Game 12: New Orleans Pelicans (2-9) @ Orlando Magic (4-7) - 7:00 PM ET

[pepe1991]

Mario Hezonja lost his PT to :
18,8 % FG CJ Waton ( yes 18,8% for a season)
and 32,2% FG Green who plays PF over Gordons natural position, and in same time ,by swiching Gordon at SF , Mario loses all PT.

Somebody asked why comments are so negative after won game. Because this Pelicans team is not mid level Euroleague team in terms of talent. Without 3 of their best players (Davis, Evans, Holiday ), playing bench warmers and Magic still only shot 38% so we are really on pace to be worst offensive team of all time.

[pepe1991]

What worries me is that we have abandoned the youth movement for veterans that limit the ceiling of this team and don't make us any better. We have coaches that have been well regarded for player development and it was my hope that that would be priority number one. I'm definitely glad we have Vogel, but it's laughable that Jeff green is starting over AG right now, && that Mario can't get in the game when Jeff was going 0-8 with 2 turnovers all while playing sloppy non existent defense.

I think this is pretty malformed statement... The youth movement hasn't been killed but rather now the players that needed to make a step didn't make a step/playing out of position/just no good enough. AG was gifted the SF position as a chance to expand his game. Guys that were said to be holding him back (Oladipo, Harris) were traded in favor for him. He's just looked terrible thus far and looks very uncomfortable in this new role. Its weird that people are blaming Hennigan/Vogel for him for not seizing an opportunity that he was given. Hezonja has the same problem. He's actually regressed and looks like he shouldn't be on the court at this point. Will he be back? most likely, but at this point he should be sitting on the bench until he looks competent enough to play.

On top of that this is easily one of the least talented rosters in the NBA. If you're having a hard time getting run on this squad, that should really say something about the talent itself at this stage.

I don't agree with this at all.
Look at Lakers and Walton, they let young players play together, despite Ingram being medicore at best he still plays 22 min, Mario last year started first month of basketball with 11 min . Good rebuilding means letting young players play TOGETHER . Magic never last year played Dipo, Mario,Gordon and Payton together. They were so freaking terrified to lose games and at the end of season they were losers anyway.
Gordon can't play SF because he doesn't have skills for that, just like KAT could not play PG if you put him there. He simply doesn't fit. He is not that great or willing passer ( only 23 passes per game ), he is not great shooter by any mean and he can't be cutter or slasher because Vučević, Ibaka and Biyombo crowd paint so nobody can drive.
Mario lost PT to 18,8% FG Watson who adds nothing on the team and 32,2% ,$15M Green who is brick machine who can't defend. So we reached point where Vogel is playing them only and just only because they are older. Not better by any mean. Just older.

[Gordon]

If Mario and AG were future stars, they would show atleast glimpses of it by now. Neither of them is dynamic enough off the dribble to be a featured player on offense.

[basketballRob]

Mario Hezonja lost his PT to :
18,8 % FG CJ Waton ( yes 18,8% for a season)
and 32,2% FG Green who plays PF over Gordons natural position, and in same time ,by swiching Gordon at SF , Mario loses all PT.

Somebody asked why comments are so negative after won game. Because this Pelicans team is not mid level Euroleague team in terms of talent. Without 3 of their best players (Davis, Evans, Holiday ), playing bench warmers and Magic still only shot 38% so we are really on pace to be worst offensive team of all time.

CJ Watson is our best defensive guard is why he's getting playing time.

[Bergmaniac]

This was just painful to watch. And Vogel should take some of the blame. Yes, it's early days, blah-blah, but our offense is a complete mess. Way too much pointless sideways passing on the perimeter, weak screening, lack of coordination, too many plays ran by Fournier, etc. At one point we came out of a timeout after failing to score for a while and the play we ran was a Ibaka post-up which predictably ended up with miss. Late in the game with the score close we went to a Biyombo post-up. I love Biz and his energy, but come on, using him like this is just dumb. And why the hell is Jeff Green still starting, the guy is atrocious on both ends. Paying 15 mln. per year to this bum is a daylight robbery.

That 5-7 record is really deceptive.

[basketballRob]

If Mario and AG were future stars, they would show atleast glimpses of it by now. Neither of them is dynamic enough off the dribble to be a featured player on offense.

I'm willing to give them at least until 22. Compaing to other young players at the same age.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/georgpa01.html

[Furinkazan]

lmao just saw the game
first 6 minutes reminded me the game I saw several years ago... my sister when she was like 9 or 10 yo she played basketball in some kiddo tournament we came with whole family to cheer... it looked very much the same... most tarded basketball Ive ever seen ( but they had an exuse... they were kids )what excuse our players got?
only one thing is missing...none attacked his own basket by mistake that would pretty much complete the picture...

shame shame on you...
I keep hearing Vuc is fools gold...
No you are wrong
this whole team is fools gold

[Catledge]

Ownership. But if Hennigan really thought a team led by Elfrid Payton was going anywhere, then he is an idiot too.

