy good? And what’s up with Tobias Harris? He’s been in that Derrick Favors “nobody has any idea whether he’s overrated or underrated” zone for a while now. How many years of rebuilding do you get before you need to have something to show for it? It’s not like the rest of the East is setting the world on fire, and Skiles is known for turning things around. Is it time for a playoff push? Questions, questions, questions. The problem is, I don’t really care about the answers.

I just want to watch Mario Hezonja.

.....

[shadrock]

Fwiw, I agree 1000000% this is what we should do, and its what I said in other threads (Tobes off the bench):

Just dream with me for a minute:
•PG Elfrid Payton
•SG Victor Oladipo
•SF Mario Hezonja
•PF Aaron Gordon
•C Nikola Vucevic
•6th Tobias Harris
•7th Evan Fournier
•8th Channing Frye

I would watch every second of that team. That team might make me move to Orlando. At the very least, I’d build a living room shrine to Rob Hennigan for making this all possible.

Orlando’s problem the past few years has been shooting, as Zach Lowe outlined toward the end of last season. Adding Hezonja’s range and scoring could open things up for everyone.

If you’re worried about defense, you couldn’t pair Hezonja with a more promising defensive backcourt — not to mention Aaron “Training Wheels Shawn Marion” Gordon. This may not be the plan right away, but it should definitely be the blueprint for the future: Go small, play fast, smother opposing guards to death, let Hezonja go off, and bring Tobias Harris and Evan Fournier in as gunners off the bench.

[Bigmagicfan82]

I think that might happen just not before mid season at the earliest. It also could result in Tobias being traded for other pieces. Right now I think it is a good thing to let Mario come off the bench and get use to the league. He will get his minutes and there is no need to rush him just yet.

[OrlDave]

Yes to all of that article. I don't care if Mario's defense stinks this year, the kid needs to play. Not because he was the 5th pick (although that's a valid reason), not because he brings much needed shooting (another extremely valid reason) but because he has the moxie our team has been lacking. Get that bluster on the court. Get the guys believing in it. This team has lost a lot of games the last 3 years, I'm sure that makes them question their ability to win. Get a true believer in and let him change the spirit of the team.

[Crabman]

Lol, we all want to watch Hezonja. Unfortunately he's going to have to battle for minutes. He's likely going to play against second units as much possible IMO. We have Fournier ready to break out. Harris putting in hard work this offseason. Gordon giving us beast mode. Oladipo who made good improvement from rookie to sophomore.

Payton(30)/Watson(15)/Dipo(3)
Oladipo(27)/Fournier(21)
Harris(10)/Mario(20)/Gordon(11)/Fournier(7)
Gordon(18)/Harris(20)/Dedmon(10)
Vucevic(30)/Dedmon(10)/Smith(8)

You can see that there's not even enough playing time for Frye or Shabazz, and Mario is only getting 20 mpg. No one is getting over 30 mpg either. I think Frye sees the court a bit early in the season to build some trade value and we dump him, but it won't be enough eventually. Long term it wont work. Someone is getting traded.

[MagicStarwipe]

I'm not an advocate of giving him big minutes no matter what. If we're trying to win and turn a corner, everybody on that floor needs to be locked in on D and know the system. His time will come and hopefully he has it down sooner than later. I believe he should be in the rotation from day 1 however.

[JF5]

I'm not sold on the idea that he should be playing more minutes.

Like someone pointed out, this team IS trying to win. Tobias obviously gives the Magic the better chance right now.

Hezonja will work his way into the starting line-up eventually. Just not now...

[MagicFan32]

hezonja is the best chance this roster has at having a superstar
so of course skiles wont play him

[Gomagic44]

Yes to all of that article. I don't care if Mario's defense stinks this year, the kid needs to play. Not because he was the 5th pick (although that's a valid reason), not because he brings much needed shooting (another extremely valid reason) but because he has the moxie our team has been lacking. Get that bluster on the court. Get the guys believing in it. This team has lost a lot of games the last 3 years, I'm sure that makes them question their ability to win. Get a true believer in and let him change the spirit of the team.

This. I believe in mario helping our team the most, and why i supported him during the draft...for this reason.

[Howard Mass]

Hezonja was a wonderful pick and I am excited to see him develop this season.

[Bensational]

This team needs to be all about defense, first an foremost.

Boston, Milwaukee, Utah are all equally devoid of an obvious superstar amongst their ranks, but they've all got tenacious and scrappy defenders, and they were all fighting for playoff spots last year.

I'd want Mario to really value defense before he's handed minutes. If he's capable of becoming Crobe, then I want him to have the skills and hunger to want to put the clamps on an opposing team's best player.

Hopefully everything works out and he becomes a starter by the end of the season.

[tiderulz]

I'm not an advocate of giving him big minutes no matter what. If we're trying to win and turn a corner, everybody on that floor needs to be locked in on D and know the system. His time will come and hopefully he has it down sooner than later. I believe he should be in the rotation from day 1 however.

i agree. Why cant a player earn their minutes? why should a player who wasnt even a starter on his team in europe be given minutes over established players in the NBA now? yes, he needs to play, but his play should determine how much he plays.

[tiderulz]

hezonja is the best chance this roster has at having a superstar
so of course skiles wont play him

green font? this notion that Skiles doesnt play young players is historically wrong.

[OrlDave]

I'm not an advocate of giving him big minutes no matter what. If we're trying to win and turn a corner, everybody on that floor needs to be locked in on D and know the system. His time will come and hopefully he has it down sooner than later. I believe he should be in the rotation from day 1 however.

