Jusuf Nurkic imposed his will against Ibaka, Toronto & social media loved it

If you talk the talk, you better walk the walk.

Trail Blazers wing Mario Hezonja did just that in the Trail Blazers’ first scrimmage ahead of the official NBA restart.

Hezonja and Nassir Little have been praised by Blazers Coach Terry Stotts and their teammates for putting in the work on their jumpers and for being the two players who spent the most time in the gym during the NBA suspension.

Heading into the first scrimmage with the Blazers facing the Pacers Thursday, Hezonja discussed how he felt confident and comfortable with his improved shot.

He put in the work in.

But that didn’t just mean getting more time in the gym.

No, there was a lot more to finding his rhythm offensively than just getting in reps. 

“I was listening more than the actual work. We went through a lot of film and just talking to my coaches so that I knew what I had to do and I got it. It’s just showing it and doing it. It’s not a big switch for me, but like in a game plan for my teammates and for the staff it can be a little different, and it looks good, so I’ll keep doing what they ask me to do every time.”

By listening to the coaching staff and not taking their conversations lightly, he has turned those talks into real progress on the court, which was on full display in the Blazers 91-88 loss to the Pacers Thursday. 

The versatile backup wing led the way in points scored and in minutes played finishing with 15 points in 21 minutes of action.

Hezonja provided instant offense off the bench, showing that he isn’t hesitating with the rock in his hand.

[Listen to the latest Talkin’ Blazers Podcast with hosts NBA Champion Channing Frye and Emmy Award winner Dan Sheldon].

The 25-year-old and fifth overall pick in the 2015 draft, explained that “it might be” a mental thing when it comes to his shot and overall play in the scrimmage compared to his previous play with the Blazers earlier in the season.    

Hezonja believes he needed more time to adapt to the Blazers style of play and culture. 

I like to study the game and everything that goes into it on the court, off the court, like I’m constantly thinking, overthinking, so like I’ve said before… It might be just a lot of information, a new team, a winning team, a Western Conference Finals team, it’s much different than the teams that I’ve been on in my past. So it was just I was trying to get adapted the best way possible and not taking anything from anybody and just get adapted as quick as possible, doing the right things and playing the right basketball that  I was thankfully been taught since I started.  — Trail Blazers SF Mario Hezonja

Hezonja added, “there’s no room for mistakes, and there’s no excuses, but I was just trying to get adapted as quick as possible. It took a couple months, but hey, here we are.” 

Between Hezonja’s scoring, Wenyen Gabriel’s physical play and Gary Trent Jr.’s tenacious defense, the Trail Blazers second unit of young players looked like they were all campaigning to snag more minutes when the ‘real’ games tip-off next week.

Hezonja was proud of Gabriel and Trent Jr.; two players who he has a close bond with off the court as well.

The duo of Gabriel and Trent Jr. sets the tone for the Blazers, according to Hezonja.

My dogs — both of them. We talk a lot, we share a lot of time off the court together and that’s who they are — they just play hard… That’s just who they are — that’s the identity that they set for us as a team — being extra aggressive, but still being smart about it and under control with everything and just going out there and giving it all for the team to be successful… You can’t ask for more than that. — Mario Hezonja on Gary Trent Jr. and Wenyen Gabriel

Coach Stotts felt that the Blazers’ second unit “got a little lackadaisical” at the start of the second quarter and gave credit to the Pacers on their three-point shooting.

Stotts was pleased with Gabriel and Hezonja’s performances. However, he did mention that Hezonja may have forced a few things on the offensive end.

“Wenyen gave us a lot of energy which is what he’s been doing in practice… I thought Rio was aggressive… He was probably a little more aggressive and may have tried to do a little bit too much out there with the second unit. I think it’s different for him playing with the second unit where the ball is in his hands a lot versus playing with Damian [Lillard], CJ [McCollum] and [Carmelo Anthony], where he is able to play off of them… But overall, Rio played the way he’s been playing. The encouraging thing is he’s shooting the ball well. He’s shooting with confidence and with the guys that he’s going to be out there with that’s important.”

Although Hezonja’s four years in the league have not panned out the way many saw it looking with his athletic build and high ceiling on both ends of the floor, Hezonja has explained that good things take time and now he feels that the quarantine time was a good opportunity for the ‘confident and comfortable Hezonja’ to really take hold.

There are still some question marks surrounding Coach Stotts’ decision on who will see significant minutes once the eight-game restart begins.

The Trail Blazers were without big man Hassan Whiteside (Achilles) and rookie forward Nassir Little (concussion) on Thursday.

Whiteside will see significant minutes with the assumption that he will move from his starting role to come off the bench with Jusuf Nurkic’s return.

Hezonja, Little and Trent Jr. have all been thrown out as possible back-up small forwards behind Carmelo Anthony.

Right now, Hezonja doesn’t see Portland’s scrimmages as a chance to prove himself for playing time.

He sees it as a chance for the entire team to come together for their one common goal:

“To win the championship.”

Hezonja finished his postgame interview with this message on why the scrimmages are extremely valuable for the team overall, not just the second unit:

“I think it’s important for everybody. It doesn’t matter, first unit, second unit, we all play together, we all are on the same page, we all are one team, and we all have one goal and that’s to win the championship.”