Lindsey Hunter in a Chicago Bulls jersey?  Does that look weird considering most of us thought that Lindsey would finish up his career here?  Or with all that gone on recently in Pistons Nation is it just what ever?

Hunter’s played 3 games since signing with the Bulls.  He’s averaging 9 minutes a game and not much in the stat category but stats aren’t really why the Bulls brought Hunter aboard.

Lindsey is wear jersey #11.  I wonder if it has anything to do with Zeke because I seem to remember when Lindsey was coming into the league he listed Isiah Thomas as his idol and he wore #11 at Jackson State University in honor of him.

Photo: getty

Well here’s your “what’s up with Lindsey Hunter” update:

Lindsey Hunter, a 15-year veteran, signed a contract with the Chicago Bulls on Thursday.

Contract terms were not disclosed by the team, but a source told ESPN.com that Hunter agreed to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract. His salary will be a pro-rated share of the veteran’s minimum of about $1.3 million for players with at least 10 years’ experience.

Hunter is expected to be in uniform Thursday night when the Bulls play host to the Dallas Mavericks. -espn

The Bulls needed a guard with both Kirk Hinrich and Larry Hughes being out with injuries.  How’s the real estate market in Illinois?

• Detroit Free Press: Bulls ready to sign ex-Piston Lindsey Hunter
• Detroit News: Lindsey Hunter has signed a pro-rated, one-year contract with the guard-strapped

One of the adverse effects of being a successful organization is that other teams cherry pick from your coaching staff and front office personnel. Add assistant coach Michael Curry to the list. Curry is a top candidate to fill the Chicago Bulls head coaching vacancy, although the Pistons are indicating that they’re keeping Curry in the stable for the time being. Hope all perspective future employers can be kept at bay until the end of our playoff run.

Hooper, take note!

bostonherald.com: (via: TrueHoop) Last night, in the process of the Celtics completing a series sweep of the Chicago Bulls for the first time since 1986-87, Kevin Garnett and James Posey engaged in some late-game trash talking with Benny the Bull.

“Bulls can talk,” said Garnett, who initially was upset after he and Posey were hit in the back by clothing fired from a T-shirt launcher during a timeout in the closing minutes of the C’s 106-92 victory. “Walking off the floor we got hit by some shirts.”

Garnett initially had to be restrained by a member of the officiating crew as Benny stood a safe distance away.

“I turned around, saw the guy in the bull hat, and we had some words,” Garnett said.

Posey, not a favorite in Chicago dating back to when he was a member of the Miami Heat, cringed in mock fear.

“I don’t know - I feel threatened,” Posey said. “I don’t feel safe. They really have tough love here, but it was definitely an inside job. They made the mascot do it. I got hit in the back walking away. That spot on my back is sore. I might have to get treatment on it.”

How funny is it that tough guy Kevin Garnett had to be retrained from going after Benny while Posey laughs it off? Let me know if anyone comes across video of this.

[Box score] So it seems the secret to the Pistons getting the dub over the Bulls is to hit the glass. After being badly out-rebounded in the first three meetings the Pistons got to work on the boards using a 42-28 rebounding advantage to hold Chicago off last night.

Watching this game it seemed to me that the Pistons were winning handily until I’d check the score and the Bulls kept hanging around until the closing minutes when the Pistons were able to make the key plays to secure the victory over the Bulls, in turn leaving the ‘Stonz owning a win over every Eastern Conference team.

Despite the high score this game seemed like one of those Detroit/Chicago Central Division grind-it-out type of games. That was probably due to the fact that there were a total of 49 personal fouls called resulting in 69 combined free throw attempts.

Chauncey led all scoring with a season high tying 34 points (4 asts). Twenty of Chauncey’s points were scored by halftime as CB was abusing Ben Gordon. It’s a good thing he did because Gordon had the touch last night. Ben Gordon scored a very efficient 27 points going 10/12 from the floor (3/4 3pt) and 4/4 from the free throw line. Gordon was limited to 29 minutes because of foul trouble and eventually fouled out of the game. If you think about it Ben Gordon is the opposite of Ben Wallace. Gordon can light up a scoreboard but he’s a defensive liability and that’s why he doesn’t start for Chicago because he can’t handle other team’s starting guards.

