Polish Hammer Serves as Dwight Howard's Psychic

ORLANDO, Fla. -- As the backup to the best and most durable center in the NBA, Marcin Gortat often feels like that old Maytag repairman with too much time on his hands.

So he got a second job -- as a psychic specializing in starting Magic center Dwight Howard.

"I know him so well, I can read him now,'' Gortat said. "It's another skill I have.''

Gortat was speaking Sunday night after playing a prominent role in a victory over Miami. Howard had labored through his worst game of the season -- in constant foul trouble -- and Gortat came to the Magic's rescue with nine points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots in 23 minutes. It was considerably more playing time than he usually gets.

"I'm ready. I'm always ready behind Dwight,'' Gortat said. "I thought (before the game) that he'd be in foul trouble. I can tell you if he's going to be in foul trouble before games. If I see him jumping up and down before a game, if he's full of energy, I'll say 'Aaaaaaaah, he's going to be in foul trouble today.'''

Even though Howard is headed toward his second consecutive Defensive Player of the Year Award -- on pace to become the first player in NBA history to lead the league in both rebounding and blocked shots in back-to-back seasons -- Gortat has bailed him out before.

When Howard had two personal fouls in the first minute last week against Houston, it was Gortat who finished the first half with seven points and seven rebounds, allowing the Magic to retain their lead until Howard returned in the second half. In another foul-plagued game by Howard in January, Gortat had 12 rebounds to lead the victory over Atlanta.

Gortat, in his third NBA season, surprisingly was re-signed as a restricted free agent this summer by the Magic after Dallas had offered him a five-year, $35 million contract. The Magic matched the offer to keep him, which seemed excessive, even by NBA standards, for a backup center behind Howard.

It didn't hurt that he came in handy last spring when Howard missed a first-round playoff game against Philadelphia, and the Magic still won because Gortat started and had 11 points and 15 rebounds.

Dallas had intended to make Gortat a starter, and several teams also tried to sign him to do the same, but the Magic overpaid him to keep him for a reason.

He is arguably be the best backup center in the league. He is 26. Howard is 24, which means they have one position they won't have to worry about for many years.

"I've been around Dwight since I was drafted in 2005, in summer league, preseason, regular season, playoffs, the China trip, for so long,'' Gortat said. "I know everything about this guy. I know when he's focused, and when he's not. You have to be ready for anything. I know when he wants to hit me, or hurt me in practice. I know when he wants to play around. I know him.''

Gortat, the only NBA player today from Poland, has endeared himself to Magic fans for the high-energy, unabashed enthusiasm he shows when he gets into the game. He may be averaging just 13 minutes, 3.5 points and 3.9 rebounds, but his role is bigger than the statistics he creates.

"I could be somewhere else, playing more, but I stayed here to win a championship. I like playing here. I look up in the stands, there's a sign `Polish Hammer.' That's me,'' he said. "I play behind Dwight Howard. It's a good place to be.''