We NEED to keep Gortat off the floor in this game. He is looking like he does not belong on the same court with the other people in this game, and the Thunder are treating him that way. It's not just his missed layups (although, that should be enough.. they're called "layups"), but it's effecting the entire game. He's falling down 10 times and 9 times no foul occurs. He's not fast enough to get to the spot on defense, but he still attempts to take a charge, because.. I mean he's not gonna block these bigger, stronger, faster guys' shots.
Look, there's a reason that big men don't take charges. It's not because they can't even get them because the guards are too crafty - heck, big men play behind the guards on defense, so they're usually in an advantageous position to take one, but if you don't get the call, it either means that a) you've been whistled for the blocking foul, or b) no call was made, because it was just legal contact, but the basketball is now near the basket we're trying to defend, and Gortat is on the floor where he is absolutely unable to help defend our hoop. Gortat's been outclassed in every sense of the word.
In the second half, he might have a more productive statistical performance, but the Suns won't be able to make a push at the win unless they can all function within the team's scheme. I have no confidence that Gortat can match up with these guys, and it's starting to show that players from Phoenix and OKC are sensing the same thing.