Panowie, jak w końcu wygląda sprawa z tym lockoutem? Jakie są szanse, że się dogadają? Bo z tego co czytam, to nie wygląda to dobrze, ale ja nie śledziłem ostatnio całego zamieszania, więc nie całkiem się orientuję.

70. Marcin Gortat
C, Phoenix Suns
Age: 27
2010-11 Stats: 10.2 PPG, 56.1 FG%, 72.5 FT%, 7.9 RPG, 0.9 APG, 1.1 BLK

We all understood Gortat had solid NBA potential when he was taking Dwight Howard's scrap minutes in Orlando, but few of us expected Gortat to immediately emerge as the best player in Orlando's two December trades. He averaged 13 points and 9.3 rebounds as a Sun, posted a top-five overall defensive rebounding rate and shot 60 percent on attempts that came via pick-and-rolls. Playing with Steve Nash must be great fun.

Gortat will be higher on this list a year from now if he proves his 55-game run with the Suns was no fluke. He's a decent mid-range shooter who understands he needs to develop more of a back-to-the-basket game to reach another level on offense. Phoenix was a bit stingier on defense when Gortat was on the floor, and though he's not an elite stopper, he should develop into an above-average defensive big man.

You might argue this spot is too high for a player based on a sample of 55 games, and that's fine. But Gortat showed a lot in those 55 games, on both ends, and a legitimate center who can do all of those things is a rare commodity.

99. Marcin Gortat, C, age 27, Phoenix Suns.
2011 Stats (Phoenix): 13.0 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 1.3 bpg, .563 FG%, 18.8 PER, 18.1% TRR
Composite rankings (random order): 90, 95, unranked

Marcin Gortat is tentatively here. And by that we mean, we could understand putting him about 30 spots higher, or leaving him off the list completely. His production in Phoenix was unquestionable, as evidenced by the 18.8 PER. But it took Phoenix's high octane offense and the court stylings of Steve Nash to draw that production from him, and it was in limited time. Gortat has a high level of... ah... confidence. He believes that he can be a top center in this league. But we haven't seen enough from him to be sure he can be a difference maker on a contender, nor can we believe his offensive arsenal is versatile enough to be a true featured player.

His defense, however, earns him a spot on this list. Gortat is a smart defender with muscle who attacks the glass. He has little in the way of a mid-range game, but averaged over 1.2 points per possession in the pick and roll according to Synergy Sports. Gortat will either prove this ranking was foolish for underrating him, or foolish for buying into a small sample set. For now, he stays here, just on the edge.

86

Marcin Gortat
Phoenix Suns | C | Age: 27
Drafted: 57th in 2005 (by PHX)
@MGortat


2010-11 Stats

GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
80 10.2 7.9 0.9 .561 .725

#NBArank Marcin Gortat #86 Out of the shadows of Dwight Howard and has shown us he can hold his own. I can see him becoming a regular starter.

Thu Sep 29 18:49:03 via webKevin Francis
OKKFran


I guess Magic fans weren't crazy when they said Marcin Gortat was the best backup center in the league.

#NBArankThu Sep 29 18:46:36 via webDevin Black
the_devin_black

Sources: NBA Optimistic About Christmas Start To Season

Two people who have been briefed on the NBA's strategy said there remains "optimism" that a deal with the players can be struck in time to start the season no later than Christmas. And the league and players may already have started the process of returning to negotiations.

The NBA is said to be disinterested in starting the 2011-12 season after Christmas. Since it will take 30 days from an agreement in principle before the first regular season game can be played, formal discussions between the two sides would need to be recommenced soon.

"I don't know that there's an appetite for a 50-game season," said a person familiar with the league's thinking.

One source said that there have been back-channel communications between the two sides since the union's disclaimer of interest, but a top member of the players' legal team said that no attorney representing the NBA has yet to reach out.

Adam Silver did not return a call seeking comment.

No i koniec lockoutu
Święta z NBA możliwe

The NBA's regular season will run Dec. 25-April 26, a league source told ESPN.

The 66-game season will include 48 conference games, down from 52 last season. With only 18 games against teams from the other conference, teams will not visit every NBA city.

Teams will play about two more games per month, the report said, and each team will play on three straight nights at least once, but no more than three times.

Off days in the second round of the playoffs will also be limited.