<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Mark Blount is more than two weeks shy of his one-year anniversary with the Timberwolves, but he already is a prominent part of the discussion over who might be the best center in the franchise's relatively brief history. Granted, that says a lot about the doughnut-like nature of the Wolves' middling middle over the years. But Blount also is making sure he's having a lot to say about the quality of that position this season for the Wolves, and his play over the past two weeks in particular has said volumes about the team's win-loss record. "Everybody looks at it like, 'Man, Mark's been stepping up the last few games,' " rookie Randy Foye said. "But since I've been here, he's been doing that every day in practice. You can't leave him open. He's just knocking down shots from every angle, everywhere. That's Mark.'' Offensively, Blount has charged into the new year on a personal tear that has given him a new look in games. He has been a force in the paint, which has opened up chances for the guards while also providing a consistent midrange shot when he is left to shoot outside. Late in Sunday's overtime game against Houston, the Rockets left him alone just long enough to give him an open look behind the three-point arc ? and he made the shot, only his second three-pointer of the season. "They put Blount in the corner, so that made us smaller guys have to play as a big guy and be in that type of rotation,'' Houston's Tracy McGrady said. "It's kind of a position that we're uncomfortable with and don't really know, and that's why they were getting some easy baskets down the stretch of the game.'' While Blount has been causing trauma to opponents, he also has lifted a substantial burden off the shoulders of Kevin Garnett during an eight-game personal surge that has coincided with a 6-2 team surge. "I'm grateful for him,'' Garnett said. Blount has averaged 18.4 points and 7.1 rebounds during those eight games. "I'm getting a couple good looks at it and getting more rhythm shots,'' Blount said after Sunday's game. "One thing about shooting is you can't have the shooter waiting for the ball. You have to hit the shooter right away, and the guys have been doing a good job of that.'' Blount has raised his season scoring average to 13.0 points a game with the surge, a threshold that would eclipse the franchise record for his position (Stacey King's 11.8 in 1993-94). He downplays his impact. "We've got a lot of guys on this team who know how to put the ball in the hoop,'' he said. "We've got some shooters and guys who have a lot of fight in them, so you can't just key on one guy. You have to play us all.''</div> Source
His play this year (more specifically the last few weeks) has made him a contender for the best center the timberwolves have ever had. Thats really sad.
<div class="quote_poster">KG&Me Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">His play this year (more specifically the last few weeks) has made him a contender for the best center the timberwolves have ever had. Thats really sad.</div> I agree but when someone is giving you 17 and 8 (recently) it's not too bad considering you have one of the best PF in there generation who's going to score and rebound in double digits every night.
<div class="quote_poster">Pgballer17 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">love the title</div> How did I know someone was going to come in here, and ONLY say that? This is a really....sad....article. It makes me want to cry even. Mark Blount is being considered the T'Wolves best franchise center.... Can't argue though, like bronbron said, he is giving you 17-8 in the last 8 games. Even if it was Mark, those are good numbers.
