In all fairness, I do not think he meant to throw it into the stands. Oh well whatever done is done, he got fined, move on. At least they didnt suspend him like Haslem, then again Haslem did throw his at Joey Crawford I believe. We all know Hinrich can get fiesty at times...I expect him to bounce back in Game 2.

Anyone else notice we play better without Wallace? What is that about? Overall great game for the guys, they really needed to beat a good team, it was nice to see them not blow the lead.

Ugggghhhhhhhhh On any other night, I respect the Suns, tonight...well I hate em! Bulls played and proved they can run with them...I would rather lose by one point than get blown out...still that was a tough one. Oh yeah and is Ben Gordon filling the void of "we do not have a scorer" yet??

Hahaha look at this quote from Pat Riley: from bulls.com

On the Posey flagrant foul:
"It should have been the call that they made. But it was not done with any intent except to stop the shot. He went after the ball and from what I could see he got all ball. They usually call it that way when there is that hard a fall and impact. I know he went after the ball and didn't go after his head. It wasn't meant to be a shot at him."

Wow. Someone needs to go rewatch the tape.

Seems like 1-27-07 will be an interesting game against the Heat. I am prepared to see some well deserved hard fouls on Posey. Anyone see the post game where Pat Riley was saying that Hinrich hurt Wade's wrist on purpose, and Hinrich does this sort of thing all the time....hmm sounds like typical pat riley, but i think he got hinrich confused with posey. Riley also claimed the flagrant was unintentional.....sounds like he is trying to diffuse the situation by focusing on Hinrich. ....The rivalry continues.....

I HATE THE CIRCUS! I have officially boycotted ringling brothers.
I truly thought they were gonna win last night, but the end of that 3rd quarter just made them fizzle and they didnt come back. I still think they are gonna be fine, I remember this same feeling two seasons in a row and they somehow always pull through..lately its just a matter of closing out games and when the other team goes on a run not to let it get into their heads.
Only 2 more games on this stupid trip and hopefully we can win those.
I miss the united center

That is why I watched it on WCIU...if you live in the chi-town area that is...can't stand national announcers. Plus Johnny Red Kerr just cracks me up..he is such a fan. lol

Big Ben has had a couple of stellar nights and some off nights. What do you expect when you come into a new team. They are still finding themselves and learning how to play together, afterall there are 8 new faces. Big Ben and the Bulls will come around. They always do. Lets just be patient...

You know this is gonna come up. I wanna hear some loyal fans' thoughts on this. Go ahead discuss.

Where was Gordon?
Now dont get me wrong, I love Du, and he has played well in the 3 games (minus the last 2 minutes last night) but I think in those pressure situations we needed our starting lineup in there. Deng had a great game, Wallace had a great game, and Noch had a great 4th quarter. Everything just looked sloppy and rushed. I wish they would slow it down a bit cuz that game so back and forth up and down the floor.
Needless to say, that was a very frustrating game

Yep, that game was not so much fun to watch, BUT they will bounce back, they always do.
Coming back to their home crowd 1-1 is much better than being 0-2...and when we got the win it was done with authority, and against the champs. They will be fine, but I thought they could've used Tyrus' energy last night; he's nuts.

I say Posey did it on purpose...he is known to take cheap shots at the Bulls lol (who remembers last year's playoffs?)

In all seriousness, Thomas is explosive & I pictured him getting hurt in one way or another, I was actually surprised to see him back after he busted his hip earlier...too bad he cant play tonight.
But I heard Thomas will play in the Home Opener on Friday.

that was a great win last night, hopefully they will win tonight in orlando and come back to sweet home chicago 2-0...that would be sweet.
It is about time they get some love from NBA anaylsts.

i think its gonna go down to the wire and i think ben g is gonna win it for us and we can rain on their ring ceremony. bulls 98 heat 96 that is my prediction.

that is great picture....I agree that it looks sorta purposeful. Ah well.

This is too exciting!
They released the scheadule earlier than i thought, now i really feel like the season is right around the corner. Those Miami and Detroit games are gonna be crazy...I think Im gonna get tickets once those on go sale Oct. 7th.

Does anyone know if they do any presale throught mybulls on regular season tickets like they did with the playoffs?

