After up-and-down season, Marcin Gortat is dominating in the playoffs
He got a major raise, saw his very own action figure during a Washington Wizards promotional giveaway and got to play on Christmas Day. Those were some of the good things for Marcin Gortat this season.
But as the Wizards trailed off after the All-Star break, so too did Gortat. His interactions with the media went from boisterous and friendly to quick and efficient, according to the Washington Times.
Something kind of funny happened during the season, though. Whether by design or coincidence, Gortat played just less than 30 minutes per game. That benchmark is something of a Holy Grail is the NBA; when things are going right for the San Antonio Spurs, for example, no player will surpass that mark. It keeps players fresh and ready for a deep playoff run. And through four games, it seems to have paid off for Gortat and the Wizards. He's averaging 17.3 points, 10.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game, all with a ridiculous 74.4 percent field goal percentage.
Where did this Gortat come from? Let him explain.
“Personally for me, it’s huge to play with two studs like Brad [Beal] and John [Wall],” Gortat said. “These guys create a lot of space for me. We have Otto [Porter] stepping in right now big time. You’re playing with the legend Paul Pierce. You’re playing with the big Brazilian gladiator [Nene] over there. So, I guess I’m the weakest link out there.
“They’re going to leave me open a lot, so I just have to make sure I am going to finish a lot of shots. If I tell you how many times it’s my fault during the game, you’ll be surprised. You’ll be surprised. Every time there’s a problem with me on the court. I’m just trying to figure out … if one day I play perfect game, I might crack the Wilt Chamberlain record.”
Although he didn't come out and say it directly, it's no coincidence that Gortat is having his best stretch of the season as the Wizards go small. Both he and Nene are smart players who have managed to play well together, but when Paul Pierce plays power forward and Otto Porter is at the 3, Gortat comes alive, and the Wizards feast.
(h/t Washington Times)
Photo Credit: John E. Sokolowski/USA Today Sports
