Marcin Gortat Lets His Team Down In Utah…Again…
By Matthew Wu
April 4, 2012; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz center Al Jefferson (25) drives the baseline while defended by Phoenix Suns center Marcin Gortat (4) during the second half at Energy Solutions Arena. The Suns defeated the Jazz 107-105. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-US PRESSWIRE
Anyone recall a month ago when I wrote an article criticizing Marcin Gortat? Well last night, for those of you who watched the Suns vs. Jazz game now know what I’m talking about.
Gortat got manhandled last night, manhandled. Al Jefferson almost made it a point to attack Gortat as soon as the game began, Jefferson scored 4 field goals going against Gortat in the first 5 minutes of the game and the Jazz led the Suns 13-5 after Jefferson nailed a 19-footer.
For those of you who want to defend Gortat, well here’s my advice to you “Quit being fools”. Al Jefferson averaged 11.8 points on 40% shooting coming into this game against the Suns and going up against Gortat, Jefferson looked like the second coming of Hakeem Olajuwon, but this isn’t about how well Jefferson played, it’s about how pathetic Gortat played.
Anyone who watched last night’s game and actually paid attention to Gortat, the man spent more time during the game feeling sorry for himself or whining to the referees than actually playing basketball.
Gortat picked up 4 fouls by late 3rd quarter and chilled on the bench for the remainder of the game. Without Gortat on the floor the Suns actually made a run and nearly completed another improbable comeback.
April 24, 2012; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz center Al Jefferson (25) blocks the shot of Phoenix Suns center Marcin Gortat (4) during the first quarter at Energy Solutions Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-US PRESSWIRE
Gortat so often during this game was out of position, not aware of what’s going on, and seemed dazed which led to the Jazz’s domination on the glass, and the paint. Utah outscored the Suns 52-36 in the paint area.
I mean Gortat was just getting underneath my skin all night long, his performance last night is a slap in the face to his teammates and to every last Suns fans out there. He didn’t go out there and give it 110%, heck he barely gave it 50%.
There were a couple of plays that sticks out particularly to me during that game. The first one being when the Jazz missed a shot and Gortat was battling with Jefferson for the rebound and all Gortat did was just jump, he didn’t try to get the rebound, and he wasn’t even sure where the ball was. I mean it really look like he didn’t give a rat’s behind about getting the ball.
The second play was when the Suns were coming on a fast break and Gortat had to ball delivered straight into his lap, he was wide-open all he had to do was dunk the ball but instead he wanted to go a nifty little reverse lay-up and he missed it.
Those two plays pretty much defined the game for the Suns last night. Poor effort throughout most of the game, but there are a couple of guys I want to give credit to right here. “Thank you Sebastian Telfair, and Luis Scola for fighting all night long and propelling a dead in the water team to nearly another comeback.”
A lot’s been made of Andrew Bynum who’s been known to take plays or even games off and I am really beginning to see it from Marcin Gortat, because we all know what he can do, we’ve seen him at his best but it’s so sporadic and inconsistent it’s giving me the impression that he doesn’t give it 100% all the time.
April 4, 2012; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Phoenix Suns center Marcin Gortat (4) dunks during the first quarter against the Utah Jazz at Energy Solutions Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-US PRESSWIRE
Last night Gortat shot 0 for 6 from the field, got 8 rebounds and turned the ball over twice in 30 minutes of action.
Last season, in what would be Steve Nash’s last road game in a Suns uniform, the last chance Steve Nash would play in the playoffs in a Suns uniform, April 24th at Salt Lake City, the Suns were fighting for a chance to be in the playoffs. Marcin Gortat in that contest shot 1 for 8 from the field, 5 of those shots were blocked.
To be completely honest I didn’t think Gortat would be on the roster at this point. I thought the Suns were going to trade Gortat in the NBA draft this past June to move up in the draft and take a young player with superstar potential, someone like Andre Drummond or whoever.
I don’t expect Gortat will be on the roster by the end of this season. He’s a very valuable asset, arguably the most valuable asset the Suns have given his contract situation. I’m positive if the Suns end up with a record similar to the one like they had at all-star break last season, they will trade Gortat to acquire more assets for the future.
Gortat’s contract expires in the summer of 2014 and it’d be foolish for the Suns hang on to him. Gortat isn’t winning anybody a championship and if the Suns want to get the most out of him they need to trade him because with every passing day, the Suns will get less for him.
Although Gortat has a sweet contract for 2 years worth only 14 million dollars, it is still only two years. Teams will certainly want his services; however the Suns won’t get lot for Gortat if the other team is only going to have him as a 1-year rental.