Blount Benched

November 28, 2005
DNP-CD. That was Mark Blount's fate Friday night, a surprising one given that he had started the first 11 games of the season and had no inclination that Game No. 12 was going to be any different. But he lost his starting job to Kendrick Perkins and never took off his sweats the rest of the night.

Mark Blount: NBA's Most Improved?

March 24, 2004 Celtics interim coach John Carroll was carrying around his Mark Blount file. He wanted everyone to know that in the past five games, Blount had shot (.744) from the field and averaged 11.4 points and 16.6 rebounds, and should be considered for the league's Most Improved Player.

Let's be Blount: Mark's been Struggling

January 22, 2005 EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Yesterday morning, it went Mark to Mark. The Celtics' Mark Blount and his agent, Mark Bartlestein, chatted and the topic wasn't places to dine in Atlanta or the line in the AFC Championship game.


It was about Blount's uneven play of late, lowlighted by a 0-point, 0-rebound performance in 22 minutes Wednesday night.


"He's just going through a little bit of a tough stretch," Bartlestein reported via phone from his Chicago office. "He got comfortable last year and there have been a lot of changes this year. He's determined to fight his way through it."


Did Blount have any regrets re-signing with Boston?


"No. No regrets," said Bartlestein. "That is all wasted thinking."


Said Blount, "I thought they paid me to play."


Blount, who scored 9 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the Celtics' 104-98 loss to the Nets last night, said he's taking things "day by day" and said he was concerned about his game. "It can't be just one thing. "It has to be a combination of things."


Bartlestein was asked if Blount might be pressing because of the contract (six years, $38 million) he signed over the summer. "Mark does have a lot of pride and he puts a lot of pressure on himself," he said. "So much at this stage is all confidence. If you've lost it, you can't just flip a switch and get it back. His confidence level is not where he wants it to be."


One guy who professes not to be overly concerned with Blount's play is Danny Ainge, the Celtics' executive director of basketball operations.


"I think Mark is more disappointed with himself than anyone else is," Ainge said. "I think his confidence is down a little bit. I think he can do better and I think he will do better."


Ainge also dismissed Blount's pitiful individual numbers from the Bulls game Wednesday.


"He was on the court for the last 8 1/2 minutes when we played our best defense and held them to one basket," Ainge said. "That's what's important to me."

Deal Keeps Blount in Boston

July 17, 2003 Free agent Mark Blount knew he would return to Boston 10 days ago when general manager Chris Wallace and director of player personnel Leo Papile flew to Boca Raton, Fla., for a visit. All it took was dinner at Morton's Steakhouse to convince Blount he belonged with the Celtics, even if that meant signing a deal for less money than other teams were offering.

Yesterday, the Celtics re-signed Blount to a two-year deal worth approximately $2 million with a player option the second year. The 7-foot center received several offers starting at the $1.5 million exception, but he felt most comfortable remaining in Boston. 

   "Chris Wallace and Leo Papile took the time to come down and have dinner with me," said Blount. "That sent the message that they really wanted me. After those guys came down and we had a great conversation over dinner, it was just a matter of getting it done.

"I could have gone somewhere else. But I just looked at what we were trying to do in Boston, what the overall picture was. That was more important than trying to go somewhere else in the NBA. I'm very comfortable with my situation. I looked at it and said, 'Let's keep what we're doing here and keep moving forward.' "

Boston wasted no time bringing back Blount, making the new deal official on the first day players were allowed to sign contracts. By signing Blount to a deal worth more than the veteran minimum, the Celtics showed they were willing to spend extra when they deemed it necessary. Although Boston could not match the offers being made by some of the other suitors, director of basketball operations Danny Ainge remained flexible in his dealing with Blount's agent, Mark Bartelstein.

"It was a tough decision because he had a number of people pursuing him," said Bartelstein. "People really liked the way he played the second half of the season for the Celtics. But he felt like he was in the process of building something there. He felt he was making a lot of strides with the Celtics and with the coaching staff. He wanted to see it through and see where he could take it to. He's making basically an investment in himself and the Celtics. One that we really hope is going to pay off."

