Is Mario a walking "turnover" waiting to happen?

davey_wavy · Post #1 » by **davey_wavy** » Fri Nov 6, 2015 10:50 pm

I literally cringe when this kid is forced to but the ball on the floor, make a pass in traffic, or even inbound it.

Maybe the fact that he was an elite athlete in Europe but now from I've seen he's more "average" in the NBA... Maybe he's doubting himself out there

tooler · Post #2 » by **tooler** » Fri Nov 6, 2015 11:33 pm

Mostly typical rookie stuff, though I doubt he'll ever be elite.

Our problem is the team has so little margin we can't let him play through it. Like Mudiay for example. Oh well.

BadMofoPimp · Post #3 » by **BadMofoPimp** » Sat Nov 7, 2015 12:05 am

Most rookies are turnover machines. Nothing new here. Mario is still raw when it comes to American basketball. He will take time to develop but will be a solid player for years to come.

Ik17 · Post #4 » by **Ik17** » Sat Nov 7, 2015 12:51 am

Are we really having this discussion 5 games into the season? Not gonna be elite? How about giving him more than a month to adjust?

Keep this topic open, we'll talk about this when the next year comes, and then we will actually have some idea about who's right, and who isn't. Until, then, just enjoy the damn games, we're finally competitive team, so stop with the complaining about everything xD

OrlDave · Post #5 » by **OrlDave** » Sat Nov 7, 2015 2:15 am

"New study shows rookies turn the ball over, film at 11."

Hogified05 · Post #6 » by **Hogified05** » Sat Nov 7, 2015 2:42 am

He will be fine. It will click for him one game. You can tell he is out there overthinking it. There will be a game where the competitive juices get flowing and he won't look back. Just needs to get out of his own way right now. Decent game tonight, still thinking too much on his shot thou.

OrlandO · Post #7 » by **OrlandO** » Sat Nov 7, 2015 3:54 am

A taller Ben McLemore?

RYgoBOOM · Post #8 » by **RYgoBOOM** » Sat Nov 7, 2015 4:42 am

He'll be fine.....reminds me nothing of McLemore right now

NBAchamps2017 · Post #9 » by **NBAchamps2017** » Sat Nov 7, 2015 10:26 am

His problem is mental. He put too much pressure on his shots. He needs to relax, have fun, enjoy the game and get comfortable with his role; to shoot 3's! When that time comes, watch!

j_n · Post #10 » by **j_n** » Sat Nov 7, 2015 1:20 pm

Hezonja isnt that type of player yet, his ball handling isnt good enough yet, he needs to be a shooter that can slash to the basket.
I see him developing into a more athletic Galinari but right now hes not ready for an expanded role in the offense.

Post #11 » by **Def Swami** » Sat Nov 7, 2015 3:18 pm

His role is a spot up shooter at this point. He's mostly a decoy in most offensive sets the Magic run. He's not going to get the free reign other rookies on lottery teams get. I'm not worried about Hezonja at all. Right now, there are too many good wings in front of him between Fournier, Harris, Oladipo, and Gordon. Hezonja just has to learn his role throughout the season and excel at it.

MagicFan32 · Post #12 » by **MagicFan32** » Sat Nov 7, 2015 3:48 pm

he's playing his role, he's not getting a chance to go on 1 on 1 he will be fine he's going thru the adjustment period, you see the flashes of what's there

Skin · Post #13 » by **Skin** » Sat Nov 7, 2015 4:49 pm

NBAchamps2017 wrote:His problem is mental. He put too much pressure on his shots. He needs to relax, have fun, enjoy the game and get comfortable with his role; to shoot 3's! When that time comes, watch!

But he shoots without a conscience and pressure isn't supposed to affect guys with swag. I just don't think he is getting the same open shot opportunities here as he had in Europe. So as soon as he catches the ball with a half decent chance, he's launching it with fail.

Something that is starting to stand out is that he's not a guy who can create his own shot. He doesn't appear to have a great handle. Without that, he won't reach Superstardom. Having hops is great, but if he can't find his way to the basket by controlling the dribble, then he's going to be limited. Having a shooting stroke is great, but if he can't create his own shot off the dribble, he'll be limited. ...and to answer the OP... turnovers happen to poor dribblers. There may be a flaw in his game that people overlooked... and at this level... ball handling doesn't get fixed... you either have it by now or you don't.

Now that I think of it, his fancy highlight dunks were fast break style. Not in traffic. His 3s were open or he was deep. Not with a hand in his face. Maybe I don't remember correctly?

ezzzp · Post #14 » by **ezzzp** » Sat Nov 7, 2015 10:15 pm

Skin wrote:But he shoots without a conscience and pressure isn't supposed to affect guys with swag. I just don't think he is getting the same open shot opportunities here as he had in Europe. So as soon as he catches the ball with a half decent chance, he's launching it with fail.

Something that is starting to stand out is that he's not a guy who can create his own shot. He doesn't appear to have a great handle. Without that, he won't reach Superstardom. Having hops is great, but if he can't find his way to the basket by controlling the dribble, then he's going to be limited. Having a shooting stroke is great, but if he can't create his own shot off the dribble, he'll be limited. ...and to answer the OP... turnovers happen to poor dribblers. There may be a flaw in his game that people overlooked... and at this level... ball handling doesn't get fixed... you either have it by now or you don't.

Now that I think of it, his fancy highlight dunks were fast break style. Not in traffic. His 3s were open or he was deep. Not with a hand in his face. Maybe I don't remember correctly?

Jeezzuz man, you're constant bashing of Hezonja is bizarre. Its becoming obvious this is about you being proven totally wrong on this board about who RH would pick and not about actual facts.

