Marcin Gortat had a breakout season a year ago after being traded from Orlando to Phoenix, averaging better than 15 points and 10 rebounds per game over the last two months of the season. He’s struggled to regain that form through five games this year due to the thumb injury he sustained less than a week before the start of the season.
The good news is that the injury is on its way to healing, which means the heavy plastic taping that Gortat has been forced to wear is just days away from coming off. Gortat gave us the update on his condition after the Suns’ win over the Warriors on Monday.
“The thumb is doing well, but the [bad] part is the plastic stuff on my thumb,” Gortat told NBCSports.com. “The good news is that I just got an X-ray right now, a couple of minutes after the game, and the X-ray looks really good so there’s a big possibility that in the next couple of days I can take it off, and finally, I’m going to be able to play 100 percent and actually catch the ball and maybe get a rebound.
“I’m really excited that finally I’m going to get this chance to play normal, and actually that will be the start of my season, from that point.”
Gortat was limited to 18 minutes due to foul trouble in Monday’s contest, but in the Suns’ first four games, he averaged over 10 points and six rebounds per game, while shooting over 56 percent from the field. Those numbers are solid, but Gortat knows he can do better, and explained the way that the injury has limited him thus far.
“First of all I can’t get a position under the basket, I can’t really push anybody because my thumb is actually locked, I can’t bend it in this plastic thing,” Gortat said. “And having rebounds in my hand, I can’t secure the ball because having that plastic thing there is not really helping me to hold the ball, and it’s kind of soft in my hands. I lost a couple of balls like that in the last couple of games; I’m probably giving up two or three balls like that per game, easily. And obviously shooting, that’s my right hand. It’s not like I may be a great shooter but part of my game is I feel comfortable shooting 15-footers, and having this on my thumb is definitely not helping.”
Gortat was all smiles about the recent news of improvement, and is eager to get back to producing at the same high level he did for the Suns last season.
“It looks like in a few days I’ll be able to play without [the plastic brace],” Gortat said. “I’ll be able to grab the ball, I’ll be able to hold my position under the basket, I’ll be able to push. I’m looking forward to it, seriously. I’m really excited about that.”
