Page 2 was titled: Gortat as Backup to Dwight Howard
My assessment hasn’t changed. In May 2017 I didn’t believe Marcin Gortat should still be the starting center for Washington, if they were really serious about a deep playoff run. I still don’t believe it.
Here’s wrote I wrote last May:
"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. 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."
Here’s what I believe in May 2018, if the Wizards want a chance to reach the ECF next season, they will not do so with Gortat.
If the Wizards want to look in-house for a reliable backup for Wall, that’s feasible. But they have to look outside for their starting center.
Some will argue that Gortat played all 82 games this season. To borrow a phrase from Michael Jordan, when the Warriors owner tried to impress him and said that his team won 73. (They didn’t win the championship that year).
Jordan: “73 wins doesn’t mean &*#&#”. Me: 82 games don’t mean…you get the picture.
That’s 82 games where bigs are crushing Gortat outside the perimeter, and he’s too slow.
Why is it that we don’t have a problem stating how fast Wall is, but there’s hesitation about Gortat’s speed?
If you can’t defend the perimeter at least dominate the paint. Gortat did neither.
Howard was probably never an option, and his contract isn’t friendly for Washington. However, Nerlens Noel is a possible option off the bench.
Please don’t bring up DeMarcus Cousins as Gortat’s replacement. If it was possible, then of course. But that’s an article for another day. Plus, Otto Porter stays in the picture.