25pg, 10.3rbs, 7ast. 1STL for last 3 games..Thats 1st team all NBA #s
Dude is looking like a keeper, this is what FIZ vision(position less basketball) when they signed him. IMO, this is the best 3 game stretch of any player that's been on the roster this season.
Dotson
Mitch
Mario
trier..
Are the only players worth keeping, Im still on the fence regarding Mudiay and DSJ.
knicks1248 wrote:25pg, 10.3rbs, 7ast. 1STL for last 3 games..Thats 1st team all NBA #sDude is looking like a keeper, this is what FIZ vision(position less basketball) when they signed him. IMO, this is the best 3 game stretch of any player that's been on the roster this season.
Dotson
Mitch
Mario
trier..
Are the only players worth keeping, Im still on the fence regarding Mudiay and DSJ.
He's playing PG, so he can control the game and the ball!
knicks1248 wrote:25pg, 10.3rbs, 7ast. 1STL for last 3 games..Thats 1st team all NBA #sDude is looking like a keeper, this is what FIZ vision(position less basketball) when they signed him. IMO, this is the best 3 game stretch of any player that's been on the roster this season.
Dotson
Mitch
Mario
trier..
Are the only players worth keeping, Im still on the fence regarding Mudiay and DSJ.
Dotson, Mitch, Trier, Smith and Knox are the only players signed for next year if I'm not mistaken!
seems like he was forced to play PF because of his size
I suppose this is a benefit of playing positionless ball
SupremeCommander wrote:seems like he was forced to play PF because of his sizeI suppose this is a benefit of playing positionless ball
Through out the season when he did have opportunities to be the primary Ball handler he was real careless with his passes.
He got some easy drives on PnR because of the attn mitch has gotten on ally oops..
I say keep him and sign him to a friendly contract that can be traded if he doesn't pan out (something around lances thomas ball park) 2+ team option
Mario would really be worth keeping for cheap and I think he likes to be here. He's a role player. He lacks the intensity and drive to be a full time starter, but he's a great role player. The guy he actually reminds me of if Robert Horry. While their games are different both are a little too laid back to be great, but both are fearless and love big moments.
Assuming we sign 2 max guy I am not sure what our avenue to bring back Mario would be. Cap space kills the MLE (pretty sure we dont get one) and used our exception. He would really have to want to be here (which he may)
fishmike wrote:Mario would really be worth keeping for cheap and I think he likes to be here. He's a role player. He lacks the intensity and drive to be a full time starter, but he's a great role player. The guy he actually reminds me of if Robert Horry. While their games are different both are a little too laid back to be great, but both are fearless and love big moments.Assuming we sign 2 max guy I am not sure what our avenue to bring back Mario would be. Cap space kills the MLE (pretty sure we dont get one) and used our exception. He would really have to want to be here (which he may)
Primarily it would be vet mins and smaller exceptions for guys like Dot, Trier, Mario and anyone else unless they make a trade.
Feel like shooting-wise, Marie is a confident version of Frank: the %'s are still awful and can't tell if he knows what a good shot is
players can improve even during the season.
Mario signed with the hope and perhaps a plan with the coaches to work on aspects of his game.
While a short sample we have seen glimpses of this during the season. Not just the offensive numbers, he has done that even in Orlando, but if I recall there was talk of rounding out his game off the ball too.
Even if he signs elsewhere because the numbers don't work here our coaches can point to a story of development.
I'd say that Mudiay has vastly improved this season as has Vonleh. We don't know what was expected of Knox but he too has improved vastly.
WE have individual stories not of a team in synch. But players might want to come here knowing if they can't get money they can improve and walk away a better player then when they signed on. This can't go on forever us being a last place camp for players but its a start of a new culture. Take a few steps back and look at the big picture: Fiz never lost his team for extended periods of time, except for KP players traded were complimentary and grateful for the work and we have a young core improving. Frank being the outlier for now.
For all his foibles Fiz gave his work to Mudiay and Mario and stuck with them.
Mitch has become a bit of a fenom as the season progressed.
Trier earned his money but then seemed to break down. I know we bash frank, but he played 78 game his rookie season. Trier 64. At age 23 his game should continue to translate well off the bench from what I have seen.
It will be interesting what becomes of him if we should land FA's and another blue chip rookie how his game can blend in.
knicks1248 wrote:25pg, 10.3rbs, 7ast. 1STL for last 3 games..Thats 1st team all NBA #sDude is looking like a keeper, this is what FIZ vision(position less basketball) when they signed him. IMO, this is the best 3 game stretch of any player that's been on the roster this season.
Dotson
Mitch
Mario
trier..
Are the only players worth keeping, Im still on the fence regarding Mudiay and DSJ.
Can't fall for guys who put up big stats in the last couple weeks of a season. We see it every year. Teams are not playing hard right now and a talented player like Hezonja is bound to put up big numbers. I think what he has been most of the year is what he is. He's always had talent though.
these games have been played under meaningless circumstances. i would say they show what we’ve known all along - the guy has great skill but it only gels when the pressure is off. normal competitive nba games don’t appear to be his forte.
^ knixkik u beat me to it. couldn’t agree with you more.
his agent called and said, Mario, I got no big money offers for you in the NBA right now - need to step it up!
This is the player we hoped we were getting when we signed him.
This is the player we saw flashes of during the season.
