I went to the Bulls website this afternoon and found this nifty little splash page featuring former Piston Ben Wallace photoshopped into a Chicago jersey.
I figured I’d give some of the notable quotes from a Bulls.com interview with Ben Wallace.
Bulls.com: Last season, the Pistons’ title hopes fell short. Are you coming off the season with somewhat of a chip on your shoulder or something to prove?
Wallace: As a basketball player, you always have that chip on your shoulder. I think that is what gives you that edge. Guys who don’t play with a chip on their shoulder are the guys who usually fall by the wayside. The ones who go out there every night, thinking that they have something to prove are the guys who are the most successful. I’ve definitely got a chip on my shoulder because of people saying my game fell off or how we couldn’t do this or couldn’t do that, especially when it’s about me personally and how I can’t do this or do that anymore. I look at it as a situation where I’ve always got a lot to prove.
Ben will miss the Pistons, and he certainly appreciates all we’ve done for him (and likewise us for him), but there were many critics this past season. Despite winning at a frantic pace, people were ready to dump defense for offense, and scrap Ben Wallace. Believe me, he will be pumped up to show up his old team, possibly in a playoffs matchup.
Bulls.com: Do you see any similarities between the current Bulls roster and the teams you played with in Detroit that had all the success?
Wallace: “I don’t think this group here is that far away from being at a level like we played at in Detroit the last couple of years. The guys are scrappy on the defensive end, and they execute well on the offensive end. They never give up either—you know they’re going to go out there and fight for 48 minutes. That’s all you can ask.”
Indeed, the Bulls are full of young talent, and they love to hustle. Scrappy defenses don’t rely on intimidation or talent like Detroit’s. They just do the little things that bother you, and eventually they will force careless turnovers, plus, they will feed off of it into their offense, which contains several lethal scorers who are still young. Look at Ben Gordon, and all of the guys around him who can give you anywhere from 10-25 points on any given day.
Bulls.com: Some experts say that the Bulls will challenge for the Eastern Conference title next season. Do you feel that is realistic?
Wallace: “I definitely think we’re going to be a contender. I’d expect nothing less than us going out every night and playing hard for 48 minutes. If we’re capable of going out there and laying it on the line for 48 minutes, I like our chances of winning.”
The Bulls will certainly be a playoff team that will be tough to beat, but ultimately, expect either Miami, Detroit, or Cleveland to come out of the East victorious.
You can read the entire transcript of the interview here, via the Official Website of the Chicago Bulls.
2 Comments
July 17, 2006 at 9:20 pm
It is a very interesting signing with Wallace moving between rivals, the Pistons to the Bulls. It will still be hard for Chicago to make the playoffs because they have a big gap to overcome in the East.
August 14, 2006 at 4:20 am
I am from Turkey and i love bigben excessive.He was Detroit’s everything of coursely he was my everything.That’s still.and i have been a chicago fan any more:D.But i feel sad i don’t know because he was a PISTON.But i wish he will be succesful at chicago.I loce you bigben.I am oyur Biggest fan!!!