Tayshaun followed up his 28 performance vs. New York with a 21 point (6 reb, 6 ast) game against Chicago. Prince gave the Palace crowd a scare in the 3rd quarter when he went down clutching his elbow, an injury that turned out to be a funny bone stinger that left Tay’s arm numb. The ironic thing is he played his best basketball of the game after that happened.

“I couldn’t feel my hand, and I knew that wasn’t good,” said Prince, who was injured on a third-quarter foul by Larry Hughes. “I thought I was going to have to shoot my free throws one-handed, but I got enough feeling back to make the shots, and then I hit a 3, so I figured I would keep going. (ESPN)”

Theo Ratliff is proving to be a sweet pick up. Again filling in for Rasheed, Theo scored 10 (4/6 FG), blocked 3, and grabbed 8 boards. I’m a sucker for a sweet jump-hook and the Rattler has a sweet one. He’s not really here for his offense, but he’s good for a few buckets if we need it.

NOTES:

The Pistons connected on 87.9% of their freebies, 50.6% from the field and 41.7% from three-point land…Chirs Duhon was benched for sleeping through the team shoot around…This win clinched a playoff birth for the Pistons…Joakim Noah thinks the 25-38 Bulls are a better team than Detroit: “There’s no reason why we shouldn’t have beat that team, I think Detroit is a great team, but I still feel like we’re better than them, really.“…Pistons’ greats John “Spider” Salley and James “Buddah” Edwards (also former Bulls) were in attendance at the Palace for the taping of a 50 seasons special…

Allen Einstein / Getty

The Pistons (45-17) will be hosting the Chicago Bulls (25-37) Tip off is 8:00 pm est from the the Palace of Auburn Hills and will be televised locally on FSN Detroit

Bulls’ Snapshot
Road record: 11-22
Last game: 3/07 (Fri) L 93-116 @ Celtics
Last 10: 4-6
Last meeting: Jan 19th - Pistons (81) @ Bulls (97)

Needless to say it’s been a disappointing year for the Bulls’ faithful, but they have been able to beat the Pistons, owners of the leagues 2nd best record, every time out.

Let’s hope a change of personnel in Chicago can help the Pistons overcome the Bulls mastery of the ‘Stonz. The Pistons are 0-3 this season against Chicago and will be trying to keep the Bulls from sweeping the season series for the first time since 1995-96, the season in which the Bulls set a regular season record with 72 wins.

The Bulls are 4-5 since trading away Ben Wallace and are currently out of the playoff picture in the East. One of those four wins was a 107-96 win over the Cavs in Chicago, a game in which Joakim Noah had a 20 rebound outting, something Ben Wallace never did as a Bull.

The Pistons are a 9 point favorite tonight.

ALSO:

A. Sherrod Blakely updates Sheed’s ankle and isn’t optimistic about seeing him in action tonight:

I just left the Pistons’ morning shoot-around, and it looks like a decision on whether Rasheed Wallace’s will play won’t be made until shortly before tip-off.

However, I’d be very surprised if we saw him on the floor tonight against the Bulls.

With no games on Monday and Tuesday, I suspect Detroit will try to use as much time as possibe in an effort to ensure his sprained left ankle has had enough healing time. I suspect he’ll be back for Wednesday’s game against Philadelphia or Friday’s against San Antonio.

So, we didn’t quite make the splash Cleveland did (see below) but here’s what we did do. The Pistons sent Priomz Brezec along with cash considerations to the Raptors in exchange for Juan Dixon (6′3″, 165 lbs.). I didn’t quite get why the Pistons would pick up another guard and trade away our only true center. Then it was cleared up a little for me after reading this on Pistons.com:

The Pistons have the option of cutting one of their spare guards and adding a big man currently a free agent. The likeliest scenario? Flip Murray, who hasn’t played in two months, could be bought out of his contract at little cost – it’s due to expire at the end of this season – and Dale Davis, who played for the Pistons last year and is free to sign with any team, could be signed as veteran big man insurance.

My wish for the Pistons was to pick up a large foul eating big man. Not so much for the East, but whom ever we might meet out of the West in the Finals. While I love Double D, I wonder what he’s got left in the tank? He hasn’t played since last season and even then it looked like he really labored up and down the court.