After being reacquired by Boston at the trading deadline last February, Blountaveraged 4.4 points and 4.6 rebounds over 27 regular-season games. The center played in all 10 of the Celtics' playoff contests, averaging 3.1 points and 3.6 rebounds and blocking a total of eight shots. Blount immediately infused the team with a tougher, more physical presence inside. Coach Jim O'Brien was desperately seeking greater toughness as Boston headed toward the postseason.

It was appropriate that the news of Blount's re-signing came during the Reebok Pro Summer League. Playing for the Celtics' entry in 2000, Blount first proved to the Boston front office that he deserved a second shot at the NBA. He signed a free agent contract with the Celtics Aug. 1, 2000, and appeared in 64 games during the 2000-01 season. He proved a valuable addition by starting 50 games in place of injured starter Tony Battie. That season, he led the team in blocks with 76, the most by any Celticsrookie since Kevin McHale. Blount's shot-blocking and rebounding abilities were certainly two of the reasons the Celtics were willing to pay more than the veteran minimum to re-sign him.

Owner Steve Pagliuca defended the Celtics' spending policies and said that "conservative estimates put spending up $22 million over the past year." That figure includes money spent on an increased scouting budget with more resources aimed overseas, additions to the basketball staff and contract extensions for the coaches as well as player personnel. It also covers the approximately $1.5 million Pagliuca said the Celtics would pay in luxury taxes on the Blount contract. Pagliuca cited Blount as an example that the team will pay to acquire or keep talent Ainge wants. Pagliuca added that ownership has faith in the "comprehensive strategy" Ainge is developing that will upgrade the team over a three-year period.

But yesterday, Ainge was crediting Blount for getting the deal done. "Mark went extra and Mark wanted to be with us," said Ainge. "He could have made more money in other places and we feel that Mark still has some upside. We feel he's a player that's still improving. A lot of times bigger guys take a little longer to develop. He's starting to get comfortable. He's confident in our system with our coaching staff. He wanted to stay. He's been at other places and it hasn't been as well for him. He really wanted to be back here. And we really wanted him back."

Blount Goes for 28 & 21 in Win

March 2, 2004 Mark Blount and Juwan Howard went out to dinner Sunday night at a local steak establishment. Blount picked up the check. Howard picked up a stomach flu. But Orlando really paid last night as Blount recorded career highs in points (28) and rebounds (21) in the Celtics' 117-96 victory over the Magic at the FleetCenter.

   It was the center's fifth straight double-double, but that was just one of many impressive accomplishments on an evening that ended with the Celtics on a three-game winning streak and back in eighth place in the Eastern Conference. Not to mention the fact that they put the game away by opening the fourth quarter with a 25-0 run. 

Blount Filling up the Middle

March 22, 2003   LOS ANGELES - At the mention of Shaquille O'Neal, Mark Blount cracks a big smile. Even as the Celtics' backup center, he relishes the challenge of facing the best big man in the game.

Blount knows that even the smallest contributions can make a big difference against O'Neal and the Lakers. But a little wasn't nearly enough last night. O'Neal scored 48 points and had 20 rebounds in the Lakers' 104-96 win. 

$38 Million-Dollar Center Goes for Double Bagel in 22 Minutes

$38 Million-Dollar Center Goes for Double Bagel in 22 Minutes

January 20, 2005

Wouldn't you think Mark Blount might accidentally collide with a rebound if he spends 22 minutes on the floor? He is 7 feet tall. He does defend around the basket. But last night, against the Chicago Bulls, the center, who re-upped for $38 million over the summer, managed a double bagel (0 points, 0 rebounds) in the Celtics' 92-83 victory.

Blount tells Doc: "I need more Touches"

November 13, 2005

Blount tells Doc: "I need more Touches"

With another Texas team boasting a big center [Houston's Yao Ming ] in town tonight, Mark Blount revisited his complaints about the way the Celtics played against Tim Duncan . Blount contended his team should have made Duncan play more defense, not allow him to roam around inside and block shots. Translation: Blount thought he needed more touches on offense to keep Duncan honest on defense.