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baske...1&cset=true

Hinrich fits team theme to T(-shirt)
Bulls guard brings plenty to U.S. squad

Sam Smith
Published July 19, 2006


LeBron will be there. Team LeBron, actually. Heck, one of the media outlets covering the NBA playoffs was LeBronJames.com.

D-Wade will be there, and he'll be stylin', no doubt. Brand Wade with the slick fedora.

Team Hinrich? Brand Kirk?

"My clothes?" Kirk Hinrich stifled a laugh.

The Bulls guard, who recently was added to the USA Basketball national team that will compete in the world championships next month in Japan, is "probably the worst-dressed guy in the league," he said.

A Hinrich outfit?

"Probably jeans, a T-shirt, gym shoes and a baseball cap," he said.

Maybe Hinrich doesn't become a national endorser or a Q-rating king by being part of the U.S. effort to reclaim its international basketball prestige. But when USA Basketball opens its training camp Wednesday in Las Vegas for what it's calling its first national team, Hinrich figures to be a key figure in the U.S. strategy to strike gold in the 2008 Olympics.

"He's one of the really fine players in the NBA," USA coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "Kirk can really play defense. He's one of the better defenders in the league on and off the ball. Secondly, he can knock down a long shot. Third, he's a guy other guys really like to play with.

"He's the kind of player who if he took two shots in a game he's fine, or if he needs to take 10 or 12 shots. He just wants to win."

This is not to say the United States is going to win a gold medal this summer or in 2008 just because Hinrich is playing for the U.S. team, though team director Jerry Colangelo, in discussing the makeup of the team after the disappointing 2004 Olympics, said Hinrich was among those most strongly recommended for the three-year commitment.

The 2004 Olympic team was 5-3 and won a bronze medal. The problem: There weren't enough egos left at the door and there wasn't enough sweat left on the floor. It was a dysfunctional team; top scorers Allen Iverson and Stephon Marbury weren't invited to join this time. Their relationship with Larry Brown's coaching staff was so poor it was suggested the two guards be sent home before the team departed for Athens.

And by the time the team landed in Greece, it was mostly a passive, disinterested group.

The U.S. team was second in scoring at 88.1 points per game, but ninth in points allowed at 83.5. The great U.S. athletes were 10th in field-goal defense, allowing 48.1 percent shooting, and 12th in three-point defense at 44.1 percent. Meanwhile, those same great talents were 10th in three-point shooting (31.4 percent) and seventh in overall shooting.

So when Krzyzewski was named coach, his priorities were defense, teamwork and chemistry. Krzyzewski was an assistant for the 1992 Dream Team, and he saw cooperation among some of the biggest stars in the game's history. They also played defense, even though the international teams were overmatched back then.

Initially, 20 players will participate this summer, with Kobe Bryant, Michael Redd, Chauncey Billups, Lamar Odom, Paul Pierce and perhaps Amare Stoudemire on the team but unable to participate because of injuries or personal reasons. Fifteen players will travel overseas after an exhibition Aug. 3 in Las Vegas, and a final group of 12 will play in the world championships.

All 20 will be back under consideration for the 2008 Olympic team in Beijing.

"This is USA basketball," Krzyzewski said in a conference call with reporters. "This is a team that has to share the ball and share responsibility. It's good to look at everyone as a role player. In 1992 they had Michael [Jordan] in his prime, but other great players played a role. They all played defense and were unselfish."

That's why a player like Hinrich was so important to the current team. He defends, he can make a three-pointer, he runs a team and he shares the ball. And, getting ready for international referees, he's accustomed to not getting foul calls.

It's one reason Colangelo went back to Hinrich after Hinrich initially declined to participate, though Hinrich is not yet guaranteed a place among the final 12 for this summer.

"I'm really looking forward to this," he said before leaving for Las Vegas without an entourage . . . without anyone or anything, really, but his bag of T-shirts.

"I'm trying to make more of a name for myself and earn more respect around the league and the country," Hinrich said. "This helps me and the Bulls organization. You'll have me and you'll have Noce (Andres Nocioni) playing for Argentina. It helps put the franchise on the map again, and getting a chance to represent your country is an honor, something you don't know if you'll ever have a chance to do. I'm excited to play with this group, to play for Coach K.

