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[Orlando Magic VP] Gortat may be starting C, Howard moved to PF

Discussion in 'NBA Dish' started by Lovemachine2000, Aug 4, 2009.

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  1. Lovemachine2000

    Lovemachine2000 Member

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    I got to talk briefly with Orlando Senior Vice President Magic Pat Williams today, and I asked him about why his club matched Mavericks' offer for backup center Marcin Gortat. To refresh your memories, the offer was five years for a hefty total of $34 million. Williams said that Gortat is a young, promising talent and that the Magic needed more depth in the front court. More intriguingly, he also said he hoped that Gortat and Dwight Howard can play alongside each other, and that "they'd grab every rebound out there." Which means Gortat would be the starting center, moving Howard to the power forward position.

    I am still not sold on how good Gortat will be after some good showing in playoffs, particularly as a starter. IMHO, while Gortat may be getting appropriate salary, the contract is two years too long (Samuel Dalembert anyone?). But the more important question is, how will shifting to the 4 position affect Howard? Will it change his production/game style? Discuss.
     
    #1 Lovemachine2000, Aug 4, 2009
  2. AroundTheWorld

    AroundTheWorld Insufferable 98er
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    Do you work for Nike?
     
    #2 AroundTheWorld, Aug 4, 2009
  3. tiger0330

    tiger0330 Contributing Member

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    The Magic have no choice but to try the Twin Towers lineup. They're awful thin in the front court, Rashard is more of a SF, he and Anderson are soft PFs that play on the perimeter. The Magic will be great on defense with Gortat and Howard and D wins championships.
     
    #3 tiger0330, Aug 4, 2009
  4. Laozi

    Laozi Member

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    I think Bass at the 4 and Howard at the 5 looks alot better then Gortat at the 5 and Howard at the 4. Bass can work in the space created by Howard whereas Gortat would just create more congestion down low and make it easier to double team Howard.
     
    #4 Laozi, Aug 4, 2009
  5. vinsensual

    vinsensual Member

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    I'm imagining working Gortat at the high post, because Howard is a lot less effective when he's more than a step or two away from the rim.
     
    #5 vinsensual, Aug 4, 2009
  6. Lovemachine2000

    Lovemachine2000 Member

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    No, just an interning reporter in a southeast paper. Pat was actually in town as a motivational speaker. IMO he was not that great at motivational speech, but he was a genuine and friendly person.

    I brought up the Bass signing in the conversation too, and that was when Pat brought up the possible Gortat-Howard line-up. He seemed really high on Gortat, then again, he'd better be after paying the man $34 million.

    The Gortat-Howard line-up will slow the Magic down on offense, but defensively they look very formidable in the middle. Still, it's a big "maybe" that Gortat will translate his playoff contributions into season-long production as a starter.
     
    #6 Lovemachine2000, Aug 4, 2009
  7. MisterPink

    MisterPink Member

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    I would be worried about some of the smaller 4's pulling Howard away from the basket a bit too much.

    I would just stick with the assumed lineup of Howard at the 5 and Bass at the 4.
     
    #7 MisterPink, Aug 4, 2009
  8. Rocket86

    Rocket86 Member

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    That is a possibility but on offense Dwight would dominate. Dwight would have to build on his footwork on defense so as to match up well with smaller power forwards.
     
    #8 Rocket86, Aug 4, 2009
  9. ReD_1

    ReD_1 Rookie

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    How about Howard at 5 and Gortat at 4? That sounds more reasonable...

    Bass is right now there and Lewis can play the fake 4 also that can create matchup nightmares on the court.

    Orlando all of the sudden got very very dangerous team.
     
    #9 ReD_1, Aug 4, 2009
  10. desi tmac91

    desi tmac91 Member

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    Magic have so many lineups they can throw out there. I imagine there won't a definite starting lineup on opening day.
     
    #10 desi tmac91, Aug 4, 2009
  11. Al Calavicci

    Al Calavicci Contributing Member

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    That quote isn't exactly conclusive. Just because they might be able to play together doesn't necessarily mean gortat would start. Just that they both might get some burn at the same time.

    Bass is the most likely starter at the 4. Why go through all the trouble of acquiring players to have a traditional line up if you're just going to blow it away and play big?
     
    #11 Al Calavicci, Aug 4, 2009
  12. Obito

    Obito Contributing Member

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    He lose all his abilities if he starts.

    Garunteed.
     
    #12 Obito, Aug 4, 2009
  13. Canadiandude

    Canadiandude Member

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    Spacing would be an issue with both bigs on the floor. Neither have a respectable mid-range game.
     
    #13 Canadiandude, Aug 4, 2009
  14. Shaud

    Shaud Member

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    It will probably change depending on how the matchups are that night.
     
    #14 Shaud, Aug 4, 2009
  15. A_3PO

    A_3PO Member

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    I don't see it. Perhaps in very limited circumstances both guys could be on the court at the same time.
     
    #15 A_3PO, Aug 5, 2009
  16. JuanValdez

    JuanValdez Contributing Member

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    This. I think the OP is inferring too much.
     
    #16 JuanValdez, Aug 5, 2009
  17. OrangeRowdy95

    OrangeRowdy95 Contributing Member

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    Terrible motivational speaker. Basically alienated everyone who wasn't Christian. And he made fun of his adopted kids too much.
     
    #17 OrangeRowdy95, Aug 5, 2009
  18. 3ston

    3ston Member

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    Hmmm, interesting.... I think it comes down to seeing if theres any videos of gortat passing...
     
    #18 3ston, Aug 5, 2009
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