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.)