"Hopefully," he added with a laugh, "we can play Argentina and Noce and see why opponents hate him so much."

Argentina is the defending Olympic gold medalist and features a tough, unselfish team that's committed and unified.

"From 1992 until last July," Hinrich said, "everyone thought the U.S. was invincible. There will be pressure and it's a challenge, but I'm excited about getting a chance to help put U.S. basketball back on top."

He also could make a statement about the Bulls and where the franchise is going.
________________________________________________________________________________
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Gotta love how down to earth Hinrich is. The league needs more guys like him.

Wait a minute...is this his summer house? Because my cousin lives in deerfield (where the berto center is)and Kirk is his neighbor. Maybe he moved. But I am not sure. Interesting.

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...bulls-headlines



I hope Pax stays true to his word and extends his contract. And I love hearing that Hinrich wants to stay in Chicago for his entire career. I think he is getting nervous, but Pax has said he wants to keep the core together (Hinrich, Gordon, Deng, and Noch), but as we know, he is not done negotiating. Oh well, only time will tell. They should keep him locked in though because he seems so down to earth and has an amazing work ethic. He doesnt care about being an "NBA Diva" and just wants to come out and play...I think that is rare sort of player in today's game. Ultimatley, I think Pax and Skiles love Hinrich, so he wont have a problem. What does everyone think? Give him the extension or see how he does this year and then base it off that. I know there are some Hinrich lovers and haters on these boards.

Big Ben says the Bulls will contend

July 13, 2006 – The Bulls and Ben Wallace made it official on Thursday, introducing the four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year to Chicago after he signed a four-year deal with the team. Following the press conference, Bulls.com caught up with Wallace to discuss why he chose Chicago, how he’ll lead, and why he’s such a dominating defender.

Bulls.com: Shortly after agreeing to terms with the Bulls, you called this the “deal of a lifetime.” What was it about John Paxson and the Bulls’ pitch that made you decide to come to Chicago?

Ben Wallace: “It was the simple fact that they came to see me. They came to my house, met my family, and we all sat down. It made me feel comfortable with the situation, knowing that it was going to be tough to leave Detroit. They gave me some time to make my mind up instead of pushing me. They let me relax and think about it instead of pressing me for an answer. They offered me an opportunity to come to a new city and they acted genuine and sincere throughout the whole process.”

Bulls.com: It’s been a week since you made your decision. How’s it feel to have the contract signed and to officially be a member of the Bulls?

Wallace: “It’s a great opportunity and I’m glad for it. I’m definitely excited it’s over with; now I can go back and relax a little bit. I’ll let it all sink in that I’m a Bull now.”

Bulls.com: How does it feel to step in as the team’s biggest star? Is that a role you are ready to embrace?

Wallace: “I embrace every role and every situation that is about the game. I enjoy the fact that I’m here and that I have an opportunity to play this game. My main focus will be to go out there and do whatever I can do to help this team win. Everything else, it is what it is. You handle it when you get to it. As far as going out and being a star, I’ve never considered myself a star. I’m still Ben Wallace, I’m still the same guy, and I’m always going to be that guy. I’m not going to change for anybody.”

Bulls.com: Last season, the Pistons’ title hops fell short. Are you coming off the season with somewhat of a chip on your shoulder or something to prove?

Wallace: “As a basketball player, you always have that chip on your shoulder. I think that is what gives you that edge. Guys who don’t play with a chip on their shoulder are the guys who usually fall by the wayside. The ones who go out there every night, thinking that they have something to prove are the guys who are the most successful. I’ve definitely got a chip on my shoulder because of people saying my game fell off or how we couldn’t do this or couldn’t do that, especially when it’s about me personally and how I can’t do this or do that anymore. I look at it as a situation where I’ve always got a lot to prove.”

Bulls.com: What’s it going to be like for you the first time the Bulls take on the Pistons this season?

Wallace: “It’s just going to hype the rivalry a little bit. There’s always been a great rivalry, going back to the days of the Bad Boys and MJ, and now there’s been a little more fuel added to the fire. The rivalry might have been dying down a bit, but this will bring it back full throttle. I’ll enjoy going there and I’ll enjoy watching them come here to play. We’ll have a lot of fun with it.”


