Przegląd Sportowy: The Suns are in a tough spot, something that coach Alvin Gentry also talked about. You lost six games in a row.
Marcin Gortat: That's true. 6 losses and it doesn't seem like we're going to break this streak in the next game. This is a tough moment, not only for the team, but also for myself, for my career. I'm going through tough moments. It's situations like these where you have to show mental strength and think about what we can change. I need to train hard every day and hope for the best.
How would you explain the teams streaky play this season? For three quarters you were neck in neck with a top-notch team in the NBA, the Clippers, only to waste it in three or four minutes.
MG: Unfortunately, there are some "black holes" in our games that are hard to logically explain. There are moments in which it feels like somebody turned off the power. As if someone pulled the plug. We compete, we fight, we try, and then suddenly they go up a dozen points and we either mount a comeback, or it's too late.
Coach Gentry admitted that he's still looking for an optimal lineup, and he himself doesn't quite know how to use certain players. Your team is really going through a lot of changes all the time. Is Gentry looking for a perfect balance?*
MG: Maybe, I can't really say anything about that.
In some games you score a lot of points, for example 22 against the Trail Blazers and 18 against the Knicks, but you also have games like the one in Staples Center against the Clippers. Why?
MG: It's mostly because various players play different roles and have different playing time in every game. The team isn't crystallized. It doesn't have everyone knowing his role. Nobody's really sure how many minutes he'll spend on the court, whether he even gets a shot. We're still at the point of finding our strong suits.
How can you correct this?
MG: First and foremost - by practice. We can talk about how much (shots? playing time? t/n), and what we want in the locker room before and after games, but it isn't working so far. Only hard work in practice will let us eliminate our mistakes and fix our play.
You mentioned that you are going through some hard times? How do you plan on breaking through this crisis?
MG: Talking to the people that are close to me, that helped me built my career, or were close to me when I was growing as a basketball player. I'm capable of showing a high level. I have no other choice, but to look for a place to me in the team and fight for what's mine. It's really hard this season, though. This is an important mental test for me. I need to stay strong and focus on basketball. I can't be discouraged by things that happen in my team. It's not easy. This is the first time I'm in a situation like this in my career. Physically, I feel well. Maybe my aggressiveness has faded, but you know why? Because in one game, I play well, and in the next, I don't, while in the third one, I don't play at all, and in the fourth, I'm suddenly getting a bunch of passes. There's no consistency. I think that might be affecting me.
In the game against the Trail Blazers, you've shown that you can play a big role in the Suns offence.
MG: First of all, I believe I'm a good basketball player. I showed and confirmed that many times already. I don't need to argue with anyone about it, or repeat it ad nauseam. I know my worth. I believe in myself, but at the same time, I'm waiting for a chance. I don't give up, if I did, I wouldn't be myself.
*Please note that the first part of this question is formatted into Gortat's answer