Juan can be a nice guy coming off the bench especially in favor of Flip Murray who is just too free lancing for our team. Dixon has not come close to the collegiate success he enjoyed leading Maryland to the 2002 NCAA Championship and being named the Final Four’s MOP. This season he’s averaging 4.3 ppg, 1.8 apg in 12 minutes per, with career averages of 9 ppg and 1.7 apg. The Pistons are the 4th team for Dixon since being drafted 17th overall in 2002 by the Washington Wizards, yes, ANOTHER Wizard’s retread. Juan, like Brezec, is in the last year of his contract. If we end up re-signing Dixon, Joe D. must go after Desmond Mason, the marketing possiblities would be through the roof!

Ben went where??

The Cavs were involved in a 3-team, 11 player deal that netted them former face of the franchise Ben Wallace. They also got Wally Sczcberbiak, Delonte West and Joe Smith. They sent Larry Hughes, Drew Gooden, Cedric Simmons, and Shannon Brwon to Chicago. And, Ira Newble and Donyell Marshall to Seattle.

Dan Gilbert’s Piston’s envy knows no bounds.

LBJ wanted some turnover and he got it.

When I first heard about the deal I just heard Ben Wallace & Drew Gooden and I was happy because it was another chance to get back at Ben for bolting, and the Cavs, already hurting for someone not named James to score a bucket, just down graded. But, then there’s Delonte West..solid, Wally Longlastname…solid, Joe Smith…savvy thorn in the Pistons’ side solid. All the sudden the Cavs have nice complimentary pieces to take some scoring pressure off Elvis.

Who would have thought the Bulls could move Ben’s contract? Maybe the same people who thought the Cavs could move Hughes’ big bank.

The rivalry just got a little more raw. You think Chi figured if they couldn’t overthrow us they’d help Cleveland do it? I’m not looking forward to seeing Ben in that nasty Cavs jersey. While I’ll miss hating that big gumpy mouth breather Drew Gooden, I think Delonte West is plenty ugly enough to get under my skin.

Buckle up Pistons Nation.

….Oh, also, former Piston pit bull Mike James was traded from Houston to New Orleans.

While reading one of Chicago’s columnist, Sam Smith’s, latest articles on the Bulls woes something jumped off the screen at me, check it out.

On what the Bulls next move after failing to acquire Pau Gasol:

So what to do now? Still try a major move? After all, it looks like only Boston is a major issue in the East, with the Bulls already 3-0 against Detroit.

Ehhh what?? So what if the Bulls are up 3-0 on us, they took 3/4 last season and what did do for them come the second round of the playoffs? And, since Mr. Smith wants to put such a heavy emphasis on the regular season take a look at the standings, the Bulls are currently in 9th place in the East and last time I checked come playoff time the NBA doesn’t have a wild card game.

The Pistons are still the “major issue” in the East come the post-season.

[Box score] Let’s be thankful the Bulls and Pistons don’t play more often. Even with a season that to this point has been a major let down the Bulls still find it within themselves to push around the predominant Pistons for the third straight time this season and the sixth time in the last seven regular season meetings. For whatever reason they really put it together when it’s time to play the Pistons.

The game was pretty close throughout but the Bulls came through for the home crowd in the clutch (even though the “home crowd” seemed to to have a lot of red, white, and Piston’s blue injections). The Bulls outscored the Pistons 26-14 in the fourth while holding the Pistons to 27% shooting for the quarter. This is the second straight game the Pistons have been outplayed in the money quarter by supposedly inferior teams.

Chauncey Billups (27 pts, 5 ast) again kept the Pistons within striking distance. Chauncey had another big 15 point 3rd, but he didn’t get enough help from the other guys in blue. The Pistons struggled from the free throw line going 19/29 and were out rebounded 32-41. Dice did his thing on the glass with his 12 boards but wasn’t able to get it going on the other end only scoring 4 points. Detroit had trouble moving the ball with is evident by the uncharacteristically low 13 team assists. They again found themselves settling for long jumpers, taking 18 three-pointers, converting on 6 of them. Even when the Pistons did attempt to go inside credit the Bulls for playing tough interior defense. They also committed 14 turnovers with Rip again being the main culprit with 4.

