GAMETHREAD: ORLANDO MARIOS vs NEW YORK KRISTAPS 02/26/16

[pepe1991]

Gordon brought in a shooting specialist in the off-season to help him work on his shot, but the criticism of his shooting was heavily based on his abysmal free throw percentage in college. The word was that he was always a more capable shooter than perceived, and that he hit a much higher percentage of his free throws in practice. I personally believe he has immense potential and may become an elite weapon at both ends in the future.

But yeah, criticism of Hezonja's shot based on any particular game is absurd. He has one of the most gorgeous and consistent shots in the NBA as long as he keeps his feet under him.

I can't believe someone would say Mario can't shoot. They probably don't watch much basketball.

There is a difference between having a beautiful shot and actually making shots. Mario definitely has a beautiful shot, but he isn't shooting that great in the NBA. That doesn't mean he won't ever, but he hasn't yet.

Currently his FG% is 42.5% and his 3pt% is 35% - that is mediocre at best. Since his uptick in minutes his %'s plummeted - over past 10 games he is shooting 29% from deep and 41% FG%.

Rookies usually have issues with conditioning - which affects their shot. Around the all-star break, it usually starts showing up more...the rookie wall.

Also, playing both ends of the court always affects players, some don't ever train hard enough to handle both ends - the great players do. Mario's energy level on the defensive end is improved, so that's impacting it some as well.

Coaches and reporters always rave about Steph Curry's elite conditioning and his super intense training and diet all summer and all season - its what allows him to run non stop for a whole game and still have legs to shoot with that accuracy.

Did you ever play any type of basketball? Shooter must be mentealy strong, Hezonjas confidence is ruined under Skiles. We are 60 games into a season an he still has no role, he plays 25 min one night, 7 next night, one time he misses a shot and game is over for him ,next time he goes 5-5 and game is over for him ,next night he can miss 5 open shots and stay in a game. It's just confusing and makes him wander what he needs to do to say in game. And that question mark stays with a player in every single shot he takes .

Talking about great shooters sucking in rookie years. Korver 35% FG overall, not bad for 3 point ( 39% ) but dead awful overall, almost unplayable.
JJ 41%FG overall, again same story, was solid in catch and shoot but medicore overall in rookie year,also was 2 years older than Hezonja is now. And there is nobody that can create for Hezonja open catch and shoots, we are alergic to pick and roll to make space for shooters, everything comes from swinging a ball and if you play with Oladipo , Fournier or Jennings you won't see much ball anyway.

ANd 35% for 3 is league average, that's not bad for rookie atcually.
Look at KCP from Pistons ,he was smoking hot in rookie year for 3, now he is just awful being 30% 3 point shooter.
Shooting comes from confidence and short memory of missing shots, Hezonja can't gain any of that because every shot can be his last under Skiles for that night, and that sticks with a player in back of his mind.
Booker had 4-15 shooting for 3 and played as starter next game, Hezonja would be benched for next 10 games maybe DNP-ing, Booker has 3-12 game next time- still plays 30 min. Yes Suns are awful but still... we are out of playoffs there is NO reason why Hezonja shouldn't play 25 min at this point and why nobody will call for him to set his shooting off screens

[MagicStarwipe]

Wow, what the hell were we doing with those 4th quarter lineups? The starters did a good job of getting us back in the game in the 3rd and then didn't play at all together in the 4th. Payton clearly outplays both Watson and Jennings by a decent amount and still only gets 27 minutes? Can we just let this dude play freely and create? I get so sick of seeing him having to dribble in one spot for 5 seconds waiting for Fournier or Oladipo to run around a screen. And if that fails dumping it in to Vuc so he can face up and shoot a long 2.

Cue the defenders of the Skiles and Haters of the Elf, blah blah I don't care.

[Orlwillbeback]

yup.... this place is the same...

[PennytoShaq]

Gordon brought in a shooting specialist in the off-season to help him work on his shot, but the criticism of his shooting was heavily based on his abysmal free throw percentage in college. The word was that he was always a more capable shooter than perceived, and that he hit a much higher percentage of his free throws in practice. I personally believe he has immense potential and may become an elite weapon at both ends in the future.

But yeah, criticism of Hezonja's shot based on any particular game is absurd. He has one of the most gorgeous and consistent shots in the NBA as long as he keeps his feet under him.

I can't believe someone would say Mario can't shoot. They probably don't watch much basketball.

There is a difference between having a beautiful shot and actually making shots. Mario definitely has a beautiful shot, but he isn't shooting that great in the NBA. That doesn't mean he won't ever, but he hasn't yet.

Currently his FG% is 42.5% and his 3pt% is 35% - that is mediocre at best. Since his uptick in minutes his %'s plummeted - over past 10 games he is shooting 29% from deep and 41% FG%.

Rookies usually have issues with conditioning - which affects their shot. Around the all-star break, it usually starts showing up more...the rookie wall.