RIght. I wasn't saying 30 mpg right out of the gate, but 15 mpg at a minimum to start the season. By the end of the year it should be closer to the 25-30 mark. As long as he's not riding the pine for 2-3 games at a time.

[Blue_and_Whte]

Yes to all of that article. I don't care if Mario's defense stinks this year, the kid needs to play. Not because he was the 5th pick (although that's a valid reason), not because he brings much needed shooting (another extremely valid reason) but because he has the moxie our team has been lacking. Get that bluster on the court. Get the guys believing in it. This team has lost a lot of games the last 3 years, I'm sure that makes them question their ability to win. Get a true believer in and let him change the spirit of the team.

This isnt directed at you OrlDave but IMO this is how people in these forums continually set themselves up for disappointment and end up turning on our rookies. Some people are shocked that our rooks aren't 100% finished products for some reason despite claiming to have watched the Nba for "years " and I'm not sure why.

There needs to be a balance. I want to see him play, but we're not playing for draft picks anymore. We have to win basketball games and that probably means Henzonja is coming off the bench. He's going to get minutes and I think he will be an effective player but people need to keep their expectations in check.

Also where the hell are people getting that Skiles doesn't play young players? The ONE situation in Milwaukee with Harris doesn't define his entire coaching career.

[Last Guardian]

He will almost definitely be our best offensive player for many years (although Victor could have something to say about that judging by his pure jumpshot so far). This season he'll learn defense under Skiles and get his 15-20 off the bench. If Tobias is traded then he'll start at some point.

[OrlDave]

Yes to all of that article. I don't care if Mario's defense stinks this year, the kid needs to play. Not because he was the 5th pick (although that's a valid reason), not because he brings much needed shooting (another extremely valid reason) but because he has the moxie our team has been lacking. Get that bluster on the court. Get the guys believing in it. This team has lost a lot of games the last 3 years, I'm sure that makes them question their ability to win. Get a true believer in and let him change the spirit of the team.

This isnt directed at you OrlDave but IMO this is how people in these forums continually set themselves up for disappointment and end up turning on our rookies. Some people are shocked that our rooks aren't 100% finished products for some reason despite claiming to have watched the Nba for "years " and I'm not sure why.

There needs to be a balance. I want to see him play, but we're not playing for draft picks anymore. We have to win basketball games and that probably means Henzonja is coming off the bench. He's going to get minutes and I think he will be an effective player but people need to keep their expectations in check.

Also where the hell are people getting that Skiles doesn't play young players? The ONE situation in Milwaukee with Harris doesn't define his entire coaching career.

I don't think playing him 15-20 minutes means we lose games. Maybe I'm a homer here, but I think he can come in and contribute to wins right away. He already has done that in the preseason. He's a rookie, but also a guy who has played on contending professional and international teams and had moments where he has helped win games. I never said to start him. (rereads my message)... nope, but everyone assumed I did. We honestly have no room for him in the starting 5 right now anyway.

[MagicStarwipe]

I'm not an advocate of giving him big minutes no matter what. If we're trying to win and turn a corner, everybody on that floor needs to be locked in on D and know the system. His time will come and hopefully he has it down sooner than later. I believe he should be in the rotation from day 1 however.

RIght. I wasn't saying 30 mpg right out of the gate, but 15 mpg at a minimum to start the season. By the end of the year it should be closer to the 25-30 mark. As long as he's not riding the pine for 2-3 games at a time.

This season, unless there is a trade, I see him getting around 20 mpg at maximum. Maybe closer to 15. I don't think he's as NBA ready as some assume he is and there are too many good players on the team playing the same position.

[j_n]

I think Hezonja wont get more than 15 mpg in his rookie year, his defense is pretty bad right now, he gambles too much and he loses his man on the pick n roll and when running around screens.

I watched some of his games against Real Madrid, in his last game in Barcelona he was benched following a series of a defensive breakdowns that were caused solely by him.
He couldnt stay with his man on the pick n roll or on cuts and there was one play where his team took a three late in the shot clock and he ran from the three point line to the rim for the putback leading to a 2 on 0 fast break by Real Madrid.

In the game against Flamengo I remember at least 3 times where Flamengo got a wide open 3 because Hezonja was our of position or went under the pick n roll.

Having said that, I dont think its a big deal if he doesnt play much in his rookie year or that it would hurt his development, Dirk, Kobe, PG and Harden were bench players in their rookie season, still became superstars in the NBA.
Looking at more recent prospects you have Gobert, Vuc, Giannis, Shcroder, Teague, Butler, Draymond, Kawhi etc...

I think players that are driven will challenge themselves to earn a starting role, if they arent than they likely wouldnt have made much progress even if they were handed a starting role from day 1.

[OrlDave]

I'm not an advocate of giving him big minutes no matter what. If we're trying to win and turn a corner, everybody on that floor needs to be locked in on D and know the system. His time will come and hopefully he has it down sooner than later. I believe he should be in the rotation from day 1 however.

RIght. I wasn't saying 30 mpg right out of the gate, but 15 mpg at a minimum to start the season. By the end of the year it should be closer to the 25-30 mark. As long as he's not riding the pine for 2-3 games at a time.

This season, unless there is a trade, I see him getting around 20 mpg at maximum. Maybe closer to 15. I don't think he's as NBA ready as some assume he is and there are too many good players on the team playing the same position.

Fair enough. You might be right just because of the defensive side. One thing he has going for him is that the entire team is learning the scheme together, so it's not like he's coming into an established scheme and trying to play catch up just to get on the same page as the rest of the team.