MAGIC: Summer League

SUMMER LEAGUE BLOG

For the second consecutive year, 7 foot center Marcin Gortat will be blogging throughout the summer league week. This year, though, will be a bit different for Marcin. Last year's summer league was a year to make a statement that he would not back down from his new NBA peers. This year, after a postseason in which Gortat received considerable playing time, he is here to challenge for a significant role during the regular season.

Day 1: July 7, 2008

Q: How do you feel your experience in this past year's postseason will help you for this upcoming season?

A: For me, my situation is clear. This year I definitely have to start playing more and I have to start battling for playing time now and this is the first location where I can start playing and improving my game and trusting my coach that I am a good player and I can help the team. I'm really excited about the upcoming year. I think it's going to be something new and a new experience for me. I had a great year last year and improved my game a lot. I'd like to use this experience and those skills this year.

Q: What are your expectations personally for this summer league, and also for the team?

A: First of all I would like to win the summer league. I am here for the third time in a row and I would like to win this. I think for myself personally, I have got to do just what I'm going to do during the season. So I'm going to be a hustle player who's going to try to grab as many rebounds as I can, run the break and play D. Everything on offense will be something extra for me. I'm definitely going to try and use this situation and I definitely believe we have a team that can win the rest of the games and take the first spot.

Q: What made you decide to come back for another summer league season?

A: Even if it takes me five or six summer leagues to stay in the NBA and become a good player, I'm going to do it. Coach told me that it's going to be good for my career and for my playing time and that's why I decided to do it. I'm trying to win. I'm trying to play during the season and fight for minutes. I know the competition is going to be very strong and that's why I'm trying to get ready for training camp right now.

Day 2: July 8, 2008

Q: You guys actually shot 46 percent from the field today. Why do you think you couldn�t manage to cut into the lead?

A: Our main problem was rebounds. That was the biggest point. My personal problem has been getting rebounds, and I believe that if I�m going to play better, and I should play better I need to rebound. Aside from that, I think we need to talk more on defense, be more organized on defense. We don�t need to stay on the help side, you know, like we had to in past years. And basically, we have to be more focused in the game and more organized. Including me.

Q: Do you think it�s just a matter of getting to know each other out on the court?

A: I think some of the guys know each other from college or from playing in Europe. We just need to communicate more and, you know, talk to each other more and just work as a team. Sometimes we�re looking on the floor and really just looking for ourselves, but it�s not always about looking good. It�s about playing as a team and winning the game. That�s the most important thing, is to win the game. Today we were embarrassed. We embarrassed our organization, and we looked really bad.

Q: You guys face the Bulls tomorrow and they have a pretty strong front line. You talked about rebounding, how do you think you are going to turn that around tomorrow against them?

A: Well I�m going to go home and maybe, I don�t know, pray or try to do something else. Anything that�s necessary to start getting rebounds. I mean, I need to look way better tomorrow. And like I said I�m going to try to do anything that�s possible. I don�t know, maybe I�m going to drink five Red Bulls before the game to start flying. I�m going to try to be a leader tomorrow and talk more to the guys on the court and off the court and try to build up everybody and really try to communicate during the game more because I as a big man can see a little bit more of the court. I don�t have any fear of Chicago when we play against them. They�ve got a lot of guys who are in the league, but still we�ve got a good team and I believe we can win.

Day 3: July 9, 2008

Q: You led the team in points, rebounds and blocks today. What do you think helped you turn the corner today and play at a high level?

A: First of all, I needed to play a better game than the first two anyways. I missed a lot of helpside defense situations, a lot of rebounds that I was supposed to get, and the statistics that I had today wasn�t really telling what was going on on the floor. I know I can do better and first of all the team can win. As long as the team is losing, I can end a game with 50 points and 30 rebounds, and if the team is losing the statistics don�t count at all. I�m concerned about getting ready for the next game, and I hope a couple of the guys will come into this game a little more focused, because everyone is making mistakes, including me. That�s what it�s about, we�re trying to get better and experience.

Q: It seemed like you guys came out with a lot more focus today, especially on the defensive end. Is that something Patrick talked to you guys about prior to the game?

A: Of course, you know we can�t go out every day with the mentality like we lost two games and we can�t win this one. I at least feel like I can�t embarrass Orlando and I can�t embarrass this organization. There are a lot of people out there working hard trying to get better, and a lot o fguys that that want to do this, I mean I�m going to go out there and just play hard and do my best. I know I�m representing this team as a leader, and I�m going out every day to shake the referees hand as a captain, and that�s why I�m going to try and push those guys as much as possible and improve my game.

Q: What do you think was the difference between yesterdays defensive performance and today�s? Yesterday they scored 100 points, and today you guys played much better.

A: We started picking up a couple of things on defense and a couple of guys started paying attention a bit more and maybe talking a little bit more. But, you know, that�s what Coach expects from us. Hopefully we�re going to do better tomorrow. It might be a situation where a team underestimates us because we�ve lost two games. We�re still a good team and we can still win these games and that�s what we�re going to try to do tomorrow.

Day 5: July 11, 2008

Q: It must be nice to finish summer league with a double-double?

A: It definitely feels good, especially that we won the game. I'm happy that the last three games I was playing pretty well. I hope that what I did in these games will carry over to the pre-season especially training camp.

Q: How did summer league go for you?

A: Summer league is specific because you have a couple guys on the team trying to impress a coach, and having a spot on the team already from the last year its kind of different for me. I still feel like I have to work harder and harder to improve and play on a higher level. I'll say the summer league was good, I can't complain. It could have been worse

Q: What are your plans for the remainder of the summer?

A: Right now I have a national team waiting for me. On July 22, I am leaving for Poland; I am going to have scrimmage games against Bulgaria. Beginning of August, I will also be going to Italy for a small tournament.