Ben Wallace News

Andrea Bargnani scored 19 points to lead the Toronto Raptors to a 92-82 pre-season victory over the Chicago Bulls on Friday. via CKNW News Talk 980

Thirty teams, 30 burning fantasy questions. Throughout the preseason, we put one of these questions to an ESPN.com analyst for an in-depth look at the most interesting, perplexing or dumbfounding fantasy facet … via ESPN

“I don’t see the point right now of him playing”

Hours before his first professional double-double last Thursday against the Mavericks, albeit during an exhibition game, Aaron Gray stood in a passport office.

It’s a good thing the rookie center secured his paperwork because coach Scott Skiles is sitting Ben Wallace on Friday night as part of a twofold plan: Get Wallace some rest.

Continue the rookies’ crash course.

Indeed, this weekend offers yet another challenge in the ongoing NBA education of Gray, Joakim Noah and JamesOn Curry - back-to-back games against the Raptors in Toronto and the Indiana Pacers at home. Read more

The “Baby Bulls” are older now. They’ll get to show off how much they’ve improved during tonight’s preseason opener in Wisconsin, where they’ll face the Milwaukee Bucks at The La Crosse Center. via WIFR

“My goal right now is to evolve gracefully into being an ex-basketball player”

The Bulls waived Joseph Blair on Wednesday, a move as inevitable as it is inconsequential in the world of NBA movers and shakers.

But the one line of agate type announcing his release that will appear under ‘Transactions’ in Thursday’s newspapers can’t capture the essence of the life Blair has lived.

You won’t find many NBA rookies - or veterans, for that matter - who call Khalil Gibran their favorite author ‘by far’ and spend pregame time reading Sidney Poitier’s spiritual autobiography, ‘The Measure of a Man.’ Read more

“So I actually appreciate it. Because I don’t think they would demand out of me more than what they think I can do. And the more they demand, I feel the better I can be.”

Go ahead and take his lunch money, as Ben Gordon did earlier this week when the rookie brought the wrong doughnuts.

Haze him further by spelling his name wrong on his road reds, with long-time equipment manager John Ligmanowski laughing as the rookie squirmed about in a ‘NOHA’ jersey that eventually would be replaced with the correct name.

Challenge him by starting Tyrus Thomas at power forward.

No matter: Joakim Noah is going to keep coming at you.

The rookie’s irrepressible spirit was as evident Tuesday night at the La Crosse Center as it was throughout his star-studded college career. Read more

Yi Jianlian made his debut for the Bucks, but fellow rookie Joakim Noah looked more like a polished pro in Milwaukee’s 93-88 victory over the Chicago Bulls in the exhibition opener on Tuesday night. via Journal-Gazette

For Bulls second-year guard Thabo Sefolosha, this training camp might as well be finishing school. via Chicago Sun-Times

“We still have a no-headband rule I just left it up to the guys who have been here if they wanted to make an exception for Ben. I was fine with it. They were fine with it.”

FINALLY. After months of waiting and writing about God-knows-what on this blog, we’ve got some action. via MVN - Recent Articles

The Bulls have one starting spot open this season, and 12-year veteran Joe Smith is in the mix to fill the vacancy at power forward. via Chicago Sun-Times

By sbulls9030 Posted on Thu Oct 04, 2007 at 07:35:12 PM EDT [Another great Diary from sbulls9030. via Blog a Bull

“Our size is better. Our length is better. Picking up Joe should really help us and Joakim (Noah) is a very versatile player”

BY AL HAMNIK ahamnik@nwitimes.com 219.933.4154 PRO BASKETBALL BULLS MEDIA DAY DEERFIELD How good can the Bulls be this season? Good enough for goose bumps. via NWI Times

“I don’t think it will be 100 percent all year”

And now, the first unit for the first drill in the first practice of the Bulls’ 2007-08 season: Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon, Luol Deng, Ben Wallace and — drum roll please — Joakim Noah.

For Joe Smith and Tyrus Thomas fans, coach Scott Skiles used one word to summarize the significance: ‘Zero.’

Skiles then elaborated.

‘It’s only because those guys know all the stuff so they can direct Joakim around for a few days,’ Skiles said after practice Tuesday morning.

Call Noah the super sponge. Read more

The Bulls will sport a couple of new looks this season, including center Ben Wallace wearing his signature headband with coach Scott Skiles’ blessing. via Chicago Sun-Times

“I just left it up to the guys who have been here if they wanted to make an exception for Ben. I was fine with it. They were fine with it.”

One of the biggest questions facing the Chicago Bulls in the coming season has been answered: Big Ben’s headband is back. via ESPN

Luol Deng Will Be an All-Star This isn’t a particularly outlandish prediction considering how many outlets are listing Deng as one of the top four or five small forwards in the entire NBA for this coming … via HOOPSWORLD.com

Chicago: The question this year is not whether the Chicago Bulls will make the playoffs, but whether or not they did enough to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals and maybe even the championship round. via HOOPSWORLD.com

By Matt Posted on Fri Aug 24, 2007 at 12:36:54 AM EDT Ubiquitous commenter HSCS, owner of the thrice-blowed-up-currently-defunct ‘Taurine Dream’ blog, will now apparently be making posts at Thank You Isiah . via Blog a Bull

After losing their second round playoff series to the Detroit Pistons , Chicago Bulls general manager, John Paxson , explained that they clearly have a need for someone who can score in the post in order to … via ArmchairGM

The most exciting thing in professional sports is when a marquee players changes teams. via HOOPSWORLD.com

Recently Aaron Gray joined Marc Blount as the only Panthers currently in the NBA. via Pitt Panthers

“They already had a good team, but when you add me and Kobe and Jason (Kidd), that’s a lot of leadership.”

Chauncey Billups saw what happened to the Detroit Pistons and their fans when Ben Wallace left last summer for the Chicago Bulls. via Slam Sports

“I’m very positive about our depth”

Ten pounds lighter and $37.5 million richer, Andres Nocioni has the same desire and, finally, a pain-free right foot.

‘I’m the old ‘Noce,’ ‘ he said.

Undaunted by playoff failures with previous teams and $10 million richer, Joe Smith has a post-up game and a healthy appreciation for the Bulls’ tradition.

‘It would be nice to add something to it,’ he said.

The old and the new Bulls made the rounds Wednesday at the Berto Center, where optimism reigned as soon as both players’ physicals ended and ink on their restricted and unrestricted free-agent contracts dried. Read more

The high expectations, the slow start. The first-round sweep, the rally that came up short in the second round.
It all added up to the Chicago Bulls’ best season since Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen were collecting titles, but they still have work to do to get back to that championship level.
“I don’t mind change,’’ Bulls […]

“I started off pretty bad. I’ve come a long way”

Aaron Gray couldn’t have landed in a better spot on draft night. Until the Bulls selected Florida center Joakim Noah with the ninth pick of the first round, the tallest players on their roster were Ben Wallace, … via Daily Herald