Fishing for Big Ben...

[Diesel]

In all the offseason talks that we have been having.. Nobody has mentioned us getting Big Ben Wallace? It's as if it's impossible.

Welp.. let's talk it up.

first.. a few quotes

Quote:

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Ben Wallace has not been Ben Wallace.

When Kris Humphries of Utah dunks in his face, posterizes him without much resistance, something is wrong. When the Pistons get outrebounded for eight straight games, including a 55-27 drubbing by the Jazz on Monday night, something is wrong.

When the Jazz get 16 layups and dunks, the night after the Clippers get 19 layups and dunks and score 58 points in the lane, something is wrong.

Not all of that is on him, of course, but when Ben Wallace isn't in the top three in the NBA in rebounds and blocks -- well, he's not being Ben Wallace.

"I don't know what's going on," a visibly frustrated Wallace said after getting six rebounds and four points (on three shots) in a 92-78 loss Monday. "I don't even know what my role is. I am just out there running around. … I am sick of this …"

Wallace wouldn't comment further. After the Pistons beat Golden State on Friday, though, he gave a hint as to his frustration.

"It's just about me playing basketball," he said. "I am just not happy with my game. I've got to be better. I've got to play better. I have to play harder. I have to bring something more than what I've been doing."

Wallace has been playing through pain. He has been getting daily treatment on his right foot, left ankle and left elbow, which he apparently hyperextended. But he refuses to use these difficulties as a crutch.

The Pistons also have been on an energy-sapping schedule grind. The five days off last week notwithstanding, they have played 12 of their 18 games on the road in the first 6 1/2 weeks.

"Ben is an energy guy," coach Flip Saunders said. "As many games as we've had, it feels like we've been on the road for three months. That sucks the energy out of you."

Wallace, who prides himself on being one of the best-conditioned athletes in the game, won't use that excuse, either. So, what is it?

It might have something to do with his role in the offense, which is shrinking. When asked whether he felt as if he wasn't involved enough offensively, he ended the interview.

"I don't have no more comment," he said.

Saunders acknowledged that might be part of the problem, part of the reason Wallace feels as if he's running around without much purpose on offense.

"What has happened is that some of our guys have gotten off to real good starts," Saunders said. "Rip (Hamilton), Tayshaun (Prince) and 'Sheed (Rasheed Wallace) have been so good, what's happened is, we haven't utilized Ben enough offensively. We've talked about this. We probably need to get him more touches and get him involved more in what we are doing at that end."

Wallace has averaged fewer than five shots the last seven games.

"We do have to play off him more," Saunders said. "But what has happened is, we have scored a lot off of our first options. We haven't had to turn it over and get to our second and third options, which would include him more."

Under coaches Rick Carlisle and Larry Brown, Wallace had very defined responsibilities on the offensive end. Carlisle basically told him to stay out of the way and try to get offensive rebounds. Brown ran basic post plays for him.

Saunders is asking Wallace and the rest of the team to read defenses and make decisions based on how they react.

"I always say the game is not played in black or white," Saunders said. "It's played in the gray area. I think it's been an adjustment for some of our guys. The two previous coaches had Ben stand on the hash and not do much of anything else. We are asking Ben to make reads and react, and maybe that's not as comfortable."

What Saunders hopes, and what he plans to talk to him about today, is that Wallace understands he has been a key facilitator for the success of the offense, despite not getting a lot of shots or points himself.

"In a way, he's like an offensive lineman in football," Saunders said. "You know, he's the guy setting the screens and getting people into open spots, but he's not getting any of the recognition or credit. His work goes largely unnoticed.

"I keep telling the guys to throw Ben a bone once in a while so he feels like he's a part of it."

The bottom line, as Saunders knows, is if Wallace isn't a part of things on the offensive end, his energy and effectiveness tend to wane on the defensive end. And if that happens, the Pistons are in trouble.

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Quote:

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AUBURN HILLS-- Pistons coach Flip Saunders has spoken with Ben Wallace. He has heard his complaints, and, guess what, he agrees with him.

"He's not saying he doesn't know what his role is," Saunders said before the Pistons played the Kings on Wednesday night. "Everybody in this league knows what Ben's role is. He was frustrated with the way we played (at Utah on Monday). We did not play (our game). We were unorganized. We played one-on-one basketball. We did not move the ball. That's not us.

"And any time you are 15-3 and one of your leaders is upset, that's a good sign. It means he's got more on his mind than just going through the season. He knows the importance of each game."

When asked if his meeting with Saunders helped, Wallace said, "We'll see." Apparently it did, because the Pistons were back to sharing the basketball and moving without it, as they had 32 assists on 44 baskets in their 109-98 rout of the Kings.

It was never about how many shots he got, Wallace said. He was just asking to be involved.

"When we start to stand around and stay on one side of the floor and we don't move the ball around, it definitely affects me it affects everybody's game," he said. "I know how I would like to defend a guy. I want a guy to just stand around, that way I know I have the upper hand. When we play like that, it doesn't benefit anybody. It doesn't complement our style.

"It's better for everybody when we play five-on-five and not four-on-five."

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I think winning heals all wounds.. But there's definitely an opening in Detroit if they ever start to lose. Flip hasn't been so successful in the playoffs...The Miami/Detroit playoff series looks to be a brawl...

I don't know what will happen, but I do know that if Detroit loses, maybe the Woody/Wallace relationship can reap us Big Ben!

[Diesel]

Would you do the SNT of:

Zaza/Smoove for Big Ben/Darko?

If Wallace wanted to be a Hawk and Joe proposed it?

[jezmund]

That is tough. I don't think I would b/c I think Josh Smith is a fan favorite and very cheap. If we REALLY want Big Ben we can throw some money at him this offseason. It is hard to gauge what he is worth.

[Diesel]

I hear what you're saying.. But I must add that Ben Wallace would probably be a bigger fan favorite than Smoove. Hell, they worship him in Detroit.

My concern would be Wallace's Age coupled with the fact that we just don't know what we'd be losing in Zaza..

However, somebody might say the same about Detroit and Darko..

[y2kenta]

HELLLL NOOOOO!!!

[y2kenta]

NO need to trade young guys that have great attributes and high potential for an aging beast and an unproven, untested stiff (who has bust written all over him), huh? I'm not saying Darko isn't worth a trade, because I think he needs to leave DET and get some PT before it's too far in his career to even produce at his highest potential. I'm also not saying that we can't use Big Ben, because he brings exactly what we need most; TOUGHNESS, HEART, and EXPERIENCE.

I'm simply saying we can't give up 2 key peices to what we've built so far.

[Yeti]

NO !!!

We need to keep Smoove, Marvin, and JJ for sure. After this last month I'd like to keep Al and Chill too. I'd miss that big smile of Al's.