Experience, freedom helping Mario Hezonja improve on defense
Mario Hezonja has had to put in a lot of work defensively to get back into the Orlando Magic’s rotation. He is finding the experience is helping him grow.
There was a time when the prospect of Mario Hezonja having to defend LeBron James would mean sending an immediate double team and hoping for the best. Defense is not exactly why the Orlando Magic drafted Hezonja with the fifth overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.
In some ways, defense is what held Hezonja back as a rookie under then-coach Scott Skiles. With defensive-minded coaches facing playoff pressure, it was tough to throw a rookie out there who struggled with defensive responsibilities. Yet, he needed the experience to learn what to do in these situations.
The growing faith in Hezonja was on display in Cleveland on Tuesday when Hezonja matched up with James.
James drove in on Hezonja. And Hezonja stripped him clean, knocking the ball off James out of bounds. Hezonja had made his mark defensively. And increasingly he has done so since moving to power forward full time.
At power forward, Hezonja has gained some freedom to play at a higher, more consistent level. And the results are beginning to show.
"“Frank trusts me when the ball is in my hands that I can make plays and find teammates and I can get my own shot,” Hezonja told Orlando Magic Daily. “It gives you a lot of freedom. I really enjoy that spot. You have to rebound and box out. Obviously, you have to do that. On the offensive side, it gives you a lot of freedom. You don’t have to be just setting screens and doing all the things big guys do.”"
Since getting back into the rotation full time after the All-Star Break — mostly at power forward — Hezonja is averaging 6.2 points per game and 3.1 rebounds per game in 20.1 minutes per game. He is shooting just 34.6 percent from the floor, however, and struggling even more from beyond the arc.
That is to say, Hezonja was expected to be an offensive savant but has struggled there this year.
That has not been the case defensively. Increasingly Hezonja is making better and better plays defensively.
It is not just the highlight plays either, such as his chase down block of Justin Hamilton in Thursday’s win over the Brooklyn Nets. Hezonja has been in better position to cut off dribble penetration and digging in as help to get steals.
No one will confuse Hezonja with a stellar defensive player. This year he has a defensive box plus-minus of -0.8 according to Basketball-Reference. His overall defensive numbers are relatively meager.
But for a young player finding his way, the defensive improvement of late has been an encouraging sign.
"“It’s not like he’s in here after practice working on defensive slides,” coach Frank Vogel told Orlando Magic Daily. “Angles are learned through experience and mistakes. That’s what young players need. They need to be out there and they need to play and be corrected. They’ve got to gain some confidence. I think playing the 4 where not every single minute he is out there he is chasing a 6-2 guard probably gave him a little bit of confidence to keep his man in front.”"
It has been tough to find a way to get Hezonja that experience all while maintaining the pressure to win. That has been a constant storyline throughout the season.
Playing him at power forward has eased some of that pressure defensively. It has given him some more favorable matchups and the chance to increase his confidence.
The results are still catching up to Hezonja’s increased confidence. According to 82Games.com, opponents put up a 19.2 PER when Hezonja is at power forward. That is above average and certainly a lot more than what Hezonja produces offensively.
Hezonja’s defensive improvement is not likely to get captured in statistics quite yet. The sample is too small. It is still about anecdotal evidence of his improvement and his gradual comfort and experience there.
Orlando Magic
Vogel said after Thursday’s win over the Nets he was impressed with Hezonja’s ball containment. That has been a big challenge for the second-year player throughout his early career. Vogel noted Hezonja has improved his angles on defense, adding in some technique with his generally solid effort throughout games.
Learning how to attack players defensively is something a young player learns through experience, Vogel said. They have to make mistakes and get corrected and become more familiar with their opponents too.
"“It’s just repetition,” Hezonja told Orlando Magic Daily. “It’s the same as shots. That applies to the defensive side as well. The more you are in that position, the more that you learn and how opponents move. Experience is one of many segments there.”"
Hezonja said last year with Skiles, he felt a bit constrained defensively. It was tough for him to adjust to the NBA and play in such a strict structure. To some extent, the same could be said about Vogel’s defensive system early on in the year.
Hezonja has had to learn the basics some before he can freelance. But he has certainly gotten there. Hezonja said he feels like he has more freedom to make an impact on either side of the ball. That can be seen with how Hezonja is more willing to attack and help off the ball, while still staying close to his man for a close out.
That can be seen with how Hezonja is more willing to attack and help off the ball, while still staying close to his man for a close out. Generally these are not wild forays to the ball, but more calculated gambles.
Experience has helped Hezonja grow into a better player. The fact Hezonja is more reliable defensively has helped him sketch out a more firm role within the Magic’s offense and rotation.
Next: Orlando Magic get brief glimpse into their future
If there is any positive sign for Hezonja moving forward, it is that he is ending his season on a high note before he spends the summer focusing on his individual skills fully.