Ben Wallace upset

The Ben Wallace I've seen in this series, is a different Ben. I guess it comes with hanging out with Lebron too much, but jeez is his playing skills extremely different since his Piston's days.

And yes, Ben Wallace IS flopping. Did Varajao teach him how to do it effectively?

I sort of pity him, because how much ESPN keeps trying to tell the Cavs to go small, since Ben Wallace isn't effective at all, and he tries to guard Rashard Lewis, which he clearly can't do. Although he was somewhat effective against Dwight, I believe he did deny him an easy layup.

At least the other 4 time DPOY did good last year and an older age.

OK, I've changed my mind. Had Ben stayed with the Pistons he'd still be grabbing 12 boards, blocking 3 shots and stealing 2 balls a game.

I totally respect what Ben did for Detroit and what he brought to those teams. Not the same player, hasn't been for 3+ years now. Who in their right mind can sit there and say they didn't go nuts when they heard that bell or he tossed a opposing players shot into the 14th row but those days are WAY behind him. I'm glad we had him when we did.

See, this is the problem.

I never said there would have been NO drop off...ever...until he reached 75. Geezus, is it really that deep?

As am I. I truly respect him for what he did on the court for the Pistons. But these comments/actions that he are doing now, are lame!

I mean saying this?

Who is he now? Ron Artest?? A common thug? Telling SVG to face him in the basketball court and do something about it? Cussing him out? And now the flopping?

It's facepalm worthy for me. All talk and clearly NO GAME.

Ben should be careful challenging JVG to a fight especially if that broken leg hasn't healed properly.

He then pranced around and snapped an imaginary picture of himself.

I don't think Ben trying to take charges is anything new. He did that in DET.

Could Ben's drop off result in playing PF now instead of C as he had in the past?

If SVG actually takes him up on his offer and marches out there and whips him into submission, can we then admit that Ben has declined?

Oh...my reading comprehension is off. I thought Jeff said it. I don't think Stan is anywhere near the fighter that Jeff is.

Charles Oakley could not play in the NBA now. He would get a flagrant foul every game. I miss those days.

Great photo of JVG, though. Interesting street-fighting technique.

I've always respected your view of Ben Wallace. Did you ever feel any resentment that he'd left for the money...any at all? Or were you just upset with Joe for not signing him?

I don't believe he left for the money...there was no negotiation involved. I honestly and fully believe Ben left as a refusal to continue play for Flip Saunders. CHI simply came to the table with the max and DET was hoping to resign for much less and that's what they offered (or just short of what they planned to pay). I think if CHI and DET's offer's had been the same Ben still would have left. But, because neither team really planned to negotiate, they just made offers, Ben's decision to leave appears to have been for the money, but in reality, he was not going to play another possession for Flip Saunders the pay raise was a bonus (See his benching in DET's elimination game that year).

So to answer your question, no I don't feel any resentment. I was pissed that they hired Flip in the 1st place and I completely understood Ben's decision not to play for that guy anymore even though he was my favorite Piston.

I fully concur. To take it a step further, I think Ben might have even walked for less than the Pistons offer. The Bulls left a lot of money on the table.

And Ben made a very good decision. If he did it for the money, it was still a good decision.

Also, consider that he is closer to a championship now than any of his former teammates.

Agreed.

Additionally, it's a little ironic that the teams that he really did little for are the ones that appear to have rewarded him for his work in DET.