Ben Wallace next on Joe's List?

I think the suggestion that Ben Wallace should apologize is freaking INSANE!!!

I don't care how anyone feels about him. APOLOGIZE?? For what???

He fulfilled his contract. He left. Feel bitter if you like, but expect an APOLOGY????

I loved Ben as a player and as a person. his numbers were heading south though, and although he was due a big payday, it didn't have to be the Pistons who obliged him. I do not regret him getting his big payday.

If I may guess as to his issues, I believe he simply didn't like Flip. He struggled trying to be a team player for a coach whose philosophy didn't match his own. As a result, he leaves behind another Wallace who took it out on Flip and as a result of Flip's demeanor, Flip was shown the door.

I still think that Ben does not come back, as he and Joe will not see eye to eye. Too much history there.

Also...there's this matter..

"In his Chauney Billups feature, Tom Friend of ESPN wrote:

He begins packing at the team hotel, when there’s a knock on the door. It’s Hamilton and Prince, the trio together one last time. They embrace, cry, laugh and reminisce. They call Ben Wallace, a Cavalier now, and put him on speaker phone. Wallace tells them, "I told you how they are." Hamilton is the most affected of all. He has just signed an extension, and he tells Chauncey he wants to be traded now, that if he’d known they were going to trade Chauncey, he never would’ve re-upped in Detroit.


This doesn't sound like somebody who is ready to return...

When ben was coached by LB,LB made it important to involve Ben in the offense. The philosophy being that even if he is the worst offensive player on the floor, do you also punish the worst 'defensive' player on the floor(say by taking him out of the game in the last 2 minutes). Flip did just that by removing ben from any offensive sets and replacing him at the end of games for offense. The logic being- Ben was the BEST at what he did best- 'DEFENSE'...and the new coach comes in and says "So?' ...Not cool!

Agreed...

Agreed...

I don't think this is true. It is next to impossible to play basketball without touching the ball and you can't instruct someone to deal with it and just go get it himself. There is a reason that teams start out games by going to Luc Longley.

In theory, playing 4 on 5 and having Ben crash the glass is a perfect plan. Everyone is doing what they do best. In reality they were playing 4 on 5 though.

Ben takes too much heat for his "touch the ball" comments. Ben's comments were not of a selfish nature by any means, under LB we ran Share The Ball, Make the Extra Pass offense which yielded Ben some "touches", under Flip when Ben wasn't touching the ball it was an indicator that we weren't moving and sharing the ball or making the extra pass, which became our ultimate downfall offensively.

Indeed.

Ben was hurt by Flip attitude.

It doesnt matter...ego, hurt feelings...whatever. It is the coaches job to recognize how to get the most out of each player. LB did it by showcasing Ben the first couple of plays, etc. Every player is different.

Can't we make a trade for a quality younger big man instead of getting an older player?Not putting anything against Big Ben but hes just getting old...but if Ben can come for the veterans miniumum he could be a good mentor to the younger posts(Max,Kwame,Wilcox,Villanueva).

There is a qualitative difference. The ownership and GM's of these coaches acknowledge the perception and valued insights these coaches bring on an organizational level. Their longevity and track-records give them the edge that in a world of immediate gratification, they are not rent-a-coach momentary substitutions. Most coaches (in relationship to owners) are an inferior subject class.

They do in Detroit...Just ask Isiah, Bill, Sheed, Chauncey...

........and Rip