Fixed

[OrlChamps2030]

If Mario and AG were future stars, they would show atleast glimpses of it by now. Neither of them is dynamic enough off the dribble to be a featured player on offense.

I'm willing to give them at least until 22. Compaing to other young players at the same age.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/georgpa01.html

21 year old Paul George was soooo much better than Mario

I have a bad feeling that Mario is going to be a complete bust and leave us for Europe but I really hope he proves me wrong and can atleast turn into a rotation guy one day.

[Nemesis21]

So many babies on here. A win is a damn win. Doesn't matter if by 1 or 31. I'll take 5-7(regardless who the wins came against) over 2-10 or 2-8, where New Orleans and Dallas are, any day of the damn week. This team is starting to gel, the defense is looking better. Offense needs a fire lit under it. Please Vogel, enough with Jeff Green in the SL. I'd like to see the following SL,

EP
Fournier
Hezonja
AG
Ibaka

[Nemesis21]

Also for the love of God, JODIE MEEKS please get healthy soon.

SL

EP
Fournier
Hezonja
AG
Ibaka

Bench

DJ
Meeks
Rudez
BB
Vooch

[TPrince]

Forget about Mario. Here's the plan:

1) Make the playoffs
2) Attract awesome free agent

We're on our way!

[Bergmaniac]

So many babies on here. A win is a damn win. Doesn't matter if by 1 or 31. I'll take 5-7(regardless who the wins came against) over 2-10 or 2-8, where New Orleans and Dallas are, any day of the damn week. This team is starting to gel, the defense is looking better. Offense needs a fire lit under it. Please Vogel, enough with Jeff Green in the SL.

We are starting to gel? Are you kidding, we barely beat the worst team in the NBA who was missing its 3 best players. At home. The defense only looked good tonight because we were playing a team completely lacking in NBA level offensive talent. Their go to guy was Terrence freaking Jones.

[Nemesis21]

So many babies on here. A win is a damn win. Doesn't matter if by 1 or 31. I'll take 5-7(regardless who the wins came against) over 2-10 or 2-8, where New Orleans and Dallas are, any day of the damn week. This team is starting to gel, the defense is looking better. Offense needs a fire lit under it. Please Vogel, enough with Jeff Green in the SL.

We are starting to gel? Are you kidding, we barely beat the worst team in the NBA who was missing its 3 best players. At home. The defense only looked good tonight because we were playing a team completely lacking in NBA level offensive talent. Their go to guy was Terrence freaking Jones.

I'm not freaking kidding you. I'm not jumping on board the "whine and complain about everything" bandwagon like the rest of you.

[Tayswagzzz]

Forget about Mario. Here's the plan:

1) Make the playoffs
2) Attract awesome free agent

We're on our way!

We've been saying this for a few years. No awesome free agent has come here yet. Don't hold your breath.

[TPrince]

Forget about Mario. Here's the plan:

1) Make the playoffs
2) Attract awesome free agent

We're on our way!

We've been saying this for a few years. No awesome free agent has come here yet. Don't hold your breath.

Rob's got it under control this time! He's all in with Serge and BB. The plan is in place.....

[Tayswagzzz]

Forget about Mario. Here's the plan:

1) Make the playoffs
2) Attract awesome free agent

We're on our way!

We've been saying this for a few years. No awesome free agent has come here yet. Don't hold your breath.

Rob's got it under control this time! He's all in with Serge and BB. The plan is in place.....

Alex Martins is that you?

[IllMagic04]

If Mario and AG were future stars, they would show atleast glimpses of it by now. Neither of them is dynamic enough off the dribble to be a featured player on offense.

I'm willing to give them at least until 22. Compaing to other young players at the same age.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/georgpa01.html

21 year old Paul George was soooo much better than Mario

I have a bad feeling that Mario is going to be a complete bust and leave us for Europe but I really hope he proves me wrong and can atleast turn into a rotation guy one day.

This is the painfull truth. Mario is a bust. Not really woth discussing at this point. Anyone thinking he will be anything more than a role player off the bench is in dream land. AG hasn't shown anything that would make you believe he will be a star. Its not about stats. Its the eye test. I remember people on here saying that Moe Harkless numbers were comparible to Paul George too. . Its time to step into reality. AG will be a nice player but I have seen no flashes that he will be star. Im not trying to down him but its just being realistic.

[UCFJayBird]

Also for the love of God, JODIE MEEKS please get healthy soon.

I completely forgot about Meeks. Yea let's hope he's good to go soon. He could be a much needed boost off the bench and help scoring.

[Furinkazan]

lol
I was waiting for the Meeks is our savior ... but in the green font
guy didnt play for like 2 years and is our biggest hope for some offense
Im sure he wont be RUSTY after 2 years
and he wasnt that gr8 to begin with even when healthy