Another disturbing trend that seemed to carry over from Friday night was Rasheed Wallace fading into the background. Wallace scored 4 points on 2/8 shooting (0/3 3ptrs). Sheed was clearly outplayed by Chicago’s Andres Nocioni (21 pts, 6 rbs) who was playing in place of the injured Luol Deng. There was a noticeable lack of fire in Wallace while Nocioni was deliberately challenging Rasheed’s defense. Rasheed finished with as many fouls as he had points.

One bright spot is that Jarvis Hayes seemed to get some of his touch back. Jarvis led the bench scoring with 12 points on 5/8 shooting in 18 minutes. Now if we can just get Maxiell and Stuckey to pick it up and reunite the “Zoo Crew”.

The Pistons (29-11) will in Chicago to take on the Bulls (15-23) at the United Center. Tip off is 8:30 pm est and can be viewed locally on TV20.

Bulls’ Snapshot
Home record: 7-11
Last game: 1/18 (Fri) L 119-111 Vs. Golden State
Last 10: 4-6
Last meeting: Dec 7th Bulls (98) @ Pistons (91)

If it weren’t for the New York Knicks the Bulls would hold the league’s biggest trainwreck title this season. After a heavy dose of success last season the Bulls were among the preseason favorites to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals. All those good young players a year better, but it hasn’t worked out that way. What happened with Tyrus Thomas?

Coach Killer, Ben Wallace, was said to be instrumental in marking out Scott Skiles as head coach (on Christmas eve no less). Now there’s a story on the 60 million dollar man and his big hair protege, Joakim Noah, getting into it in the Bulls locker room adding to the team discord. You think they’d like a mulligan on that signing?

Despite their many contretemps they have handled us twice this season. The Pistons need to man-up to keep from losing back-to-back games to 15 win teams, and we don’t want the Bulls becoming our 2005-06 Utah Jazz.
LET’S GO PISTONS!

Via ESPN:

Bulls coach Scott Skiles has lost his job as a result of his team’s slow start. The Bulls have lost three of their last four games and were booed throughout Saturday’s home loss to the Rockets. Despite high expectations, the Bulls (9-16) have the third worst record in the Eastern Conference.

“This was a difficult decision to make, but one that was necessary at this time,” general manager John Paxson said in a statement Monday. “Scott helped us in many ways during his time with the Bulls; most importantly, he helped this franchise get back to respectability. I am appreciative of his hard work and the imprint that he left on our team.”

The Bulls didn’t immediately announce a replacement for Skiles, who went 165-172 after replacing Bill Cartwright in November 2003.

Ben Wallace said Saturday he would welcome personnel changes if it would help the club.

“That’s one of those things that goes along with this league,” said Wallace. “Change is not always bad. If everybody wants to be here we have to step it up and go out there and play basketball.”

Meanwhile the paychecks will keep coming for Ben. Ben Wallets has a certain way of brooming coaches doesn’t he? What poor timing. In my estimation the Bulls did Skiles a favor. He’s a defensive minded coach and he’ll be back, the Bulls on the other hand might have more sucking to do before they straighten that mess out.

[box score] For the second time the Pistons come into a matchup with the Bulls on a win streak and playing well and again Chicago put an end to the good feelings. When it comes to the Pistons playing the Bulls the records have to go out the window. These were familiar foes who were looking for something positive to draw from an otherwise disappointing start to the season.

From the outset the Bulls were out hustling the Pistons crashing the offensive boards. The Bulls ended up with 20 second chance points on the night. They also killed us overall on the glass 51-39.

It seemed since the Pistons had been winning in such a glamorous fashion they forgot what it takes to win a good ‘ol “grind it out” style of game. The offense also looked stagnant for most of the game.

Ben Wallace got a big shot in the arm to what’s been a very disappointing season so far for him and Bulls’ fans. Ben gained only his second double-double of the season with 10 points and 13 rebounds (7 offensive), he also blocked 4 shots. Get this though, he went 8 out of 9 from the free throw line? This after only making 10 of the 30 free throws he attempted for the entire season! Heck, Skiles was feeling so good about Ben’s night he had him out there in the 4th quarter. It’s also pretty ironic that this throwback Ben Wallace performance came against the Pistons on a Hardwood Classic night.

