Big Ben's Debut I have to say that it really sucks beyond sucking to sit here and watch Ben manhandle rebounds for the stinkin Bulls. Even in light minutes tonight...he's not jokin. I doubt he'll play much more tonight, but it's extremely painful to watch him man the middle for the enemy.
Re: Big Ben's Debut Low, how are you watching Ben at all? He's not on NBATV. Your profile says you are from Las Vegas. So...was it on League Pass? It just ended but I couldn't find it on my NBATV. I thought preseason wasn't on League Pass. I definitely would have watched that game. Painful as it might have been.
Re: Big Ben's Debut Just got done watching the recorded Bulls game here in Chicago. Ben looked like he was in mid season form. I think he was making a conscious effort to "set the tone" for the team. He was helping on D, hustling after guards, ripping down rebounds with that signature wrist over the top style, and of course blocking shots (although somehow he was only credited with 1 block). Also, he got a lot of passes cutting to the hoop, the first one resulting in a huge 2-handed tomahawk jam. He called for the ball in the 2nd half and hit a nice weak side fade away. I just don't understand how Nocioni has been demoted to the bench. They need to start Hinrich, Gordon, Deng, Nocioni, and Ben... not PJ Brown. It's strange... I'm watching Ben do his thing for another team, and at the same time, I'm glad for him that he's gone. It will be good to see him get appreciation for all the things he does again. He was at the point with the Pistons where the other players were taking his contributions for granted. I feel like he gave us enough and he deserves a change. Also, if he drew that same salary with us, he would eventually get blamed for it in year 3 or so.
Re: Big Ben's Debut Low we gotta move on and forget about Ben. Yeah he dominated the Pistons middle setting the defensive tone for 6 years, but we got a new man there now and if the Pistons are successful it will be a Ben who??? I know some of you are upset that he left us high and dry, but if we are lucky he may go the route of Joe Johnson and Edgerin James who both jumped their successful team for more mulah and look what it got them. I see Ben didn't take the extra cash and hire Rick Barry or Mark Price to help him shoot FT's over the summer as he put up a Ben like 1-6 from the FT line tonight. OBTW, I have not seen anybody upset that Mo Evans stepped in for Kobe yesterday and scored 12 points.....
Re: Big Ben's Debut Mark Price is actually the new head coach for a new 'expansion' basketball team in the Australian National League. The season just started a few weeks ago. Shane Heal came out of retirement to captain the squad. They're called the South Dragons based in Melbourne NBL > Dragons
Re: Big Ben's Debut It's easy to forget about someone you don't have to see again. It's impossible to forget about someone who leaves a major hole in your lineup, is basically chased out of town for his 6 years of hard work, is murdered by the local media, and will probably be handing your cakes to you 4 times a year and probably in the playoffs....forgetting is not an option.
Re: Big Ben's Debut I agree with you all the way Dre on us moving on. He'll do ok with Chicago and that's fine with me. He'll get some rebounds and miss his free throws. Life goes on. I'm fairly certain we weren't going to win another championship with him on the team anyhow. Let's support the guys we have now. People complained all summer long. Let's at least see how they do before we go into "Doom and Gloom" mode.
Re: Big Ben's Debut Is that a challenge? I'll take it. I still believe the Pistons will still mop up the Bulls with/without Ben.
Re: Big Ben's Debut Cue theme from the good, bad & ugly... showdown at high noon. "You're afeird of pullin' the trigger ya yella belly varmit"... "oh yeah, well yer fittin' ta be planted with da daisies" Stay tuned to the Low & Max duels Jan 6, Feb 25, March 29 & April 4th... may the best team kick dirt on the loser
Re: Big Ben's Debut Last year the Pistons swept the Bulls, I think Chicago will finally win a game at home against the Pistons. But Detroit will win 3 of 4. Ben looks like him self for a little bit even on the free throw line. But over the long haul this team will have a lot of low post problems on the offensive end. Brown and Ben in the starting line up may mesh but in the Playoffs it could be a problem. Ben will be fine this year, but I can see that he does not have the same freakish lift in the legs he use to have.
Re: Big Ben's Debut Depends on how much they play him. Also have to watch for how Chandler does in ATL. He was doing quit well closing out last season. They basically substituted Ben in for Chandler. Also - I can't see Brown doing much at his age. Low - look at the bright side. May have lost Ben but at least we got a new coach out of the deal...