"If I can't score, it would be a problem," said Blount. "I put up numbers. If I pass, I put up numbers. If you want me to play defense, I'll come play defense. I'm out there to play the game also. There's five people out there."

When asked about Blount's belief that Boston should have gone at Duncan on offense, Rivers said, "You mean like we did in the first quarter, because that's what we did. Mark got more touches than any single player on our team in the first quarter.

"I think we should think about playing defense. That was the point I made after the game. If we all were that concerned about our defense, I think we would be a better basketball team."

McHale, Ainge Discuss Deal for Disgruntled Centers

Post


January 17, 2006

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. According to two league sources, a deal that would send MarkBlount to Minnesota or Memphis could be completed soon. One source described a deal as "imminent." The most likely scenario would have the Celtics shipping Blountto Minnesota for 7-foot, 270-pound center Michael Olowokandi. The Celtics play the Timberwolves tomorrow night at the TD Banknorth Garden.

Blount is Back

November 3, 2005

He's back, OK?

   Whatever individual that was masquerading as Mark Blount last season has gone. The guy who played Mark Blount two years ago, the one who showed up this fall for camp and regained his starting job and his reputation, that Mark Blount has reemerged.

Ricky Davis, Mark Blount, and Raef are just a Few of the Interesting Names Doc will be Juggling

October 29, 2005

WALTHAM Doc Rivers was not pleased with the way the Celtics looked during a three-hour practice that started at 10 o'clock yesterday. And that may be putting it mildly. After a brief break, the coach reconvened the players for a second session that lasted almost an hour and a half. He does not want lackadaisical practices to become a habit, especially with a team of impressionable youngsters. The second workout went much better.

Blount Acknowledges Poor Play

October 4, 2005

WALTHAM About a week ago, Mark Blount and his agent Mark Bartelstein met with executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge and coach Doc Rivers . Both sides said it was a positive meeting, clearing the air and strengthening channels of communication after last season. One dividend of the get-together appears to be a more open Blount, one willing to acknowledge how poorly he played last season and the frustration with Ainge and Rivers that ensued.

Ron Artest Goes Mark Blount on the Lakers

Ron Artest was wondering out loud about what kind of numbers Dwyane Wade wound up with against Artest and the Lakers on Thursday night. So I offered Artest the box score I had in my hand.

He took it and studied it, and even though Wade’s season-high 14 assists stood out, that 9-for-21 shooting and those six turnovers weren’t too pretty. So it was odd that Artest ended up making a gruff, unhappy noise before dumping the box score inside his locker, smiling a little with some embarrassment.

Artest was actually dissatisfied to see that he had failed to get a single rebound in his 44:52 to playing time. That’s what prompted him to grunt in dismay.

LINK

Zero rebounds in 45 minutes.

Ahhhhhhhhhhh. Does that remind anyone else of a former Celtic center?

If not, let me help refresh:

For a player who started campaigning for more touches as far back as a Nov. 11 loss to San Antonio - the idea was that he wanted to go at Tim Duncan - Wednesday's loss to the Hawks was a low point on par with Blount's lost 2004-05 season.

He had more turnovers (five) and fouls (five) than rebounds (one). One night after scoring 21 points in Cleveland, Blount shot 3-of-7 for six points.

Though Blount envisions himself as a major option on a team that has Paul Pierce and Ricky Davis taking most of the shots, those six points in Atlanta have a lot more in common with Blount's personal history than the 21 in Cleveland.

Roughly two weeks ago, Doc Rivers was willing to write Blount's demands off to "Mark being Mark."

The Celtics coach wasn't as charitable Wednesday night. After all, this is Mark Blount, a 30-year-old journeyman, we're talking about.

"The next time someone asks for touches, tell him to go get a freaking rebound," Rivers said. "This is the time when you'll find out who are the guys with character on our team. The guys who are griping and crying to you guys are the ones who won't play when they don't produce."

11/25/05 BOSTON HERALD