<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">When he takes the court at the United Center for the first time in a Bulls uniform in a few months, Ben Wallace will be hailed as the team's only All-Star and the main reason fans in Chicago are thinking big for the first time since the Bulls' championship run ended eight years ago. A standing ovation is virtually assured, and he probably will be the last player announced during the pregame introductions -- the spot usually reserved for the team's biggest star. Wallace, no doubt, will savor the star treatment. WALLACE'S ACCOLADES HONORS *4-time all-star (2003-2006) *4-time defensive player of the year (2002, '03, '05, '06) *5-time member of the NBA All-Defense team (2002-06) *3-time member of the All-NBA second team (2003-04, '06) *NBA champion with Pistons (2004 over the Lakers) LED THE LEAGUE ... *in offensive rebounds, 2003 (293) and 2006 (301) *in defensive rebounds, 2001 (749) *in total rebounds, 2001 (1,052) and 2003 (1,126) *in rebounds per game, 2002 (13.0) and 2003 (15.4) *in blocks, 2002 (278) *in blocks per game, 2002 (3.5) Still, there figures to be a part of him wondering if all the fuss really is for him. Unlike virtually all of his new teammates, Wallace, 31, operated in complete obscurity for much of his playing career and already was an NBA veteran before people finally started to take notice.</div> Source
Wallace is doing a press conference right now live on bulls.com check it out. It's basically just his introduction, why he came, and what he plans to do with the team this season. I will post a recap afterwards if you missed the press conference.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Bobcats:</div><div class="quote_post">Reporter: Why do you think your FT% is so low? Wallace: Uh...because I miss more than I make </div> I was just about to post this haha. Funniest quote of the entire press conference. New Bulls.com introduction page http://www.nba.com/bulls/wallace_intro.html
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">[IMGR] http://www.nba.com/media/bulls/wallace_060713.jpg[/IMGR] The Chicago Bulls announced this afternoon the team has signed free agent forward Ben Wallace to a contract. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed. "We are thrilled that Ben is now officially a Bull. His track record speaks for itself and he brings us a tremendous presence on the basketball floor,? said Bulls Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations John Paxson. ?We believe that Ben fits with our young players and that he will have a tremendous impact on and off the court, providing toughness and leadership.? The 6-9, 240-pound Wallace started all 82 games last year for Detroit, as well as all 18 playoff games. On the year, he averaged 7.3 ppg, 11.3 rpg (4th in the NBA), 3.7 orpg (1st), 2.21 bpg (9th), a career-best 1.78 spg (10th) and 1.9 apg in 35.2 mpg. He led the Pistons in rebounds in 59 games (50-9), recorded more blocked shots than the opposing team in 22 games (19-3) and posted 17 double-doubles (16-1). In recognition of his play, he was named an NBA All-Star for the fourth consecutive year and he earned the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award for the second year in a row and fourth time in five seasons (2002, 2003, 2005 and 2006). ?He continues to be one of the best defenders and rebounders in the game today, and his work ethic fits that of our coach, Scott Skiles,? added Paxson. ?He knows what it takes to win and we're confident that he will come in and make an immediate impact on the Bulls organization. We feel very fortunate to be able to add Ben Wallace today." A First Team member of the NBA All-Defensive Team fives years running, Wallace has earned All-NBA Second Team honors in 2003, 2004 and 2006 and All-NBA Third Team honors in 2002 and 2005. In his 10 years in the NBA, he has appeared in 698 regular season games (583 starts), and yielded career averages of 6.6 ppg, 10.7 rpg, 3.3 orpg, 2.29 bpg (17th in the NBA all-time), 1.34 spg and 1.3 apg in 31.1 mpg. Wallace, 31, helped lead his team to the postseason each of the last five years, and reached the Eastern Conference Finals the last four years, including back-to-back trips to the NBA Finals in 2004 and 2005, culminated with Detroit winning the NBA Championship in 2004. In that time, he has played in 93 playoff games, all starts, and averaged 8.5 ppg, 13.3 rpg, 4.1 orpg, 2.31 bpg, 1.85 spg and 1.5 apg in 39.5 mpg. He went undrafted following his senior season at Virginia Union in 1996, before signing with the Washington Bullets on Oct. 2, 1996. Following three seasons in Washington, on Aug. 11, 1999, Wallace was traded with forward/center Terry Davis, guard Tim Legler and guard Jeff McInnis to Orlando in exchange for center Isaac Austin. He spent one year with the Magic, before he and guard Chucky Atkins were sent to Detroit on Aug. 3, 2000, for forward Grant Hill. </div> Source Big Ben answered many things about his time in Detroit in today?s press conference. He replied to a question about what he meant when he said he wanted to be a bigger part of the offense in Detroit towards the end of the season by saying that it did not mean he wanted more shots, but he wanted to be involved at both ends of the court. He also said that shooting is not the only part of offense when he said he wanted to be more involved he meant also setting up teammates, and trying to free people up. Ben Wallace also said that in Detroit being a solid group of veterans many times they took plays off, because they knew someone else on the team would step up. Wallace says something that the Bulls have always been known for is going 100% every play, and that is something he looks forward to being a part of. Quote of the day like previously stated in this thread? Reporter: Why do you think your FT% is so low? Wallace: Uh...because I miss more than I make Scott Skiles said he really did not care about Wallace?s free throw percentage that is not what they brought him here to do. He said they will work on it with him, but even if he doesn?t shoot a good percentage next year it is not a big concern. In other news Ben Wallace jerseys are already up for sale (I ordered mine) pretty cheap actually (for jersey prices) only about 45 dollars. Also going back to what Ben said he also mentioned that he believes the Bulls can compete with any team in the league next season from Detroit and Miami to San Antonio.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting taurus515th:</div><div class="quote_post">so when will Tyson be gone?</div> Within the next few days, Paxson noted in the conference that soon we would have another solid veteran and young guy with a lot of potential on the team. Their just waiting for league approval is my guess.
