Lakers Using Blount's Objective

By SCOTT HOWARD-COOPER

May 8, 1998 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

Corie Blount wants to come back next season and ride the bench some more.

The desire isn’t actually to be a reserve, as far down the depth chart at power forward as third string, but the lure of the affiliation is greater than the lure of an increased role, so Blount has accepted that the bench will be his destiny as a Laker. If it is his destiny to remain a Laker.

He’s hoping to, preferring the victories and playing in his hometown over the possibility of at least double the minutes elsewhere. But the decision belongs solely to the team, the front office that holds the option on his 1998-99 contract worth $1.625 million and considerable peace of mind.

“All they have to do is tell me they want to sign me and I’ll be waiting at training camp, ready to go,” Blount said.

Which makes his impact in the last three games all the more critical.

Life in Coach Del Harris’ unpredictable rotation has again left him at opportunity’s door, just as was the case last season, when injuries to frontcourt starters Shaquille O’Neal and Robert Horry gave him the chance for the solid second half that helped persuade management to pick up the option for 1997-98. It comes this time from a different, though still somewhat desperate, circumstances.

A need for rebounds.

The Lakers got worked over inside by the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 3 of the first-round series, so Blount, after playing only 11 minutes previously, was given an increased role for Game 4. He gave back, getting six rebounds in 19 minutes in the series clincher against one of the best rebounding teams in the league.

One game later, the Lakers were beaten on the boards again, only this time it was worse, since it was the Seattle SuperSonics, 28th of 29 teams in rebound percentage during the regular season, doing the beating. Blount contributed to that as well, getting no boards.

But Wednesday night, he grabbed eight in 16 minutes, and L.A. evened the best-of-seven series that continues tonight at the Great Western Forum.

“What really got us fired up was Corie Blount coming in and getting some big rebounds for us,” said Horry, who had 10 boards, nine points and three steals. “Him and Elden Campbell coming in and kicking balls back out like that. It was a lot of hustle. When you see guys hustling like that, it gets you pumped.”

Added Harris, “His energy has been excellent. There’s two kinds of rebounds, the kind that come to you and the kind you go and get. Game 1, we got the ones that came to us. But in Game 2, we went and got them, and I thought he really helped in that area. He and Robert got balls I think a lot of guys would have given up on.

“I’ve told him, ‘This is a skill you have, a skill we need.’ I’ve told him, ‘As long as you remember who you are and rebound and put some defense on a guy, things will work out well for you.’ ”

So enters another phase of Blount’s Laker career, which has spanned three seasons--and about six lives--since they acquired the former Monrovia High player from the Bulls in the summer of 1995. A role player, always, but at least sometimes on a roll, as when he averaged 9.3 rebounds in three consecutive February starts, the only three times he made the opening lineup. Or the current run.

And other times--many other times--he has been trying simply to get back in the rotation, just to get in the game.

Blount knows the drill by now.

“I just sit there and, hopefully, when he calls my name I’ll be ready.”

If Harris calls his name.

“You can see him kind of thinking.”

Harris may talk to his assistants. He may walk down the bench or he may simply motion from where he’s standing.

“I just tell him I’m ready,” Blount said.

“OK, OK,” comes the response from Harris sometimes. “Elden.”

Campbell, Horry’s backup, goes in, and Blount waits some more.

Acceptance of the role there may be, but living it can still be tough. It has been better this season, since he arrived at training camp with an improved attitude that has carried through. And there has been constant encouragement from assistant coach Kurt Rambis to Blount and Mario Bennett, another bench sitter.

There are opportunities to capitalize on, after all. Playoffs to affect. Laker careers to extend.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Minutemen on Boards

Corie Blount compares favorably to the NBA rebounding leaders when ranked by rebounds per minute:

No. Player, Team: Reb/Min

1. Dennis Rodman, Chicago: .42

2. Jayson Williams, New Jersey: .38

3. Dikembe Mutombo, Atlanta: .32

4. David Robinson, San Antonio: .32

5. Arvydas Sabonis, Portland: .31

6. Tim Duncan, San Antonio: .30

7. Corie Blount, Lakers: .29