FOR BLOUNT, COMEBACK HAS THAT FAMILIAR LOOK.Byline: Marc Stein Marc Stein is a sports reporter. He began writing for ESPN.com in 2000 and signed on full-time in 2002 to serve as the site's senior National Basketball Association writer. Daily News Staff Writer Corie Blount Corie Kasoun Blount (born January 4, 1969 in Monrovia, California) is an American former professional basketball player. A 6'9" power forward/center, Blount starred at the University of Cincinnati during the early 1990s, where he helped his team reach the Final Four in 1992 was lost in the Chicago Bulls' triangle offense  This article or section may be confusing or unclear for some readers.Please [improve the article] or discuss this issue on the talk page. . A year later, Blount finds himself back in his hometown, in the midst Adv. 1. in the midst - the middle or central part or point; "in the midst of the forest"; "could he walk out in the midst of his piece?" midmost of another comeback. He was there for Michael Jordan's grand return and Blount will be on the same bench with Magic Johnson “Earvin Johnson” redirects here. For the Milwaukee Bucks center, see Ervin Johnson. Earvin Effay Johnson, Jr. (born August 14, 1959 in Lansing, Michigan), nicknamed Magic tonight when the Bulls and Lakers meet at the Forum. Blount, a Monrovia native, finds the hype surrounding Johnson's return quite familiar. "It's about the same," said Blount, a backup power forward who was traded to the Lakers hours before last summer's lockout lockout, intentional closing up of a company, factory, or shop by an employer to prevent employees from working during a strike or labor dispute. The term lockout but lost some of his minutes this week when Johnson unretired. "The hype is there. It was crazy on the road (with the Bulls), and we haven't experienced the road yet, (but) as far as at home, it's about the same. Our first game (at the United Center) was just as loud as it was here (for Johnson's comeback game Tuesday night)." Like everyone else, Blount is eager to see the Magic-Michael showdown. "I think it's going to be interesting to see how they play each other," he said. "They've got different games. Magic seems more powerful. He doesn't really need to do all that running and jumping Mike really had to do to get his shot off. "Magic is more of a banger. I figured it would be easier for Magic to come back. Mike played a good game (in his return last March 19 at Indiana), even though he didn't score a lot of points (19, on 9-of-27 shooting)." Blount began the year as the Lakers' top big man off the bench but has struggled to regain his spot in the rotation after the December death of his grandmother and an ensuing loss of weight. Blount hasn't played a minute in any of the past three games, slipping behind Derek Strong and now Magic on the depth chart, but Lakers coach Del Harris might use him tonight against a familiar foe. "I knew when Magic came back that my time would be limited," Blount said. Because they weren't sure if Johnson would stay retired and couldn't pursue marquee free agents as a team over the new salary cap, the Lakers acquired Blount as insurance, hoping that his athleticism would click with former University of Cincinnati The University of Cincinnati is a coeducational public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio. Ranked as one of America’s top 25 public research universities and in the top 50 of all American research universities,[2] teammate Nick Van Exel Nickey (Nick) Maxwell Van Exel (born November 27 1971 in Kenosha, Wisconsin) is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA. Van Exel, a 6'1" left-handed point guard, was most well known for his flashy style of play and his ability to hit critical shots during . Chicago's triangular attack didn't work for Blount but has the Bulls on pace to set a single-season league record for victories. "Nobody ever ran it like these guys," Harris said. "Forget clockwork. It's beyond clockwork, because clockwork has no counter moves. This is a thing of beauty to watch, unless you have to figure out how to defend it." CAPTION(S): PHOTO Photo BLOUNT |
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