Ben Wallace News

Hedo Turkoglu hit a fadeaway jumper with seven-tenths of a second left in overtime, and the Orlando Magic beat the Chicago Bulls 112-110 Monday. via Daily Herald

The year’s end usually doesn’t bring so many farewells. I thought Scott Skiles would probably get a few more weeks to turn the Bulls around, considering his history of success. via Daily Herald

“Hello, Mr. Skiles? You are fired. Have a Merry Effing Christmas tomorrow.” : http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/cs-071224chicagobullsfirecoachscottskiles,0,6113811.story?coll=chi_breaking_500 I have never … via Hoops and Other Pop Culture

TODAY’S TOPIC: Time to shine The Bulls promoted Jim Boylan to interim head coach Thursday, three days after firing Scott Skiles. via Northwest Herald

“Tonight we didn’t cheat the game. We played with everything we had.”

Ben Gordon poured in 19 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter as Chicago snapped a three-game skid by besting Milwaukee, 103-99, in interim coach Jim Boylan’s debut at the United Center. via WFRV-TV Green Bay

After three straight seasons with at least a .500 win percentage, a slow start was the exact reason why he lost his job. via BleacherReport

“They are two different types of coaches, they deal with guys a little bit differently. Hopefully Jim can help us turn things around and we can get going”

DEERFIELD, Ill. - Jim Boylan’s coaching influences include many of the game’s most well-known and respected names: Al McGuire, Jud Heathcote, Mike Fratello, Brian Hill and even the man he replaced, Scott … via Quad-City Times

Kurt from the Lakers blog Forum Blue and Gold here, and I’m taking over the True Hoop helm for the day while Henry spends some quality time with his family over the holidays. via True Hoop

“I wouldn’t say we stopped playing for Scott”

The Bulls will take the court tonight at San Antonio under interim coach Pete Myers, who obviously is a stopgap after the Christmas Eve firing of Scott Skiles. via Northwest Herald

The headline on the Bulls’ Web site read, “Skiles relieved as Bulls Head Coach.”‘ It should have read, “Skiles relieved to be former Bulls Head Coach.” Now he won’t have to deal with fragile players who … via South Bend Tribune

Scott Skiles paid the price for the Bulls’ lame-ass start. Kobe Bryant needed just 20 points Sunday to become the youngest player in NBA history to reach 20,000. Well, he made it with plenty to spare, pouring … via RotoRob

And the winner is… Scott Skiles . It may sound weird to say now, just hours after his firing, but Skiles is going to benefit from this decision, provided another GM gives him the chance. via MVN - Recent Articles

Bulls general manager John Paxson told the Sun-Times on Saturday that whatever moves he might make, he will try to talk trade with teams ‘’as quietly as possible so we can minimize the rumor mill that spreads … via Chicago Sun-Times

C Ben Wallace sat out Wednesday’s game against Washington because of a sore left foot. via Houston Chronicle

Chicago Bulls center Ben Wallace and Houston Rockets forward Tracy McGrady were back in the starting lineup for their game Saturday night. via Houston Chronicle

The Chicago Bulls’ 2007-2008 season has gotten off to a terrible start and there are several reasons for that. via Lincoln-Way Sun

The Boston Celtics are no longer unbeaten at home this season, but will try to rebound versus the visiting Chicago Bulls tonight at TD Banknorth Garden. via Tacoma News Tribune

“In my opinion, just from the start, he has been very skilled down [in the post] with the ball”

Forget the soft hands, nice shooting touch, ability to take up space in the post and passing proficiency.

Want the real reason teammates wore wide smiles for Aaron Gray’s surprising emergence in Wednesday night’s victory over the Wizards?

‘He’s a big-time goofball,’ guard Kirk Hinrich said with a smile. ‘That’s what makes this fun.’

Indeed, Gray is extremely popular inside the locker room. His mellow demeanor and tendency to stroll around with a dopey grin on his face mask a fierce competitiveness and a habit of harshly criticizing his own deficiencies. Read more

“It has been a struggle to sustain anything”

Even though his fascination with playing for the Bulls has faded, Kobe Bryant heard the United Center cheers, both then and now.

‘A couple of my friends played against the Bulls when [the ‘Kobe’ chants] took place [earlier this season],’ Bryant said Tuesday night. ‘They called me and said they heard something that was just crazy. I was shocked by it.’

Nothing is shocking anymore about Bulls collapses, and they offered up another substantial one in a 103-91 loss to the Lakers at the United Center. Read more

“I’m just speaking from a player’s point of view, and I don’t think I would ever do anything like that”

Scott Skiles has been hinting at playing Aaron Gray for weeks. On Tuesday, he followed through — at the expense of Ben Wallace. via Chicago Tribune

“As eye-popping as Kobe’s numbers are, the reason they have the record they do is because all those other guys are playing well”

By TIMOTHY WOLFMEYER - twolfmeyer@nwnewsgroup.com Comments CHICAGO It wasn’t just the Bulls, remember. via Northwest Herald

“It’s a lot of things like how to be physical, how to get my shot off quicker and my all-around post moves. He’s a great attribute to this team. I really enjoy having Clifford Ray around.”

Considering that he once saved a dolphin by reaching into its stomach to retrieve a screw and that he has the ability to play most woodwind instruments, it is safe to assume that Clifford Ray’s enormous hands … via Boston Herald

“We’re having the occasional game, occasional half. But it’s not good enough if you want to be an elite team”

One team managed to accomplish what it set out to do Wednesday in Indianapolis. After the Pacers turned a 16-point second-quarter deficit into a 117-102 win over the Bulls, guard Mike Dunleavy credited the … via Daily Herald

On Friday you said the Bulls weren’t going to win any awards for best run franchises. via True Hoop

“Somebody would just penetrate and they’d pitch it out and knock them down”

Even if the NBA is a game of runs, rare is the contest that features a team turning a 16-point lead into a 21-point deficit and eventually a 117-102 loss.

Welcome to the 2007-08 Bulls, who continue to find new ways to define underachieving.

A spectacular defensive collapse allowed the Pacers to post season-highs for a Bulls opponent in points, field goals (44), three-pointers (11), points in a quarter (40 in the third) and field-goal percentage (55.7).

The next Bull to find a Pacer in transition — here’s a hint: the three-point line — might be the first. Read more

“He’s just out there playing hard”

Kevin Durant rolls into town Tuesday, another high draft pick and young talent dripping with athletic ability and potential.

Similar words have been spoken about Tyrus Thomas, who right now would gladly trade adjectives for playing time.

Any direct comparisons of Durant’s situation to Thomas’ must contain qualifiers: Durant is plying his trade as the centerpiece of a rebuilding effort for a bad SuperSonics team, while Thomas is trying to crack the rotation of a returning playoff team. Read more

By Matt Posted on Wed Dec 12, 2007 at 10:43:12 PM EDT I was taking some notes during that game, but they mysteriously get sparse in the 2nd half. via Blog a Bull

Despite coming up short against the Bulls last Friday night, there was one Pistons’ fan at the Palace having the night of his life. via Detroit Pistons Full-Court Press - ML…

The Seattle SuperSonics continue their five-game road trip when they visit the Chicago Bulls tonight at the United Center. via SanLuisObispo.com

“He’s got to keep working, stay positive and wait for his next opportunity.”

Comments DEERFIELD The Bulls look great, then gruesome. Marvelous, then macabre. via Kane Co. Chronicle