First of all, Hezonja hasn't even broken 100 total NBA minutes yet. He's still in frkng double digit TOTAL minutes in the NBA. Second, he is learning a brand new style of game and how to function within that structured system. Experienced NBA vets have trouble adapting to new systems, and Mario is a Euro rookie.

How in the world are you formulating these ridiculous conclusions off of less than 100 total NBA minutes and within this context?

Ducklett · Post #15 » by **Ducklett** » Sat Nov 7, 2015 10:38 pm

From GB:
PER for rookies with Over 20 MPG:
Porzingis: 20.0
Cauley-Stein: 19.2
Towns: 17.8
Okafor: 16,7
McConnell: 16.2
J. Grant: 14.2
Russell: 11.9
Winslow: 9.0
Bjelica: 8.4
Mudiay: 5.4
Hezonja: 1.14 (15.3 mpg)

Last Guardian · Post #16 » by **Last Guardian** » Sat Nov 7, 2015 10:51 pm

His handle is ok, not super tight yet. He does have this rather effective and powerful between the legs dribble that he has done twice so far this season. He drifts left then quickly goes between the legs then explodes to the rim. Thats what got him to the free throw line last night. But yea he looks a little nervous with it other times, but like people have said...hes a rookie....and not only that, only 6 games as a rookie....give him at least some time.

He is simply adjusting...the NBA is an animal...he was probably the most athletic guy in Europe, and then he gets to the NBA and he has Aaron Gordon on his team...probably a bit of a shock to him.

Would like him to start hitting those 3's though. He made his first two of the season then meh ever since.

ezzzp · Post #17 » by **ezzzp** » Sat Nov 7, 2015 11:05 pm

Ducklett wrote:From GB:
PER for rookies with Over 20 MPG:
Porzingis: 20.0
Cauley-Stein: 19.2
Towns: 17.8
Okafor: 16,7
McConnell: 16.2
J. Grant: 14.2
Russell: 11.9
Winslow: 9.0
Bjelica: 8.4
Mudiay: 5.4
Hezonja: 1.14 (15.3 mpg)

So what conclusion should anyone take from this? Who the best player is in the first 6 games of their career? With PER? and less than 200 minutes played as a sample size? Cool.

Total minutes played in the NBA:

Porzingis: 144
Cauley-Stein: 133
Towns: 114
Okafor: 173
McConnell: 136
J. Grant: 137
Russell: 120
Winslow: 164
Bjelica: 103
Mudiay: 183
Hezonja: 92

shadrock · Post #18 » by **shadrock** » Sat Nov 7, 2015 11:33 pm

The main concern for me is very surprisingly that he seems to have lost confidence. His first game, he came out and was very confident, nailed a few 3's, and it was by far his best game. Since then, its been a steady decline to the point where he now looks scared to be out there. Im not worried long term, we know he has the skill, but im surprised he hasnt bounced back like i expected from a few bad games.

Skin · Post #19 » by **Skin** » Sat Nov 7, 2015 11:57 pm

ezzzp wrote:
Skin wrote:But he shoots without a conscience and pressure isn't supposed to affect guys with swag. I just don't think he is getting the same open shot opportunities here as he had in Europe. So as soon as he catches the ball with a half decent chance, he's launching it with fail.

Something that is starting to stand out is that he's not a guy who can create his own shot. He doesn't appear to have a great handle. Without that, he won't reach Superstardom. Having hops is great, but if he can't find his way to the basket by controlling the dribble, then he's going to be limited. Having a shooting stroke is great, but if he can't create his own shot off the dribble, he'll be limited. ...and to answer the OP... turnovers happen to poor dribblers. There may be a flaw in his game that people overlooked... and at this level... ball handling doesn't get fixed... you either have it by now or you don't.

Now that I think of it, his fancy highlight dunks were fast break style. Not in traffic. His 3s were open or he was deep. Not with a hand in his face. Maybe I don't remember correctly?

Jeezzuz man, you're constant bashing of Hezonja is bizarre. Its becoming obvious this is about you being proven totally wrong on this board about who RH would pick and not about actual facts.

First of all, Hezonja hasn't even broken 100 total NBA minutes yet. He's still in frkng double digit TOTAL minutes in the NBA. Second, he is learning a brand new style of game and how to function within that structured system. Experienced NBA vets have trouble adapting to new systems, and Mario is a Euro rookie.

How in the world are you formulating these ridiculous conclusions off of less than 100 total NBA minutes and within this context?

I praised Hezonja when he had that one good preseason game. I feel like I'm calling it as it is. He's coming off a game where he shot 0 for 4 from 3pt land. ...and they were not all tasteful attempts. It's not bashing. Just pointing things out as they are. His adjustment to the NBA is looking difficult for a guy touted as being the best player available at #5 and a future Superstar.

I did have one new thought though. Maybe he was drafted as the replacement for Fournier. Hennigan might have been trying to cover his bases knowing that Evan is a FA and if had any idea that Evan was going to be seeking $12M+ (which he should have since those discussions must have happened before Fournier's early breakout), then it makes sense in that regard.

Skin · Post #20 » by **Skin** » Sat Nov 7, 2015 11:59 pm

shadrock wrote:The main concern for me is very surprisingly that he seems to have lost confidence. His first game, he came out and was very confident, nailed a few 3's, and it was by far his best game. Since then, its been a steady decline to the point where he now looks scared to be out there. Im not worried long term, we know he has the skill, but im surprised he hasnt bounced back like i expected from a few bad games.

But I thought we drafted him because his swag was on another level. 6 games in and it's all shot? :cry: