The 2006-2007 Chicago Bulls Thread

[1908]

Luol Deng is by far the best player on the Bulls and has the most upside.

 

He is the future for that team.

I think Tyrus has way more upside (and Thabo possibly too).

Offensively as well?

Yes. He has a nice mid-range jumper that needs to develop a bit more and he needs to learn some post moves, but he certainly has the ability and talent to do it.

I'm a big fan of Tyrus' upside but Deng's making a believer out of me. He's the best player on the Bulls and he's only six months older than Tyrus (almost a year younger than Thabo). If I had to trade one, I'd have a tough time choosing between the two.

[CP_414]

NEW YORK -- Red is a bold color, which made Ben Wallace's decision all the more glaring.

 

Blatantly defying coach Scott Skiles' team rule prohibiting headbands, Wallace broke one out to match the Bulls' road uniforms Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.

 

A much-needed 106-95 victory over the Knicks that snapped the Bulls' six-game losing streak now will serve only as a partial tonic to a much more flammable situation. Thirteen games into a four-year contract that will pay him $60 million, Wallace and coach Scott Skiles are at odds.

 

One night after Wallace played a season-low 19 minutes, 38 seconds, Skiles removed Wallace just 2:02 after tipoff for breaking the team rule.

 

Is Skiles' worried Wallace' insubordination will become an issue?

 

"No," he said after the game. "I don't know why. I'm just not."

 

Skiles wouldn't comment on why his rule is in effect. Wallace wouldn't comment on if he agreed with it.

 

"Man, I don't care about that," Wallace said. "All I know is we got the win."

 

Asked if he understood why he was benched, Wallace looked downward.

 

"Ask [skiles]," he said. "Coach makes the decisions. I just play."

 

After Wallace was removed, assistant Ron Adams went to talk to him. Fellow assistant Pete Myers, Wallace's closest confidant, subsequently followed suit. Finally, assistant Jim Boylan, Skiles' right-hand man, visited him. And, still, the headband remained.

 

When Wallace finally removed it, during a deadball situation with 2:41 left in the first quarter, Skiles called for him to re-enter. He did so with 1:45 left in the first quarter and played 14:36 in the first half, grabbing four rebounds.

 

But the turmoil didn't end there. Wallace slipped the headband back on just before the second half was set to start. Skiles immediately sent Malik Allen to the scorer's table before play began.

 

When Wallace again removed the headband during a timeout with 5:46 left in the third, he re-entered just 81 seconds later.

 

At this point, Boylan had taken over as coach after official Tim Donaghy ejected Skiles with two quick technical fouls 56 seconds into the third.

 

In all, Wallace played 29 minutes, finishing with five points and seven rebounds.

 

After the game, the Bulls had a team meeting for 25 minutes.

 

"We want to make sure everybody is on the same page," guard Kirk Hinrich said. "Hopefully we will be.

 

"Ben wants to win just as much as anybody on the team. He has a track record. He has won a lot of games in this league. He has a championship. We're glad to have him. It's just something we need to work out."

 

Given that the incident came on the heels of a game in which Skiles benched Wallace for the final 17:44, questions about Wallace's happiness are legitimate. Asked before the game why Wallace hasn't played like, well, Wallace, Skiles painted a positive picture and even supported his beleaguered center.

 

That contrasted sharply with Skiles' tight-lipped nature afterward. Players tried to diffuse the situation.

 

"Communication is the key," P.J. Brown said. "And we still have communication. But rules are rules. You have to abide by them."

 

Sounds like a stupid rule, but Big Ben has to play by the rules.

 

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/cs-061125bullsgamer,1,3747465,print.story?coll=cs-bulls-headlines

[Flames24Rulz]

Wow, I knew Skiles was strict about the uniform conduct, but come on. I don't want another Flip Saunders on our hands with Skiles.

[ChiCubsFan]

That rule is pretty ridiculous but you have to abide by them if you're Ben Wallace. He's playing like garbage and then he goes and pulls a move like that. I think Pax is starting to regret that signing a little bit now. Any chance Wallace gets traded?

[Banedon]

Man they look overrated. Wallace was a big mistake, and you aren't gonna be able to get rid of him with that contract. Meanwhile, Skiles is worried about headbands. I'm going to have to not get terribly excited about beating the freaking knicks.

[Chocolate Milk]

Headbands? Give me a break. Skiles should be worrying about the product on the court, not fricken headbands.

[treebird]

remember after they played the heat and everyone was talking about how godlike skiles and paxson were?

[ChiCubsFan]

remember after they played the heat and everyone was talking about how godlike skiles and paxson were?

 

Yeah, and I still think they are very good at their jobs. Paxson has put together a team full of talent, they just aren't playing well together right now.

[Soul]

What a stupid rule. If I was out there sweating like that, I would want to wear a headband too.

 

I don't think it comes solely from Skiles though----sounds like Paxson likes this rule too.

 

Man if something stupid like this fractures this ballclub, I'm going to start throwing furniture. :evil:

[ConstableRabbit]

The issue isn't with the rule, it's that Wallace openly broke the rule and said that he wasn't worry.

 

For $60 mil I think he can manage. There are other players on the team who are playing much better than Wallace is who don't seem to feel the need to come out and wear one - -I don't see why he thinks that he's different or special.

[goonys evil twin]

The issue isn't with the rule, it's that Wallace openly broke the rule and said that he wasn't worry.

 

For $60 mil I think he can manage. There are other players on the team who are playing much better than Wallace is who don't seem to feel the need to come out and wear one - -I don't see why he thinks that he's different or special.

 

Maybe he doesn't feel different or special, instead, he feels the coach has his head up his butt and is worried about stuff that does not matter.

[hawkeyecub]

I'm a Pistons fan, but I felt that contract they gave him was a bad idea from the start. His window to be very productive was two more years, and they had to hope he made up for the second half of the contract with a great first half. It's early, but he's not looking great.

For one, once he hits 35 he simply won't have the athleticism/explosion that he relies on to play above his size. Secondly part of what made him such a great player was that he played with such hunger and attitude. Many in Detroit felt that was really declining last year and a new fat contract wouldn't help with some of those problems, including problems with coaching. His teammates in Detroit could counteract some of that, I don't know if the group in Chicago will.

 

As far as the headband fiasco, the rule doesn't make any sense. But it's apparently Paxson's rule and it's Ben's job to follow those rules when they gave him an enormous contract.

[ConstableRabbit]

The issue isn't with the rule, it's that Wallace openly broke the rule and said that he wasn't worry.

 

For $60 mil I think he can manage. There are other players on the team who are playing much better than Wallace is who don't seem to feel the need to come out and wear one - -I don't see why he thinks that he's different or special.

 

Maybe he doesn't feel different or special, instead, he feels the coach has his head up his butt and is worried about stuff that does not matter.

 

That's a problem.

 

Like I said, it's not about the rules. They didn't create it for Wallace specifically. It's about thinking that it's not a big deal to break team rules and policy, which is exactly what he did.

 

Call it the broken window theory of sports, but if you let the little stuff by then it undermines having rules in the first place. It's not up to Ben to decide which rules are important and which aren't.

[Wilson A2000]

I saw an ESPN article where the headband rule was Paxsons and Skiles just had to live with it. Supposedly Ben asked about it before the contract was signed but the Bulls never got back to him about it. But then again I thought Ben said he knew. Regardless, it is a dumb rule. Let the man keep the sweat out of his eyes. Another dumb Skiles rule was the taping of the ankles policy. Skiles mandates that the guys tape their ankles before every practice and game. When Ben did it, he could barely run because he wasn't used to it. He complained and I think got away with it.

[Mark_R]

Bulls win!? Seems like a foreign concept these days!

