Bulls' Big Ben Wallace is Acting Small In the NBA

Ben Wallace was the big free agent signing of the 2006 NBA off-season. Chicago had the number one defense last year, allowing the lowest field goal percentage in the league, and bringing in Wallace was supposed to make their defense that more formidable. Big Ben was also supposed to come in and be the leader that was lacking on Chicago’s 2006 playoff team.

Well, sometimes things just don’t work out like they are supposed to.

Big Ben has not further fortified the Chicago Bulls’ defense. Their opponents shot only 42% from the field last year, and this year they are shooting 47%. And earlier this season, they gave up over 50 points in the paint to a New York Knicks team that has been innocuous in the paint all season long.

The rebounds are also down for the team. Last year they out rebounded their opponents by 1.1 rebounds a game. That wasn’t a significant amount, but it was fair and it was good enough to get them into the playoffs. But this year they average the same amount of rebounds as their opponents and they are getting out rebounded by teams that are not good rebounders, including the Knicks.

But why is all of this happening? Everybody that was on the team last year is there this year, except for Tyson Chandler, and he was replaced by Ben Wallace. The Bulls have also added Tyrus Thomas form the draft and he was primarily known for his defensive prowess throughout his collegiate career.

The Bulls are clearly focusing on the wrong things. Obviously, their long road trip has hurt their record, but their entire style of play is not at the level that it should be. And it all starts with Ben Wallace.

The feuds with Big Ben are just ridiculous. Here you have a guy that will be paid $60 million over the next 4 years and they are arguing over whether or not he should be allowed to wear a head band. Somebody, and preferably both parties, need to act grown and work that out. And if the Bulls’ have the right to fine him as stated in his contract, then they should do it to end the dispute.