John Jackson: Bulls Need Wallace Like No One Else

Jordan45822 · Post #1 » by **Jordan45822** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 3:18 pm

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/basketba ... 17.article

Bulls need Wallace like no one else

January 17, 2008
BY JOHN JACKSON jjackson@suntimes.com
MIAMI -- Despite what it may have seemed like when he was caught on camera smiling while sitting on the bench during a blowout loss in Orlando, Ben Wallace says he is as frustrated as anyone by the Bulls' struggles.

''Everybody's frustrated, players, coaches, GM owners, fans,'' Wallace said before the Bulls defeated the Miami Heat on Wednesday night.

That frustration came to a head the previous night because of a disastrous third quarter when the Magic outscored the Bulls 32-10.

''It's up to us in this locker room to try to get this thing turned around,'' Wallace said. ''Like we said this morning [during a team meeting], we can't afford to go out and have quarters like that. We don't want to have moments like that, let alone a whole quarter, so we have to find a way to get it back.''

After several lackluster efforts of late, Wallace was back to his hustling ways against the Heat. He finished with seven points and seven rebounds, but his biggest contribution was battling Miami center Shaquille O'Neal despite giving up 4 inches and nearly 100 pounds.

With a 15-22 record, Wallace says the Bulls don't have much of a margin for error if they are to make the playoffs.

''We just have to continue to fight,'' he said. ''We have to go out there and fight for 48 minutes. We have to look at every game right now like it's a big game, approach it with a sense of urgency right from the start.''

If the Bulls are to get things turned around this season, Wallace is going to have to be a part of it. Sure, signing Wallace hasn't worked out the way general manager John Paxson -- or anyone else -- imagined, but the Bulls simply have to make it work.

With two years and roughly $29 million left on his contract after this season, Wallace has no trade value at this point.

Wingy · Post #2 » by **Wingy** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 3:21 pm

Bulls need Wallace like no one else

I know 99 people who disagree....

V
V
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ikeziskash · Post #3 » by **ikeziskash** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 3:23 pm

Sniff sniff.....yeah....that smells like garbage.

Post #4 » by **DuckIII** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 3:23 pm

If the Bulls are to get things turned around this season, Wallace is going to have to be a part of it. Sure, signing Wallace hasn't worked out the way general manager John Paxson -- or anyone else -- imagined, but the Bulls simply have to make it work.

I guess I don't really understand. They "need" him because he needs to play better? Okay. I think we all agree that if he goes out there and busts his ass and dominates that its a good thing.

But the Bulls don't "need" him the way he is. The way he is, they have more productive options that should be taking up about 1/3 of the minutes he's currently playing.

tclg · Post #5 » by **tclg** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 3:30 pm

Yeah we need him to actually not be the worst offensive player ever and be a mediocre rebounder

TB#1 · Post #6 » by **TB#1** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 3:40 pm

With two years and roughly $29 million left on his contract after this season, Wallace has no trade value at this point.

JackFinn · Post #7 » by **JackFinn** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 3:42 pm

<---- <----- <-----

Cliff Levingston · Post #8 » by **Cliff Levingston** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 3:44 pm

DuckIII wrote:
If the Bulls are to get things turned around this season, Wallace is going to have to be a part of it. Sure, signing Wallace hasn't worked out the way general manager John Paxson -- or anyone else -- imagined, but the Bulls simply have to make it work.

I guess I don't really understand. They "need" him because he needs to play better? Okay. I think we all agree that if he goes out there and busts his ass and dominates that its a good thing.

But the Bulls don't "need" him the way he is. The way he is, they have more productive options that should be taking up about 1/3 of the minutes he's currently playing.

We need Wallace about as much as we need Duhon.

...we don't need Duhon.

fuzion · Post #9 » by **fuzion** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 3:46 pm

The problem is no one wants Ben Wallace. Our idiot GM gave him a ludicrous contract.

Post #10 » by **coldfish** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 3:46 pm

I just don't get it. It seems that everyone in the Chicago area bends over to kiss Wallace's butt. Last night, Boylan specifically praised him and again, I read it here.

Shaq is not the player he was. Last night was his second best of the season and he was open underneath far more than he even received the ball. If Miami would have force fed him the ball, he could have easily got 30+.

What the Bulls did last night was one of the worst jobs anyone has done defending Shaq all season. Its quantifiable. Just look at his game log. They didn't front him at all, allowing easy entry passes. When he did get the ball, the bulls sent multiple people at him.

The Bulls won last night because several Heat players, JWill, Ricky Davis and to an extent, Haslem played some of the worst defense I have ever seen at the NBa level.

The Bulls do need Wallace to be a good player, but setting the bar at last night's poor level is no way to get there. Wallace may mope, but he seems to respond positively to criticism and attention. IMO, Phil Jackson would work wonders with him.

At this point, I just wonder if the Chicago media has an ulterior motive with Wallace, or they are just this stupid.

molepharmer · Post #11 » by **molepharmer** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 3:55 pm

Wallace has no trade value because he's been playing like crap, not because of his contract.

TB#1 · Post #12 » by **TB#1** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 3:58 pm

If the Bulls are to get things turned around this season, Wallace is going to have to be a part of it. Sure, signing Wallace hasn't worked out the way general manager John Paxson -- or anyone else -- imagined, but the Bulls simply have to make it work.

With two years and roughly $29 million left on his contract after this season, Wallace has no trade value at this point.

Despite the oddly phrased headline, the article isn't exactly a ringing endorsement of Ben Wallace. Its more like "we're stuck with him so we better get as much as we can out of him."

Post #13 » by **DuckIII** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 3:58 pm

molepharmer wrote:Wallace has no trade value because he's been playing like crap, not because of his contract.

He is playing like crap. But its the contract that makes him untradeable. There are plenty of teams who would like to have an interior defensive specialist, even at his regressed stage, on a reasonable contract.

Every non-San Antonio team in the West aspiring to make the playoffs would love to have Ben Wallace at a reasonable salary.

tensai · Post #14 » by **tensai** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 4:08 pm

Oh my, John Jackson strikes again. This is the same writer who made a trade proposal that has a package built around Tyrus for Andre Miller.

molepharmer · Post #15 » by **molepharmer** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 4:09 pm

DuckIII wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

He is playing like crap. But its the contract that makes him untradeable. There are plenty of teams who would like to have an interior defensive specialist, even at his regressed stage, on a reasonable contract.

Every non-San Antonio team in the West aspiring to make the playoffs would love to have Ben Wallace at a reasonable salary.

True. But there's also a lot of players on that kind of contract that you'd be thrilled to have, which was my point.

Jackson's implication was that Ben's untradeable merely because of his contract.

ATRAIN53 · Post #16 » by **ATRAIN53** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 4:12 pm

i think instead of "Bulls need Wallace like no one else" the article should have been titled "Bulls need Wallace to play like Wallace because no one else wants him"

7PTS/7REBS against an 8-29 team?

the guy he was 'battling' posted 24/10 in his first game in like 2 weeks.

Wallace is hardly the reason the Bulls won that game, the Heat are a horrible team that don't guard and only play 3 qtrs of basketball.

i have no doubt now the Heat are anticipating Shaq retiring at the end of the year and dreaming of a future with Mayo/Wade or Rose/Wade. I also think they have their eyes on Elton Brand or Okafor to replace Shaq.

When you can't draw a full house with Wade/Shaq on your roster you have got to make changes.

Grand Champ · Post #17 » by **Grand Champ** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 4:19 pm

I think it should have been titled

"The Bulls need (to bench) Wallace like no one else.

cark · Post #18 » by **cark** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 4:24 pm

The Bulls need Ben Wallace like the Sun Times needs John Jackson.

Addicted123 · Post #19 » by **Addicted123** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 4:26 pm

DuckIII wrote:
If the Bulls are to get things turned around this season, Wallace is going to have to be a part of it. Sure, signing Wallace hasn't worked out the way general manager John Paxson -- or anyone else -- imagined, but the Bulls simply have to make it work.

I guess I don't really understand. They "need" him because he needs to play better? Okay. I think we all agree that if he goes out there and busts his ass and dominates that its a good thing.

But the Bulls don't "need" him the way he is. The way he is, they have more productive options that should be taking up about 1/3 of the minutes he's currently playing.

I don't understand either. They need him because he needs to play better....... dumb article. You will find more informed opinions from regular posters on this board than you do with most of these sports writers.

Friend_Of_Haley · Post #20 » by **Friend_Of_Haley** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 5:27 pm

Just go with it guys. Maybe if we all start buying it some idiot GM *cough*Isiah*cough* will buy it too.