[Flames24Rulz]

Bulls win 102-85. Can we play the Knicks 82 times a year? :wink:

 

Gordon had 23 and 6 assists. Big Ben had 8 and 12. Duhon had 17 points, PJ had 14, Hinrich had 13, Deng had 12, and Noc had 10. Nice all-around effort tonight.

 

Bulls face another ex-player on Friday night as we take on Tyson Chandler and the Hornets.

[Wilson A2000]

Curry was 10-14 and scored 24

[ConstableRabbit]

Curry was 10-14 and scored 24

 

ALL WHILE WEARING A HEADBAND :D

[Wilson A2000]

Curry was 10-14 and scored 24

 

ALL WHILE WEARING A HEADBAND :D

 

So that's why Curry stunk as a Bull.

 

Anyone surprised he hasn't had any heart problems since?

[wolf stansson]

remember after they played the heat and everyone was talking about how godlike skiles and paxson were?

 

Yeah, and I still think they are very good at their jobs. Paxson has put together a team full of talent, they just aren't playing well together right now.

I still say they are one of the top gm/coaches combo in the NBA.

[ChiCubsFan]

remember after they played the heat and everyone was talking about how godlike skiles and paxson were?

 

Yeah, and I still think they are very good at their jobs. Paxson has put together a team full of talent, they just aren't playing well together right now.

I still say they are one of the top gm/coaches combo in the NBA.

 

Does Ben Wallace have a headband on in your sig?

[Soul]

Curry was 10-14 and scored 24

 

ALL WHILE WEARING A HEADBAND :D

 

So that's why Curry stunk as a Bull.

 

Anyone surprised he hasn't had any heart problems since?

 

No, not suprised at all. The guy went to many doctors, and all but one said there's no problem. The other doc said it's very unlikely there's a problem, but you might want to get a genetic test to be sure. The Bulls seized on that instead of going with the preponderance of the other opinions.

 

Still -- I like having those 2 first round picks. Glad it was the Knicks on the other end of the deal when the Bulls dumped Curry.

[Chocolate Milk]

I lucked into a free ticket in the 19th row last night. The game was awesome. Curry played well but looked really really really fat. A couple of times he didn't even run down the court to play defense because he was so winded. He would be a huge liability against any team that can run.

 

Tyrus Thomas needs to take it easy. He came in for about 2 mins and was out of his mind. Turnovers, goaltending, horrible shots. He's obviously talented he just needs to calm down a little bit.

 

There was a huge picture of Big Ben on our tickets. Complete with headband.

[Soul]

I lucked into a free ticket in the 19th row last night. The game was awesome. Curry played well but looked really really really fat. A couple of times he didn't even run down the court to play defense because he was so winded. He would be a huge liability against any team that can run.

 

Tyrus Thomas needs to take it easy. He came in for about 2 mins and was out of his mind. Turnovers, goaltending, horrible shots. He's obviously talented he just needs to calm down a little bit.

 

There was a huge picture of Big Ben on our tickets. Complete with headband.

 

It is a silly rule. I know Ben has to follow it, but there's no reason for it.

 

 

I know, let's have a new rule: No more drinking from straws. You must drink from the glass itself. If you don't, then no cake for you!!

[CoolHandLuke]

I lucked into a free ticket in the 19th row last night. The game was awesome. Curry played well but looked really really really fat. A couple of times he didn't even run down the court to play defense because he was so winded. He would be a huge liability against any team that can run.

 

Tyrus Thomas needs to take it easy. He came in for about 2 mins and was out of his mind. Turnovers, goaltending, horrible shots. He's obviously talented he just needs to calm down a little bit.

 

There was a huge picture of Big Ben on our tickets. Complete with headband.

 

It is a silly rule. I know Ben has to follow it, but there's no reason for it.

 

 

I know, let's have a new rule: No more drinking from straws. You must drink from the glass itself. If you don't, then no cake for you!!

 

I hate straws. but I also hate cake :cry: