New Grantland article the Magic/Hezonja

[Incognito76]

If Marble gets more minutes then Hezonja....

[OrlandO]

15 mpg for hezonja would be solid considering all the talent we have in front of him. I just want him to get consistent time... don't want to see too many DNPs.

[OrlandO]

If Marble gets more minutes then Hezonja....

This was my initial concern, but I think Skiles hinted recently that his role is more for injury replacement.

[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.

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.

Absolutely. Like I said I think he can contribute as well and 15-20 mins is where I see him playing as well, but this notion that some people have that Skiles should just throw him in the fire is flawed imo. I also think his moxie is one of his biggest attributes in addition to his skills as a basketball talent.

[ogmagicfan]

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.

Every year before the season starts, people always spread out minutes way too far as if everyone will get minutes. Vuc will be playing 35+ minutes, same with Oladipo. Dedmon will not be averaging 20 mpg (unless he starts at PF). Fournier won't average 28 mpg, Gordon is dependent on if he starts or not. You don't play your best players 30 mpg when you're coming off of a 25 win season. Our bench is not that good.

It's important to establish a strong 8-9 man rotation to develop consistency which will happen over the first couple months of the season.

[tooler]

Every year before the season starts, people always spread out minutes way too far as if everyone will get minutes. Vuc will be playing 35+ minutes, same with Oladipo. Dedmon will not be averaging 20 mpg (unless he starts at PF). Fournier won't average 28 mpg, Gordon is dependent on if he starts or not. You don't play your best players 30 mpg when you're coming off of a 25 win season. Our bench is not that good.

It's important to establish a strong 8-9 man rotation to develop consistency which will happen over the first couple months of the season.

While I agree these three-string rotations with detailed minutes are kind of hopeless, the people who point that out tend to forget about minutes for injuries. Evan Fournier is the example that always comes up, because he DID play 28 minutes last year!

Let's just hope we don't have to deal with injuries to need those kinds of minutes.

[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.

Every year before the season starts, people always spread out minutes way too far as if everyone will get minutes. Vuc will be playing 35+ minutes, same with Oladipo. Dedmon will not be averaging 20 mpg (unless he starts at PF). Fournier won't average 28 mpg, Gordon is dependent on if he starts or not. You don't play your best players 30 mpg when you're coming off of a 25 win season. Our bench is not that good.

It's important to establish a strong 8-9 man rotation to develop consistency which will happen over the first couple months of the season.

You completely missed the point. I wasn't really projecting their minutes. I was trying to show that its going to be hard to find minutes for everyone. Anyway we dont know that Vucevic will play 35 mpg, especially if Dedmon has improved. We're going to play at a fast pace and a lot of defensive energy. It will be hard for our players to keep from getting exhausted. I dont know why your so certain Dedmon won't be playing 20 mpg, and Fournier 28 mpg. You could be wrong, and I'd bet you are.

[BadMofoPimp]

Deadman may be playing 20mpg because of foul trouble most likely half the time.

[Skin]

What kind of progression is the right expectation for Hezonja?

Superstar in year 1
Superstar in year 2
Superstar in year 3
Superstar in year 4
Superstar in 5+

[Orlwillbeback]

What kind of progression is the right expectation for Hezonja?

Superstar in year 1
Superstar in year 2
Superstar in year 3
Superstar in year 4
Superstar in 5+

You forgot, championship all 5 years.