Wiz of Awes
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Washington Wizards: The Team Will Return Next Season – Faster, Stronger and to the Eastern Conference Finals

By Jen Julie Smith

Apr 19, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) and Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) celebrate while leaving the court after their game against the Atlanta Hawks in game two of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. The Wizards won 109-101 and lead the series 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 19, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) and Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) celebrate while leaving the court after their game against the Atlanta Hawks in game two of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. The Wizards won 109-101 and lead the series 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 12, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) shoots the ball over Washington Wizards center Marcin Gortat (13) in the second quarter in game six of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
May 12, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) shoots the ball over Washington Wizards center Marcin Gortat (13) in the second quarter in game six of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Marcin Gortat as Backup to Dwight Howard

Marcin Gortat should not have called the Wizards’ bench the worst in the NBA earlier this season. Yet, ironically, he’s just the player to help it improve.

The days of the true center may indeed be over. At least if the Wizards want to get past the Celtics next year.

Al Horford did not play the center position in the Wizards matchup against the Celtics these playoffs. Horford was shooting from the three-point line, and sometimes was even running the point guard position.

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Gortat wasn’t used to perimeter defense, he’s used to protecting the paint. It is a plain fact, he was and is too slow to defend Horford.

Gortat was both a defensive and offensive liability these playoffs against Boston.

Horford can make his own plays off the dribble, and unlike Gortat, doesn’t need his guards to feed him the ball.

Gortat is not his own playmaker, and was too uncomfortable underneath the basket, waiting for Wall to dish him the rock. That may have worked during the regular season, but not during the playoffs. And not against Al Horford.

Offensively, Gortat was also weak, because he wouldn’t take short jumpers or attack the rim.

In Game 6, I saw a loose ball two feet in front of the Polish Hammer and he didn’t even reach for it. It was as if his feet were nailed to the court.

In the Hawks’ last game against the Wizards, during the first round of the playoffs, Dwight Howard was benched and did not see the court during the fourth quarter. Howard was not happy with that situation.

Washington, for whatever reason has been a soft landing for players who fall out of favor with their team or the converse.

Case in point, Markieff Morris, who wanted to be traded after the Phoenix Suns traded away his identical twin, Marcus Morris.

Another liability that Gortat brings is his name. The Polish Hammer really belies how his opponents really feel about him. They just don’t fear Gortat on the inside and definitely not on the perimeter.

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Howard is both feared and respected throughout the league as a dominant big man.

There are those who will argue that the Wizards don’t have the luxury (tax) to bring on Howard and pay Otto Porter his max contract. I’m going to have to stop you right there, because Washington has people who can handle that math. It doesn’t take any type of Wizardry or mental gymnastics to do both.

Where does this leave Ian Mahinmi? I’m sure Mahinmi is a nice person, but again we’re not trying to win friends. We’re trying to win championships.

The Wizards can keep both Gortat and Mahinmi as Howard’s backup center. But if they choose not to, those two players will find a soft landing elsewhere.

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