I don't know about you guys but next season is going to be an exciting one to say the least. All my favorite teams are making such good moves its crazy
Here is the official press conference transcript <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">[IMGR]http://www.nba.com/media/bulls/wallace2_060714.jpg[/IMGR]The Bulls and Ben Wallace made it official on Thursday, introducing the four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year to Chicago after he signed a four-year deal with the team. Following the press conference, Bulls.com caught up with Wallace to discuss why he chose Chicago, how he?ll lead, and why he?s such a dominating defender. Bulls.com: Shortly after agreeing to terms with the Bulls, you called this the ?deal of a lifetime.? What was it about John Paxson and the Bulls? pitch that made you decide to come to Chicago? Ben Wallace: ?It was the simple fact that they came to see me. They came to my house, met my family, and we all sat down. It made me feel comfortable with the situation, knowing that it was going to be tough to leave Detroit. They gave me some time to make my mind up instead of pushing me. They let me relax and think about it instead of pressing me for an answer. They offered me an opportunity to come to a new city and they acted genuine and sincere throughout the whole process.? Bulls.com: It?s been a week since you made your decision. How?s it feel to have the contract signed and to officially be a member of the Bulls? Wallace: ?It?s a great opportunity and I?m glad for it. I?m definitely excited it?s over with; now I can go back and relax a little bit. I?ll let it all sink in that I?m a Bull now.? Bulls.com: How does it feel to step in as the team?s biggest star? Is that a role you are ready to embrace? Wallace: ?I embrace every role and every situation that is about the game. I enjoy the fact that I?m here and that I have an opportunity to play this game. My main focus will be to go out there and do whatever I can do to help this team win. Everything else, it is what it is. You handle it when you get to it. As far as going out and being a star, I?ve never considered myself a star. I?m still Ben Wallace, I?m still the same guy, and I?m always going to be that guy. I?m not going to change for anybody.? Bulls.com: Last season, the Pistons? title hops 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.? Bulls.com: What?s it going to be like for you the first time the Bulls take on the Pistons this season? Wallace: ?It?s just going to hype the rivalry a little bit. There?s always been a great rivalry, going back to the days of the Bad Boys and MJ, and now there?s been a little more fuel added to the fire. The rivalry might have been dying down a bit, but this will bring it back full throttle. I?ll enjoy going there and I?ll enjoy watching them come here to play. We?ll have a lot of fun with it.? Ben Wallace "I think we share some of the same ideas about the game of basketball," Wallace said of Scott Skiles. "He holds everybody on the floor accountable for their own actions and that?s something I can deal with." Bulls.com: How do you plan on leading a Bulls team with an abundance of young talent? Wallace: ?I?m not a big talker; you won?t see me get up in a guy?s face to try and get my point across. But I?ll go out there and do what I can do and play as hard as I can play. If that?s not enough to motivate a guy, then he?s on the wrong team. I?m going to go out and do what I?m capable of the floor and demand that everyone else out there plays just as hard, if not harder, than me.? Bulls.com: In Scott Skiles, you?ll get an in-your-face, hard-nosed coach who expects nothing but your best effort all of the time. What are your impressions of him and what kind of relationship do you expect to have with him? Wallace: ?I like him and I like what he?s about. I think we share some of the same ideas about the game of basketball. He holds everybody on the floor accountable for their own actions and that?s something I can deal with. I think we need that as players. Sometimes, we think we?re better than what we are, but he?s a coach that will get in our faces and demand for us to work a little harder, even though we might think we?re already playing as hard as we can possibly play.? </div> Read More...
In that video you posted in the Pistons forum BKS, it showed Ben Wallace shooting free throws, and out of the 3 they showed him shooting, he hit them all. He even said out of 100 free throw attempts, he would hit 75-80 of them. I wonder why he cant do it in games
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting NTC187:</div><div class="quote_post">In that video you posted in the Pistons forum BKS, it showed Ben Wallace shooting free throws, and out of the 3 they showed him shooting, he hit them all. He even said out of 100 free throw attempts, he would hit 75-80 of them. I wonder why he cant do it in games </div> Yeah, he said in the video the reason he cannot make them in the game is that he has so much adrenaline going, and is so pumped that he can?t control himself or something like that. I got a feeling he is going to do really well this season though Skiles is a mastermind when it comes to getting players in the right mind set.
Most poor freethrow shooters hit when they practice. I mean these guys have shot balls their whole life. I dont thing that Hitting freethrows is the problem. Some playeres just dont have that focus on the line.
Damn, if i didn't waste $130 on getting a Dirk Nowitzki jersey for my at the time girlfriend I could have gotten a Bulls Wallace jersey now. Even worse, we broke up a few days before I got the Dirk jersey, so I now own a Dallas jersey, which aint so bad but I would prefer a Deng/Duhon/Hinrich/Wallace/Gordon etc. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting michiganave17:</div><div class="quote_post">Most poor freethrow shooters hit when they practice. I mean these guys have shot balls their whole life. I dont thing that Hitting freethrows is the problem. Some playeres just dont have that focus on the line.</div> his hair gets in the way.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting michiganave17:</div><div class="quote_post">Most poor freethrow shooters hit when they practice. I mean these guys have shot balls their whole life. I dont thing that Hitting freethrows is the problem. Some playeres just dont have that focus on the line.</div> his hair gets in the way.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting I-Miss-MJ:</div><div class="quote_post">his hair gets in the way.</div> What's the excuse when he has braids?
