Wiz of Awes
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The State of the Washington Wizards

By Jen Julie Smith

SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 10: Bradley Beal #3, John Wall #2, Otto Porter #22 and Marcin Gortat #13 of the Washington Wizards huddle up during the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 10, 2017 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 10: Bradley Beal #3, John Wall #2, Otto Porter #22 and Marcin Gortat #13 of the Washington Wizards huddle up during the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 10, 2017 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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marcin gortat al horford
WASHINGTON, DC –  MAY 4: Marcin Gortat #13 of the Washington Wizards handles the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics during Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on May 4, 2017 at Verizon Center in Washington, DC. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Marcin Gortat

Gortat, Gortat, Gortat, what are we going to do with you? You did a good job during the regular season, no argument there (maybe a little towards the end). You posted up well against “0 points having during 2 games in the Finals” Tristan Thompson, when Cleveland came to town. But what happened postseason?

In the Atlanta series you crushed Dwight Howard inside the paint at home. But during the away games, you were a totally different player. You can’t leave your toughness in Washington, those road games, are when the team needs you most.

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Then in the Boston series, Al Horford crushed you. I wrote during the playoffs that Danny Ainge is old school, and the Celtics play positionless basketball, similar to his rivals – the Lakers of the 80s and 90s.

I can’t put it in any simpler terms than the truth, you were out of your league when matched up against Horford.

Horford can stretch the floor, and he did. While you had your feet planted on the inside, Horford was running to the perimeter knocking down three’s and long two’s. You were too slow for Horford. And as I wrote before Game 6, if you were to defend Horford the entire game, the Wizards are losing.

Sometimes we witnessed Horford playing point, forward and center, all in the same game. I’m not saying you do anything crazy like Howard, and say you’re going to add the 3-ball to your repertoire. But you have to develop a jumper, when you’re unable to crash the boards on the inside. You also have to develop your footwork, so you’re not chasing behind your man, but in front of your man.

The game has changed Gortat. It’s faster and quicker, with centers knocking down three’s just as easily as they dunk. You have to change with the game or get left behind. You must adapt, because you’re not feared on the inside, and they don’t even worry about you on the outside.

Everyone knows you have a strong work ethic, so we will see you dominating the paint and hopefully the perimeter once again. I know you had to carry a lot of the burden this season, with Mahinmi sidelined and Kelly Oubre not yet ready.

Otto Porter

Otto Porter, I’m going to spare you. Enough has been written about you this offseason, and you yourself stated during your press conference, that you have areas of improvement. I commend you for self-reflection. Some players would just go on doing what they have been doing, but you showed a commitment to prove to your critics and most of all yourself, that you deserve to be in the superstar conversation. I believe you will make others fear you next season, and once again start lighting them up. I can’t wait.

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