Big Ben’s headband makes triumphant return

October 2nd, 2007 | Posted by PostmanR

Scott Skiles is a bit of a disciplinarian. He’s hard-nosed, man. Just when you thought the NBA was full of highly-payed lazy players who value the dunk over defense, along came Skiles to set your ass straight. The guy wouldn’t even let Ben Wallace wear his headband last year. It caused a bit of a ruckus. But no longer, friends.

“We still have a no-headband rule,” coach Scott Skiles said. “I just left it up to the guys who have been here if they wanted to make an exception for Ben. I was fine with it. They were fine with it.”

That a piece of fabric could elicit questions and expend brainpower felt odd on the eve of a season in which the Bulls are expected to challenge for the Eastern Conference title.

But the fact that, 11 months removed from Wallace’s insubordinate act of wearing a headband during a game, everybody encircled for a group hug underscored the harmony that defined the end of last season and should continue in the franchise’s 42nd season.

“I think it takes a coach who is willing to adapt a little bit and listen to his players, understanding the big picture is winning,” general manager John Paxson said. “Scott’s one of the best coaches in the league. There’s no doubt in my mind. And he’s able to adapt. It’s really a non-story. But the fact that Scott has looked outside maybe a personal belief, there’s nothing wrong with that.”

No word on whether or not Skiles is going to continue to let Joakim Noah wear socks with sandals, but I’d assume that has been outlawed as well. Remember kids: Scott Skiles is HARDCORE.

Let’s try this again

May 7th, 2007 | Posted by PostmanE

Round two. The second coming. New beginning. If you’re describing the Bulls’ attempt to rebound from their horrible game one loss to the Pistons Saturday, they all work (with apologies to Juelz Santana and Just Blaze).

OK, so the first game was awful. The Bulls were so roundly outplayed that I deleted my DVR’d recording of the game just so I didn’t have to see how things actually happened. Not even a theory about uneven rim tightness can explain the Bulls woes; from everything I’ve heard, the Pistons were just that good. (But that rim thing better not screw us over tonight.)

Even as bad as the first game went, even as it sent shudders down Bulls fans’ spines about how Chicago is headed for another early playoff exit, this series is far from over. Even after throwing up a total albatross, the Bulls have a chance, and thy name is home court advantage. As bleak as it looks, if they can steal one tonight, they’re WAY ahead in the series … and we can all forget Saturday even happened. I can dig that.

So here’s to reclaiming the form that took them over the Heat, with minor adjustments for dealing with a far superior team in the Pistons. Matchup problems be damned — the Bulls can still do this. Let’s try one more time, shall we?

UPDATE: Fuck.

Case of the Mondays : PostmanR’s cornucopia of feelings

December 18th, 2006 | Posted by PostmanR

The National Football League :

Wrap your head around that Chicago Bear near meltdown. It’s hard to conceive. But hey, look at Mr. Grossman there. He’s all smiles. Career highs abound for him on the day. Defense and special teams let the Bucs get back in that one.

Jeff Garcia deserves some praise.

Collegiate Basketball :

Greg Oden is a freak. His wizardry around the hoop is simply stunning and once at full strength, it will simply be unfair. Like if Michael Jackson did a dance off against some dude with glowsticks. Simply unfair. (Did that make sense?)

Kentucky topples Louisville and I begin to wonder if the Cardinals are going to be a contender at all this year.

National Basketball Association:

George Karl should not have had Marcus Camby and Carmelo Anthony in the game so late. HOWEVA, that really is no excuse for this whole mess.

Observe.

Agent Zero dropped sixty on the Lakers in Los Angeles yesterday. Surely, to the pleasure of this Internet site.

Bulls continue to impress. Ben Wallace had 27 boards on Friday. Saturday, the overtime comeback win was stellar.

Um, so this was a pretty hodgepodge post. I spent hour upon hour re-working/designing the site into the wee hours of the night last night, so bear with me on the brevity. I’ll be back later with an informative post about the new design as well as some other treats. And we all love treats, no?

How the East was won?

July 5th, 2006 | Posted by PostmanR

Big Ben Wallace moved his services from the Detroit Pistons to our Chicago Bulls on Monday. Happy, we were indeed.

Many have been quick to hail the Bulls as ‘instant contenders’ now that Wallace’s ‘fro will be patrolling the paint inside the United Center. On SportsCenter last night, Greg Anthony listed the Bulls as his No. 2 team in the East behind the Heat.

Maybe it’s my eternal pessimism for every team I root for (that’s actually exactly what it is), but I’m just not sold on Ben Wallace essentially making the Bulls THE team in the East. I know it’s a much weaker conference than the West. I know the Nets aren’t what they used to be and I know the Cavs would be nothing without LeBron. And I know the Bulls added a top-notch defender to an already above-average defense. But let’s not forgot that minus a torrid run at the end of the regular season last year, the Bulls wouldn’t have even made the playoffs.

Also, I think a lot of people are overlooking the fact that the Bulls still don’t have any real inside scoring presence. The dude (Wallace) only averaged 7.3 points a game last season. Tyrus Thomas, the supposed best athlete in the draft, only averaged 12 points a game in college last year. (Although, he’s not expected to start so that’s negligible.)

Now, the Bulls are still expected to make some moves to garner a big man who can score. (P.J. Brown’s name has been thrown into the mix in a trade to get rid of an underachieving Tyson Chandler. And if they some how grab KG from Minnesota, they’ll be the best team in the East.)

So yeah, right now on paper, the Bulls look pretty good. (Minus a big man who can score.) If they make a move and get a quality big man who can put the ball in the hole, I’ll start to change my tune and hop on the board.

But hey, I’m pessimistic by nature. Bulls, please prove me wrong.

(Update: The Bulls have dealt Tyson Chandler for P.J. Brown and J.R. Smith of the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets. This G.M. John Paxson, he’s good.)