Wizards' Gortat on Okafor: 'I'm coming for him'
Not everyone was overjoyed with Jahlil Okafor's impressive performance against the Washington Wizards. That's especially true of Marcin Gortat, the Wizards center who took the brunt of the 76ers rookie center's domination.
Not everyone was overjoyed with Jahlil Okafor's impressive performance against the Washington Wizards.
That's especially true of Marcin Gortat, the Wizards center who took the brunt of the 76ers rookie center's domination.
"One thing is sure: He's on my list right now," Gortat told the media Tuesday after 129-95 Wizards victory at the Verizon Center.
"The next four games, I'm coming, I'm coming," Gortat added. "I hope he's going to read that. I'm coming. I'm coming for him."
Gortat actually will get five cracks at Okafor. The Sixers host the Wizards on Oct. 16 at the Wells Fargo Center in addition to four regular-season meetings.
But Gortat had better be much improved defensively to avoid being dominated, again, by the 6-foot-11, 268-pound rookie.
Okafor made his first five baskets and finished with 12 points on 6-for-10 shooting in just 17 minutes, 2 seconds of action. The third overall draft pick out of Duke scored his first four baskets on 11-, 12- and 16-foot jump shots and a 16-foot turnaround fadeaway jumper of Gortat.
"I wasn't really in sync in the first half," said the Wizards center, who finished with seven points on 1-for-4 shooting. But he did say that Okafor is a "talented kid."
"I see a smaller version of [Charlotte Hornets center] Al Jefferson," Gortat said. "I see a little version of Al Jefferson. Slow but strong, methodical big man with a ready, pretty nice game in the post. He hit a couple of tough shots."
Okafor, who sat out the fourth quarter, also finished with two rebounds, two blocks, a steal, and three turnovers.
The 19-year-old's second preseason game is Thursday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Wells Fargo Center. LeBron James will not play so he can rest. The Cavaliers faced the Atlanta Hawks Wednesday night in Cincinnati.
Undrafted rookie point guard T.J. McConnell is scheduled to play for the Sixers. He missed the Wizards game with a foot injury.
Sevens tryouts
The Delaware 87ers will hold open tryouts at Temple's Pearson and McGonigle Halls on Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to noon.
The entry fee is $150 and participants must sign a release form. Online registration at delaware.dleague.nba.com will close at noon Friday. Afterward, the registration fee is $200.
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