I'd like to think that this is the kind of player he could become as he gets older and maybe stays with a franchise like us.
I'm not a fan of signing 2 max players. I'd obviously love KD, and then would like to try to build some roster continuity with our younger players, like DSjr, Mario, Mudiay.
But the rational part of my brain can't argue with how Mario has put up such small #s this year, and you can't sign a player for potential and cause you like elements of their game (hello Lance Thomas and Ron Baker.)
If we want to give the guy 8-10 mil a year for 4 years after we sign our FA's (can we do that? We have his birdrights?) with an understanding and buy in about his role then Im OK with that. If he is the diva prick rumored to be and wants his place in the spotlight then let him walk and Fiz has a good story to sell for the next guy.
I liked the way the team reacted to his success. The injured guys were cheering him on and the vibe of the team is good. No sulking towel headed scowls, no KP wokes, no Melodramas, no Phil smugness and nobody throwing towels at the coach. Knox been rebounding and passing more. Rookies are uneven. He had a good campaign, finished strong even if inconsistent. 19 years old and expected.
Worst thing this season is Frank's injuries. Some knicks did well as the season progressed. His health declined.
I think he gets traded. I hope not.
My preference is to see him succeed and it annoy Knicks1248 to no end. Nalod Small minded that way.
We seriously need to avoid keeping players based on garbage time performances. What Mario is doing is an example of a player trying his best to just make it in the league but it to late as this performance is coming after the audience has left. What Mario is doing amounts to BS.
Vmart wrote:We seriously need to avoid keeping players based on garbage time performances. What Mario is doing is an example of a player trying his best to just make it in the league but it to late as this performance is coming after the audience has left. What Mario is doing amounts to BS.
I can't argue your point, but I have to blame part of that on FIZ for is 200 rotations. Fiz never gave any player more than a wk or 2 (in one role) and he never gave Mario the role he's playing now.
Every NBA play has Talent, but it's up to the coach to put him in the right role, and the coaching staff has struggle with that BIG TIME
I posted earlier about possibly keeping Mario next year. His recent 3 game stretch reminds me of his talent/potential, but I agree the games now mean less and more bench players are competing. I like that he passes as we have a lot of chuckers (Knox, Trier) - that could help our 2nd unit. He seems well liked by his teammates and has not been a ball hog like some others.
Been trying to figure out if he's spent this season trying to show discipline, team play and erase the prior reputation of him as a gunner... I expected him to come in and jack up a lot of shots (with some highlights and big games), be inconsistent - and try to land a future deal elsewhere. That said, still think he'd be a good bench player with guys like Durant and another max guy.
jskinny35 wrote:I posted earlier about possibly keeping Mario next year. His recent 3 game stretch reminds me of his talent/potential, but I agree the games now mean less and more bench players are competing. I like that he passes as we have a lot of chuckers (Knox, Trier) - that could help our 2nd unit. He seems well liked by his teammates and has not been a ball hog like some others. Been trying to figure out if he's spent this season trying to show discipline, team play and erase the prior reputation of him as a gunner... I expected him to come in and jack up a lot of shots (with some highlights and big games), be inconsistent - and try to land a future deal elsewhere. That said, still think he'd be a good bench player with guys like Durant and another max guy.
Mario had that same stretch last year too. He needs to build on it. And get a shot and play defense.
martin wrote:jskinny35 wrote:I posted earlier about possibly keeping Mario next year. His recent 3 game stretch reminds me of his talent/potential, but I agree the games now mean less and more bench players are competing. I like that he passes as we have a lot of chuckers (Knox, Trier) - that could help our 2nd unit. He seems well liked by his teammates and has not been a ball hog like some others. Been trying to figure out if he's spent this season trying to show discipline, team play and erase the prior reputation of him as a gunner... I expected him to come in and jack up a lot of shots (with some highlights and big games), be inconsistent - and try to land a future deal elsewhere. That said, still think he'd be a good bench player with guys like Durant and another max guy.
Mario had that same stretch last year too. He needs to build on it. And get a shot and play defense.
Remember in the beginning of the season he stated he was more interested in getting the young guys involve and he wasn't really looking for his shots..
Here's a comment that I 100% believe
He said his point-guard play — if given more time — would’ve helped develop Mitchell Robinson and Kevin Knox.
“In terms of involving them and making them better, yes (I wish i played point guard more),” Hezonja said. “But then we have to understand if I get the ball, where is Mudiay going to be, where is Dennis (Smith) going to be? They have to play, too,.
When knox, mudiay or DSJ lead the break, 99% of the time they are going coast to coast, when Mario leads the break, he's looking for the wing guy first.
“I’m ready to talk to Dolan,” he said. “If he gives me that call on July 1, we’re done.”
Does that mean DOLAN will be involved with FA's this summer
I like the fact that Mario has tried to be a good soldier this whole season
As others have mentioned, end of the season games can be misleading
Also do we really have a role for him if we're bringing in 2-3 ball dominators (draft included)
We're so horrible at the moment, I can't get to thinking about end-of-the-bench guys
They made a good point on MSG after the game about Mario being good enough to school 2nd unit players, but not good enough to consistently hang with starting quality players.
The funny thing about watching Mario play the point is that he has this expression on his face like Fizdale pulled Mario from the stands. Looks like he cant believe he's being given the keys to the car. If Mario could play other positions with the same confidence, might be worth keeping. Probably too late to see if it carries over.
