Rasheed Gets Last Laugh at the Bulls

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Chicago Bulls were irked by Rasheed Wallace's joviality and the smile he flashed nearly every time he scored in the Pistons' 92-79 victory Dec. 3 at the United Center.

And Chicago coach Scott Skiles especially took Wallace's actions to heart, saying after the game that if he were still playing, "I would have done something about it."

Well, if the Bulls are still bothered by his 26-point performance, they can do something about it tonight when the teams play at the Palace.

So what did Wallace say on the court that turned the Bulls into a cranky bunch?

"I didn't say nothing," Wallace said. "I was just laughing -- just going out there and just having fun. If they don't want to see me laugh or have fun, they have to stop these Pistons."

Whether Wallace was laughing at the Bulls' lack of defense or how his shots continued to fall is uncertain. He even called glass on one jumper. After scoring most of his points, he usually chuckled while getting back on defense, as if he was toying with the young Bulls squad.

But Pistons coach Flip Saunders doesn't expect the Bulls to retaliate.

"I think players in this league have too much respect for each other and they're not going to get in a situation," Saunders said. "Chicago plays hard. They play hard, and we expect them to come out and play hard. But they don't play dirty by any means. They just go out and play extremely hard and physical."

Just the way the Pistons and Wallace like it.

Wallace said he likes how his enthusiasm and cockiness can get under an opponent's skin. He was matter of fact when asked for his thoughts about Skiles' comment -- how he would have "done something about" Wallace's antics.

"I mean, (expletive), do it," Wallace said. "I'm not in their locker room, that's on them, not me. That's on them, and it doesn't affect me. If that's things that Scott said, you know, it's directed toward his players, and like I said, somebody had to step up and play D on me, block my shot and something like that. It ain't on me."

And while there's nothing wrong with sharing a few laughs on the court, even at the opponent's expense, Wallace said he didn't go overboard. There's a fine line he would never cross.

"I don't talk about nobody's mom, wife, kids or nothing like that," Wallace said. "I just talk about maybe that person and their game, or defense. It is a line, and I don't cross that line."</div>

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