Also, playing both ends of the court always affects players, some don't ever train hard enough to handle both ends - the great players do. Mario's energy level on the defensive end is improved, so that's impacting it some as well.

Coaches and reporters always rave about Steph Curry's elite conditioning and his super intense training and diet all summer and all season - its what allows him to run non stop for a whole game and still have legs to shoot with that accuracy.

I agree, but none of this has to do with me laughing at how some guy thinks Mario "can't shoot y'all".

Yes he can. Just takes time as you said. I also find it funny since he buried a clutch, last second three just weeks ago that someone would say that and be serious - unless they just don't watch many games.

[Mc-o]

I can't believe someone would say Mario can't shoot. They probably don't watch much basketball.

There is a difference between having a beautiful shot and actually making shots. Mario definitely has a beautiful shot, but he isn't shooting that great in the NBA. That doesn't mean he won't ever, but he hasn't yet.

Currently his FG% is 42.5% and his 3pt% is 35% - that is mediocre at best. Since his uptick in minutes his %'s plummeted - over past 10 games he is shooting 29% from deep and 41% FG%.

Rookies usually have issues with conditioning - which affects their shot. Around the all-star break, it usually starts showing up more...the rookie wall.

Also, playing both ends of the court always affects players, some don't ever train hard enough to handle both ends - the great players do. Mario's energy level on the defensive end is improved, so that's impacting it some as well.

Coaches and reporters always rave about Steph Curry's elite conditioning and his super intense training and diet all summer and all season - its what allows him to run non stop for a whole game and still have legs to shoot with that accuracy.

I agree, but none of this has to do with me laughing at how some guy thinks Mario "can't shoot y'all".

Yes he can. Just takes time as you said. I also find it funny since he buried a clutch, last second three just weeks ago that someone would say that and be serious - unless they just don't watch many games.

All shooters have slumps (except maybe steph) Mario will be fine he is just struggling because he is a rookie , the NBA is filled with crazy athletes and the game is very fast and complex compared to any other league in the world , that's why I have been ok with his minutes and I don't expect him to be great in his first year !

[Mc-o]

I can't believe someone would say Mario can't shoot. They probably don't watch much basketball.

There is a difference between having a beautiful shot and actually making shots. Mario definitely has a beautiful shot, but he isn't shooting that great in the NBA. That doesn't mean he won't ever, but he hasn't yet.

Currently his FG% is 42.5% and his 3pt% is 35% - that is mediocre at best. Since his uptick in minutes his %'s plummeted - over past 10 games he is shooting 29% from deep and 41% FG%.

Rookies usually have issues with conditioning - which affects their shot. Around the all-star break, it usually starts showing up more...the rookie wall.

Also, playing both ends of the court always affects players, some don't ever train hard enough to handle both ends - the great players do. Mario's energy level on the defensive end is improved, so that's impacting it some as well.

Coaches and reporters always rave about Steph Curry's elite conditioning and his super intense training and diet all summer and all season - its what allows him to run non stop for a whole game and still have legs to shoot with that accuracy.

Did you ever play any type of basketball? Shooter must be mentealy strong, Hezonjas confidence is ruined under Skiles. We are 60 games into a season an he still has no role, he plays 25 min one night, 7 next night, one time he misses a shot and game is over for him ,next time he goes 5-5 and game is over for him ,next night he can miss 5 open shots and stay in a game. It's just confusing and makes him wander what he needs to do to say in game. And that question mark stays with a player in every single shot he takes .

Talking about great shooters sucking in rookie years. Korver 35% FG overall, not bad for 3 point ( 39% ) but dead awful overall, almost unplayable.
JJ 41%FG overall, again same story, was solid in catch and shoot but medicore overall in rookie year,also was 2 years older than Hezonja is now. And there is nobody that can create for Hezonja open catch and shoots, we are alergic to pick and roll to make space for shooters, everything comes from swinging a ball and if you play with Oladipo , Fournier or Jennings you won't see much ball anyway.

ANd 35% for 3 is league average, that's not bad for rookie atcually.
Look at KCP from Pistons ,he was smoking hot in rookie year for 3, now he is just awful being 30% 3 point shooter.
Shooting comes from confidence and short memory of missing shots, Hezonja can't gain any of that because every shot can be his last under Skiles for that night, and that sticks with a player in back of his mind.
Booker had 4-15 shooting for 3 and played as starter next game, Hezonja would be benched for next 10 games maybe DNP-ing, Booker has 3-12 game next time- still plays 30 min. Yes Suns are awful but still... we are out of playoffs there is NO reason why Hezonja shouldn't play 25 min at this point and why nobody will call for him to set his shooting off screens

HE IS A ROOKIE , he is still learning perfectly normal ! His confidence is not gone , you are underestimating Mario and also underestimating the talent in the NBA . He is still adjusting to the NBA he will be fine

[OrlandO]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOb6j3QgJ9o[/youtube]

[drsd]

For me this game eliminates Orlando from the playoffs. This is the kind of must-win game Orlando MUST learn how to win.

[ezzzp]

Did you ever play any type of basketball? Shooter must be mentealy strong, Hezonjas confidence is ruined under Skiles. We are 60 games into a season an he still has no role, he plays 25 min one night, 7 next night, one time he misses a shot and game is over for him ,next time he goes 5-5 and game is over for him ,next night he can miss 5 open shots and stay in a game. It's just confusing and makes him wander what he needs to do to say in game. And that question mark stays with a player in every single shot he takes .

Talking about great shooters sucking in rookie years. Korver 35% FG overall, not bad for 3 point ( 39% ) but dead awful overall, almost unplayable.
JJ 41%FG overall, again same story, was solid in catch and shoot but medicore overall in rookie year,also was 2 years older than Hezonja is now. And there is nobody that can create for Hezonja open catch and shoots, we are alergic to pick and roll to make space for shooters, everything comes from swinging a ball and if you play with Oladipo , Fournier or Jennings you won't see much ball anyway.

ANd 35% for 3 is league average, that's not bad for rookie atcually.
Look at KCP from Pistons ,he was smoking hot in rookie year for 3, now he is just awful being 30% 3 point shooter.
Shooting comes from confidence and short memory of missing shots, Hezonja can't gain any of that because every shot can be his last under Skiles for that night, and that sticks with a player in back of his mind.
Booker had 4-15 shooting for 3 and played as starter next game, Hezonja would be benched for next 10 games maybe DNP-ing, Booker has 3-12 game next time- still plays 30 min. Yes Suns are awful but still... we are out of playoffs there is NO reason why Hezonja shouldn't play 25 min at this point and why nobody will call for him to set his shooting off screens

"Shooter must be mentally strong" - those are your words. Understand the full meaning of those words.

In the NBA, bench players always have inconsistent minutes, that is the nature of being a reserve in the NBA where match-ups are an enormous part of strategy. Mario Hezonja is a bench player in the NBA right now. Part of his development is to learn how to remain constantly ready and always mentally engaged.

I do not see that Hezonja is having any trouble with confidence - at all. It is his player fans that are doing all the whining...he doesn't seem to be phased by it one bit - and in fact has said he understands and welcomes the coaching methodology. What you are confusing with wavering confidence, are occasional indecisive glitches, where he is thinking about wether a play is a smart play or not, but that is a natural symptom to learning, as he matures that awareness will become intuitive.

Mario has NEVER been pulled for missing open shots - that is a fallacy.

Mario loses minutes when he makes lazy or mental mistakes on defense (most often they are: reaching instead of moving / not closing out / or not rotating correctly). He also loses minutes when he breaks the offense by over-handling the ball - which accounts for most of his turnovers. Also its usually a combination of mistakes that gets Mario pulled. i

[PennytoShaq]

The thing that is most glaringly obvious to me besides this team's lack of rim protection, is we just don't have enough shooters. We rely on 1-2 guys at most in a 5 man lineup. Starting lineup has 1 shooter in Fournier, and he is playing out of position so he has to guard guys much bigger than him, which is tiring and affects your legs and shot.

Line up 2 - Mario is really our best shooter there. He is a rookie, still learning consistency and when to pick his spots. So as a result some nights he kills it, other nights - not so much.

Making shots is contagious. Imagine a lineup with a PG and SF who can also drain 3s and you are Mario or Evan playing SG. This only gets you more space for your shot but also takes that pressure off because the team is not relying on just you to knock down 3's and get them back into the game. There is a reason guys like Draymon Green nail shots all night for GSW, when they were not known as snipers in college. Hard work is a big factor, but they also are surrounded by shooters at all times.

It really stood out to me when we played GSW. We hung with them until it became a shooting contest and then it was over.We just were not able to make shots down the stretch at the same % as them, so we could never cut back into their lead, and instead shot ourselves right out of the game.

You just can not roll out a lineup with Oladipo and Payton in it and expect to hold a lead or cut into one. The %s are stacked against you. Add to the fact that guys like Jason Smith take long range twos instead of 3s, and it's just a very inefficient team right now.

All that being said, Hennigan's plan was to draft hard workers who were super athletic and would work on their shots, since those were the best players available when he could draft. The only one who has shown results is Gordon, and he has a ways to go. But he is looking like a star player. The flashes are there. He gets 12-19 ppg on easy stuff, so when his shot gets more reliable, he will be on an all-star roster. The fans will love this guy in two years.

There really is nothing Skiles can do right now. He has a roster of assets. Not an actual constructed team yet. But clearly that is about to change this summer.

[drsd]

The thing that is most glaringly obvious to me besides this team's lack of rim protection, is we just don't have enough shooters.

Payton and Gordon, PennytoShaq is speaking to you.

Seriously, in today's NBA both should be taking over 3 a game, averaging over 1 made 3-ball a game. With that, Orlando's offense blossoms. (both players are averaging about 0.5 made 3-balls a game so this a request that both DOUBLE their output).


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