Savage: Gortat Hammers Away at Offseason Training
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By Dan Savage
June 8, 2010
ORLANDO – There are a lot of players in the league that would be happy to be in Marcin Gortat’s shoes.
He’s played an integral role on a team that’s reached the Eastern Conference Finals in two straight seasons. He’s won over the hearts of fans throughout Orlando and in his home country of Poland. And he’s only in the second year of a contract that makes him one of the best paid young centers in the league.
But the ‘Polish Machine’ is far from satisfied.
Just a week after his team was eliminated from the Eastern Conference Finals, Gortat is back at the RDV Sportsplex training and working on aspects of his game. Like his squad, Gortat feels that he took a step backwards this season and he’s anxious to get to work this offseason on improving his game in a number of ways.
“I want to come back next season and be stronger and do everything better than I used to,” he explained. “Last year, for me, was disappointing.”
After the Magic were eliminated by the Celtics in Game 6 of the conference finals, Gortat immediately sat back and reflected on his season. Heading into this past year, the Magic’s back up big man was on a mission to improve his game on a number of levels. It’s one he didn’t accomplish.
“My goal was to have bigger statistics, play better, have a bigger role on the team, be more aggressive on offense and I didn’t do any of those things,” he admitted. “So I just realized that I had a (really bad) season, because I just played at the same level.”
But don’t think for a second that he’s going into next season with his head held low. If anything, this past year has made him more motivated than ever to elevate his skill level.
In addition to his arsenal of thunderous slams, Gortat hopes to add a 17 to 18-foot jumper to his offensive repertoire during the summer. It’s a trait that he believes will not only increase his point totals, but help him find more court time at a variety of positions.
“If I can consistently shoot 17 to 18-foot jumpers then I am going to be able to play as a four man a little bit more,” he said. “I don’t think there’s a problem with me playing there from a defensive standpoint. I’m pretty confident that I can defend most of the fours in the league and I definitely know the defensive rotations and the defensive schemes. But I have to improve my offensive game. I believe I have offensive game; I just have to show it.”
In his ideal world, the pride of Poland would like be the first big man off the bench, regardless of whether it’s All-Star center Dwight Howard or power forward Rashard Lewis heading to the pine. But he’s well aware that unless he’s able to consistently knock down a mid-range shot and stretch the floor, his dream is unlikely to come to fruition.
“I have to improve my shooting ability and just be consistent with that,” said Gortat. “If I am able to be consistent with my shooting, hit that 17 to 18-footer and be more aggressive then I really, really believe that I am going to be (able to also play as) a four man next year.”
With four months remaining until the start of Orlando’s preseason action, there’s a lot of time before Gortat will be able to right his perceived wrong. In the meantime, he plans on using that pent up hunger and frustration as fuel to continue his training and learning process.
“(I am) incredibly hungry, angry, disappointed and frustrated,” he added. “I just told myself ‘whatever happens next year, I just want to play more and be more aggressive. I want to be able to do a little bit more.’”
With all the effort he plans to put in to his offseason program, it’s a goal that’s well within reach.
Read the full Q & A with Marcin Gortat.
June 8, 2010
ORLANDO – There are a lot of players in the league that would be happy to be in Marcin Gortat’s shoes.
He’s played an integral role on a team that’s reached the Eastern Conference Finals in two straight seasons. He’s won over the hearts of fans throughout Orlando and in his home country of Poland. And he’s only in the second year of a contract that makes him one of the best paid young centers in the league.
But the ‘Polish Machine’ is far from satisfied.
Just a week after his team was eliminated from the Eastern Conference Finals, Gortat is back at the RDV Sportsplex training and working on aspects of his game. Like his squad, Gortat feels that he took a step backwards this season and he’s anxious to get to work this offseason on improving his game in a number of ways.
“I want to come back next season and be stronger and do everything better than I used to,” he explained. “Last year, for me, was disappointing.”
After the Magic were eliminated by the Celtics in Game 6 of the conference finals, Gortat immediately sat back and reflected on his season. Heading into this past year, the Magic’s back up big man was on a mission to improve his game on a number of levels. It’s one he didn’t accomplish.
“My goal was to have bigger statistics, play better, have a bigger role on the team, be more aggressive on offense and I didn’t do any of those things,” he admitted. “So I just realized that I had a (really bad) season, because I just played at the same level.”
But don’t think for a second that he’s going into next season with his head held low. If anything, this past year has made him more motivated than ever to elevate his skill level.
In addition to his arsenal of thunderous slams, Gortat hopes to add a 17 to 18-foot jumper to his offensive repertoire during the summer. It’s a trait that he believes will not only increase his point totals, but help him find more court time at a variety of positions.
“If I can consistently shoot 17 to 18-foot jumpers then I am going to be able to play as a four man a little bit more,” he said. “I don’t think there’s a problem with me playing there from a defensive standpoint. I’m pretty confident that I can defend most of the fours in the league and I definitely know the defensive rotations and the defensive schemes. But I have to improve my offensive game. I believe I have offensive game; I just have to show it.”
In his ideal world, the pride of Poland would like be the first big man off the bench, regardless of whether it’s All-Star center Dwight Howard or power forward Rashard Lewis heading to the pine. But he’s well aware that unless he’s able to consistently knock down a mid-range shot and stretch the floor, his dream is unlikely to come to fruition.
“I have to improve my shooting ability and just be consistent with that,” said Gortat. “If I am able to be consistent with my shooting, hit that 17 to 18-footer and be more aggressive then I really, really believe that I am going to be (able to also play as) a four man next year.”
With four months remaining until the start of Orlando’s preseason action, there’s a lot of time before Gortat will be able to right his perceived wrong. In the meantime, he plans on using that pent up hunger and frustration as fuel to continue his training and learning process.
“(I am) incredibly hungry, angry, disappointed and frustrated,” he added. “I just told myself ‘whatever happens next year, I just want to play more and be more aggressive. I want to be able to do a little bit more.’”
With all the effort he plans to put in to his offseason program, it’s a goal that’s well within reach.
Read the full Q & A with Marcin Gortat.