GAME NOTES:

• Can I get a hell yeah? Not for the game, but for Stone Cold Steve Austin being in attendance!
• The 5 game winning streak that was the longest winning streak in the NBA
• The Bulls came into the game 5-11
• Poopy shooting night for the home team. 39.5% from the field.
• Tay & Dice combined for 8 points on on 4/19 shooting
• Jarvis & Nazr combined for 0 pts & 5 boards in 18+ minutes
• Chauncey: 27 pts, 7 asts
• Rip: 24 pts
• Afflalo had one less rebound (3) than Jason Maxiell (4) in 13 less minutes
• The bench was outscored 45-14
• Skiles played only 8 Bulls, 6 of which scored in double figures
• Why is Joe Smith a Pistons killer? 14 boards (8 off)?

QUOTES:

Dice sums it up:

“Definitely disappointing,” said Antonio McDyess. “They might’ve been struggling, but for some reason, they are always up to play us and we didn’t respond like we should. We were just out there going through the motions. We didn’t have our normal energy.”

MORE RECAPS:

• Detroit News: Tougher Bulls charge past Pistons
• Chicago Sun-Times: Spark plug tops Pistons
  

[box score] Rasheed turned in his best scoring output as a Pistons (36), but he didn’t get enough support from the other boys in blue.

It was a close game, but the Pistons really couldn’t sustain any runs. Chicago also had more of a total team effort helping them get off the winless snide.

As brilliant as Rasheed was going work down low and hitting long range bombs, Tayshaun and Antonio McDyess were as equally unimpressive combining 12 points off of 7 shot attempts.

One thing that stood out was the Pistons inability to keep Chicago out of the paint, with a special nod going to Tyrus Thomas. It seemed that every defensive board in the first quarter was in jeopardy of going to Chicago Bulls that weren’t boxed out. The Pistons were outscored in the paint 26-42 and we lost the board war 36-47. The Bulls had 15 offensive rebounds to our 7.

The other bullet point is the lack of bench production. Our bench was outscored by Chicago’s 13-31 & was out-boarded 6-17.

This game also seen Flip Saunders revert back to heavy starter minute ways. No starter played under 35 minuted only Jarvis Hayes was the only bench player that got over 12 minutes, he played 20.

GAME NOTES:

• Rasheed had 9 rebounds to go along with his 36 points. You know that’s gotta put on smile on N4S’ face.
• Tayshuan Prince wowed the United Center crowd with his “Great Taydini” disappering act
• Rip picked up a tech for tripping Tyrus Thomas, but why was no foul called on Thomas for landing on top of Rip after blocking his shot?
• Classy Chicago fans with the “Detroit Sucks” chant
• They sure are paying Ben Wallce a lot not to play him
• The Bulls got 19 points off 17 Detorit turnovers
• The Pistons and Bulls were only seperated by roughly 1 FG% point(44.4%-45.9%), but Chicago shot 13 more times
• Kirk Hinrich had 14 assists
• When was the last time Joe Smith was relevent?
• MORE MAXIELL! I think he could have been a real spark plug had he gotten more minutes and gotten in the game earlier


GAME QUOTES:

Rasheed on his performance:

“It ended with an ‘L’,” Wallace said. “I could have scored a billion points but if we still lose, it doesn’t matter. I go by old-school values. We lost, so this don’t mean nothing.”

Scott Skiles on Rasheed:

“Scary is a good word to describe him,” Chicago coach Scott Skiles said. “He’s one of those guys who has an unblockable shot. You can’t get to it. I don’t care who you are, you just can’t get to it. You can just challenge it. And if it’s going in, it’s going in.”


MORE RECAPS:

• Detroit News: ‘Sheed can’t keep Pistons unbeaten
• Chicago Tribune: Squeezing out 1st win

(3-0) (0-4)

The undefeated Pistons are taking on the winless Bulls at Chicago’s United Center. This nationally televised game starts at 8pm eastern time on TNT.

- The Pistons are coming off a 91-92 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday at the Palace
- The Bulls are coming off a 97-91 loss to the L.A. Clippers at home on Nov 6th

Via ESPN:

One major concern for Chicago has been the play of center Ben Wallace. The 12th-year pro, who has averaged 10.7 rebounds during his career, has only grabbed 4.3 boards per game this season. And though he’s never been much of an offensive threat, his 3.8-point average is his lowest in 10 seasons.

** TALK ABOUT TONIGHT’S GAME IN THE PN FORUM!