Marcin Gortat

[Griffin]

Since there's a lot of discussion on Gortat in other non-related threads, we should probably have a separate thread.

Here are his comments immediately after the trade (translated from Polish):

I think that the trade in which I went along with Vince Carter and Mickael Pietrus to the Phoenix Suns will be very beneficial for me. I regard this trade as a step forward in my career. First and foremost, I will be given a chance to spend more minutes on the floor. Finally, I will be able to come out from the shadow of Dwight Howard, and I assure you that I am ready for that.

On this important day I would like to thank everyone in the Orlando Magic organization as well as our fans. I have maintained very good relations with all the fans, the coaching staff and the players. I will have many amazing memories from my time in Orlando, and I won't forget for a long time how Magic fans have treated me. Even when I only played five minutes they still rewarded me with a loud applause. For that I am very grateful. But I am also very happy that I am starting a new segment of my life, and now I will try to win respect of Phoenix Suns fans and to have success with this club.

I will also not forget that it was in Orlando that to a large degree I have grown as a basketball player. This city is my home in USA, but time has come for a change. Time has come to jump onto the next level; that is the outlook in front of me in Phoenix. In reality I'm actually coming back to Phoenix since they were the ones who selected me in the 2005 draft.

Could I be in a better situation? Honestly speaking, probably not. The style of play that coach Alvin Gentry employs suits me very well. The Suns prefer fast and free basketball. I think that I fit very well with this team, and I will try to prove that in every game that I play in a Phoenix Suns jersey. With what number? We'll see, but it certainly won't be my 13.

I can't add anything more except that I can't wait for the opportunity to play with Steve Nash, who brilliantly works with big players and throws many passes in their direction. I hope that playing next to such a player will in turn make me a better player. I should add that it is because of him that I have to look for a new number.

Most likely I will make my debut with my new club in a game against the Miami Heat Thursday, December 23.

 

[Chaplin]

I was ok about getting him yesterday, but today I'm downright excited to see him play with Nash.

 

[jagu]

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[desertdawg]

"Throw it down big man."

 

[sunsfan88]

I'd like to point out his website which is very interesting and entertaining.

www.gortat.net

 

[elindholm]

Griffin, do you speak (read) Polish? If so, I'm very impressed with your translation skills.

 

[mojorizen7]

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[Billy Bob]

I was ok about getting him yesterday, but today I'm downright excited to see him play with Nash.

me too

 

[mojorizen7]

me too

Are you sure?

LOL

 

[Griffin]

Griffin, do you speak (read) Polish? If so, I'm very impressed with your translation skills.

Thanks, yeah I do. But I think it would have been even more impressive if I didn't

 

[Billy Bob]

Are you sure?

LOL

After the suns presser "yeah" this kid is ready to go after backing up "a machine that never tires or gets hurt" why do you laugh at me?

 

[mojorizen7]

After the suns presser "yeah" this kid is ready to go after backing up "a machine that never tires or gets hurt" why do you laugh at me?

Relax,just noticed you've already got your Polish Hammer avatar up & rolling already.

I'm excited to see Gortat in a SUNS uni too.

 

[Mainstreet]

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Is this picture photo shopped? I'm thinking it must.

 

[carey]

For those that haven't seen it & made by a Magic fan....

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[AfroSuns]

 

[jagu]

Ditto HAHAHA

 

[elindholm]

"Get out there and run the double helix flux capacitor offense I invented during the National Anthem," that's good stuff.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Watching the video of Gortat:

1. He just has a big, strong, wide frame. He eats up a lot of space.
2. He is VERY active for a big man.
3. He loves the pick and roll. He seems to catch and finish well.
4. He is a position rebounder. He has an instinct to block out and seems to take responsibility for getting every rebound.
5. He blocks shots based upon long arms and quick hands. Most of his blocks are quicker and lower in the shooting motion. That takes good hand-eye coordination and quick response.
6. He seems to force jump shots, especially from the mid-range. Looks like a worse than average mid-range shooter.

 

[Folster]

A lot of Magic fans have said he has bad hands and constantly fumbles passes, something we don't see in his Youtube highlight clips. I think we'll see a lot of fumbles early on, but hopefully he catches on.

Side note: Steven Hunter had the worst hands I have ever seen on the Suns. He would fumble his first pass without fail when he entered the game. I'd call it every time. It got to the point where you'd think D'Antoni should have sent him into the tunnel with another player and throw him the ball a couple times before he entered the game.

 

[JCSunsfan]

A lot of Magic fans have said he has bad hands and constantly fumbles passes, something we don't see in his Youtube highlight clips. I think we'll see a lot of fumbles early on, but hopefully he catches on.

Side note: Steven Hunter had the worst hands I have ever seen on the Suns. He would fumble his first pass without fail when he entered the game. I'd call it every time. It got to the point where you'd think D'Antoni should have sent him into the tunnel with another player and throw him the ball a couple times before he entered the game.

Curious. I haven't seen those comments. who/where?

 

[jibikao]

I have to say the same thing too. I didn't even know who he is until today! There is an article about him on nba.com and I read about it.

I guess he has a legit point! He's been guarding Howard in practice more than anybody else in the past 5 years. He should know what "tough" is and I really hope he can bring it to the team. I want him to foul hard when we need to. Between him and Lopez, he really only needs about 20mins to be effective.


I watched some of his clips on youtube. He seems to be very nervous when he shoots. Maybe it's because he plays mostly in garbage time and it's hard to impress during that time.

 

[jibikao]

A lot of Magic fans have said he has bad hands and constantly fumbles passes, something we don't see in his Youtube highlight clips. I think we'll see a lot of fumbles early on, but hopefully he catches on.

Side note: Steven Hunter had the worst hands I have ever seen on the Suns. He would fumble his first pass without fail when he entered the game. I'd call it every time. It got to the point where you'd think D'Antoni should have sent him into the tunnel with another player and throw him the ball a couple times before he entered the game.

The worst "bad hands" I've seen is Shawn Bradely in Mavs. I don't know how many times he just couldn't catch the ball when Nash passed to him. It was ridiculous.

 

[jagu]

I watched some of his clips on youtube. He seems to be very nervous when he shoots. Maybe it's because he plays mostly in garbage time and it's hard to impress during that time.

As a fan of Gortat I tuned into Magic games just to see him play. He is very mobile but your right that he is hesitant with the mid range jumper. With more of a direction to his career in the NBA he might relax a little and just shoot naturally in this open offense. I think its better if he keeps his game in the paint though, I don't want him to start settling for 10-15 footers. He can do damage by getting inside, drawing fouls and putting the other team in foul trouble. Lopez is also good at that, and he is a solid free throw shooter. Both are hard to shoot over as well.

 

[Folster]

Curious. I haven't seen those comments. who/where?

http://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1076856

There are a couple post here. Perhaps they are just bitter Magic fans.

 

[jagu]

http://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1076856

There are a couple post here. Perhaps they are just bitter Magic fans.

He's shooting 54% from the field and only plays 15 minutes a game and almost averages 5 boards in 15 minutes. Some one said that "Gortat was really bad this year. REALLY bad. Previous years I would say he could start for a lot of teams so we will see what was up with him."

For someone with such limited time on the court, it's pretty unfair to say he was really bad and still have solid averages. And who can blame him for maybe growing tired and weary of his role in the NBA, backing up a guy who never gets injured or leaves the game.