Bulls.com: How do you plan on leading a Bulls team with an abundance of young talent?

Wallace: “I’m not a big talker; you won’t see me get up in a guy’s face to try and get my point across. But I’ll go out there and do what I can do and play as hard as I can play. If that’s not enough to motivate a guy, then he’s on the wrong team. I’m going to go out and do what I’m capable of the floor and demand that everyone else out there plays just as hard, if not harder, than me.”

Bulls.com: In Scott Skiles, you’ll get an in-your-face, hard-nosed coach who expects nothing but your best effort all of the time. What are your impressions of him and what kind of relationship do you expect to have with him?

Wallace: “I like him and I like what he’s about. I think we share some of the same ideas about the game of basketball. He holds everybody on the floor accountable for their own actions and that’s something I can deal with. I think we need that as players. Sometimes, we think we’re better than what we are, but he’s a coach that will get in our faces and demand for us to work a little harder, even though we might think we’re already playing as hard as we can possibly play.”

Bulls.com: Do you see any similarities between the current Bulls roster and the teams you played with in Detroit that had all the success?

Wallace: “I don’t think this group here is that far away from being at a level like we played at in Detroit the last couple of years. The guys are scrappy on the defensive end, and they execute well on the offensive end. They never give up either—you know they’re going to go out there and fight for 48 minutes. That’s all you can ask.”

Bulls.com: You’re obviously known for your smothering defense. How did you become such a great defender over the years? Have you always had that mindset?

Wallace: “I’m the youngest of eight boys in my family. So if I wanted to play with my older brothers, I had to do something different. I had to be scrappy and I had to be able to get hit and knocked down, then get back up and stay in the game. Ever since then, that’s how I’ve approached the game.”

Bulls.com: You averaged a career-best 9.7 ppg during the 2004.05 season. Do you think you will become more of an offensive player in Chicago?

Wallace: “Like I try to tell a lot of people, being involved in the offense is not just about scoring. It’s about moving the ball, setting picks, and making sure everybody is where they need to be. It’s about recognizing match ups and trying to take advantage of them. I’m not looking to come in here and all of a sudden average 20 points. I just want to make my presence felt on both ends of the floor.”

Bulls.com: The bulk of the Bulls’ young core remains, and John Paxson has added some considerable new talent this offseason. What are your expectations for the future of the team?

Wallace: “My expectations are high. I’ve watched these guys play and I’ve seen some of things they’ve done. I’ve seen some things they do well and I’ve seen some things they don’t do so well. My focus is to help them out in those areas they need help in—rebounding and defense. I want to make everybody on this team a little better and let guys know that if they go out there and play as hard as they can possibly play on the defensive end, you’ll get your reward on the offensive end.”

Bulls.com: Some expects say that the Bulls will challenge for the Eastern Conference title next season. Do you feel that is realistic?

Wallace: “I definitely think we’re going to be a contender. I’d expect nothing less than us going out every night and playing hard for 48 minutes. If we’re capable of going out there and laying it on the line for 48 minutes, I like our chances of winning.”

Bulls.com: You’ll enter your 11th season of professional basketball this fall. At the age of 31, how much basketball do you feel you have left?

Wallace: “I think you’ve got to reach the top before you make it over the hill. So do people think I’ve reached the top? I can show you better than I can tell you. I’m not one to go out and tell everyone I’m a world beater or I’m this or I’m that. I’ll let my game speak for itself.”

— Adam Fluck | Bulls.com

I was torn between Pippen and Rodman but I voted for Rodman just because of the way he would play the game physically and mentally. That man could get inside anyone's head and it was great to watch. He was most entertaining.

Big Ben is officially ours tomorrow., watch it at 5:00 PM, if you are in Chicago you can watch it on Comcast Sports Net.

Yeah, Songaila was good. I hope he does come back. It sucked when he got injured last season, we could have used him in the playoffs.

It's about time Kirk got some love.

Here is the box score from yesterday....

http://www.nba.com/media/magic/BullsPacers71006.pdf

Update: Sorry I didnt see someone else posted it..oh well.