John Jackson: Bulls Need Wallace Like No One Else

[ptpablo]

I found it hillarious that Boylan brought Wallace in as soon as Shaq entered the game so Noah would not have to guard him. Shaq then proceeded to simply overpower Wallace every possesion for about 3 minutes. Are we the only people that see he is worthless these days. Last year in the playoffs he was stellar against Shaq, but then again he had all season to rest. I would rather Noah get dunked on and gain experience guarding these players than Wallace standing there refusing to foul so he can get his "stats" and getting dunked on. He probably has the worst value in the league. Boylan is a horrible pick to coach this team because he is just as stupid as Joe Jackson or whoever wrote that article. We need Wallace to wear street clothes.

[Mr. Tibbs]

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."

yeah that's how interpreted it..but still i think it's wrong. You don't play someone cuz they're contract is big. If they suck they don't play and you play the guy who doesn't suck..or in the bulls case...sucks less.

Philly may be in the crapper but would they be in a better situation if they kept webber cuz he was making alot...and made "the most" of him?

[Rerisen]

I hope John Jackson did not write that headline. Because there cannot possibly be people left still naive to think this way.

Last year, I stuck to this kind of line most of the season. More on hope than any hard evidence. That sure Wallace was awful more than not, but for the Bulls to take the next step he was our only choice, we needed his production.

But that is just the type of attitude that pumps up Wallace's ego. He loves to be the guy that can just randomly turn it on or off and make everything better for the team - if they keep him happy and give him proper respect. It's bunk. Not even because that kind of moodiness is childish and unprofessional, but because he can't actually deliver even when he wants to. His all-out 'look I'm trying' type efforts often last for a half or less as he quickly gets tired or disinterested or flat out beat because he's too short, has less energy and less athleticism than he once did. Wallace doesn't even realize that the super hero he thinks he can be, has feet of clay.

[BR0D1E86]

When I saw the headline the only possible explanation I could think of was that they needed him because he

[Sinistar6]

Well...

Do you think if Pax could see the future he would sign Wallace to the big bucks?

We call him an idiot GM yet when he made the signing a lot of you that are grilling him now, and the national media as a whole, where very excited.

In fact I think some called him the top free agent of the class at that time. Am I remembering this incorrectly?

I often talk about hindsight because us sports fans have such selective memory. We are so infatuated with the "now" that we can not look in the past and it clouds our ability to make sound judgment for the future.

Thabo's game last night is a perfect example.

Right now he is the toast of RealGMs Chicago Bulls forum, because of 1-17 point game against a terrible team. The drug of his success has clouded us to his overall body of work. Just as the Bulls struggle this season has clouded us to Paxson's overall body of work.

I love Thabo. I think he has a great future ahead of him. Does it look brighter to me today than it did last week, absolutely. Am I mad at Pax and think he has put together a team of mediocre players, absolutely.

However did I have that same feeling coming into this season, of course not and neither did 99% of you.

It is so easy for us to be lazyboy critics.

I guess what I am asking is give Paxson this year to do something before we call him a "bad GM".

I am also disappointed in the firing of Skiles, however I think Skiles no longer wanted to coach this team.

We need to give the bulls a chance to respond, and by a chance I mean a mulligan this year.

I am at a cross-roads because I really think tanking this season would be a great way to accumulate some superstar talent however, if we do tank the season we will be less of player in the established superstars free agent bonanza.

HAHA I cant even stay on topic...

Im really confused by all of Chicago Sports this year.