Pippens thoughts

[bigeastbumrush]

Re: Pippens thoughts

And yet he SHUT DOWN Magic in the '91 finals. Nique was a highlight real dunker, Pippen was a much more complete player.

Actually, the Bulls outplayed the Lakers. This wasn't the sShowtime Lakers team. The Bulls were hungrier for it. Magic was going through some things back then. You don't know how it affected his body. You act like that was a 22 year old Magic Johnson out there. Please.

Pippen's garbage. Probably the best role player ever in the league. But you all are making him out to be some superstar or something. He's garbage.

[bigeastbumrush]

Re: Pippens thoughts

Its one thing to dislike Pippen, but to question his credentials as an elite player strains credibility. Nique>Pippen at Dunking Creativity and FT Shooting and thats it.

James Worthy is a God to me, but if I was honest I would put Pippen higher than him on any list of great players. In my opinion only Bird was a better SF.

Worthy>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Pippen's life

Worthy is one of the NBA's greatest playoff performer's EVER. No way that can be said for Pippen. Yes, he played well. But man is he overrated.

Bird was a PF. Not your typical PF, but a PF. I can't believe you mentioned Bird, Worthy and Pippen in the same breath.

[bigeastbumrush]

Re: Pippens thoughts

aren't you a knick fan?

It has little to do with the Knicks losing to the Bulls. We're talking about the best players to ever play the game and Scottie Pippen gets brought up? Nah man.

My comments stemmed from the Top 50 thing which I don't think Pippen nor Shaq (at the time) should have been a part of.

[Jistic]

Re: Pippens thoughts

Actually, the Bulls outplayed the Lakers. This wasn't the sShowtime Lakers team. The Bulls were hungrier for it. Magic was going through some things back then. You don't know how it affected his body. You act like that was a 22 year old Magic Johnson out there. Please.

Pippen's garbage. Probably the best role player ever in the league. But you all are making him out to be some superstar or something. He's garbage.

Yeah he was really struggling that year averaging 19 points and 13 assists a game. After losing game one with Michael guarding him Pippen took over the the Bulls never looked back. His on ball defense frustrated the hell outta Magic

Pippen was all defense first team 8 years in a row, NBA first team 3 times. Nique was an NBA first teamer ONCE. And defense? Please! He could dunk....and that's about it.

[guysmiley1463]

Re: Pippens thoughts

Worthy>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Pippen's life

Worthy is one of the NBA's greatest playoff performer's EVER. No way that can be said for Pippen. Yes, he played well. But man is he overrated.

Bird was a PF. Not your typical PF, but a PF. I can't believe you mentioned Bird, Worthy and Pippen in the same breath.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Bird

http://64.233.187.104/search?q=cache:I9v2yda1rVYJ:msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/3742360+larry+bird+small+forward&hl=en

Bird was a small forward...He was joined by Mchale and Parrish in the front court.

Pippen is not overrated...You are basing the completeness of a player based on highlight reels. No way does Dominique bring to the table what Pip brought every night.

[ehh]

Re: Pippens thoughts

I think it's very hard to compare Pippen and Nique. Nique was the franchise player and go-to guy for the Hawks for a long time.

On the other hand Pippen never had to worry about a team's best defender or being the main concern of the opposing teams' defensive strategy because they were far more concerned with stopping, well containing, the greatest player ever to step on a basketball court. And not to mention just MJ, but those Bulls teams were far superior to any team Nique ever played on.


I would have loved to see Pippen by the go-to guy on his team, because I don't think he could have carried that load.

Without question Nique was a better finisher (and overall scorer, IMO) and Pippen was a better defender, but besides that I think it's extremely hard to compare the rest of their games'.

[Rocky]

Re: Pippens thoughts

I'm sorry, but if you say Pippen was overrated or worse than Nique than I really dont think you know anything about basketball.

How many rings did MJ win without Pip?

Scottie Pippen was one of the most complete players in the history of the game. Point Foward, defensive stopper, complimentary scorer, and when need be go to guy.

How many rings did MJ win without Pip?

[ehh]

Re: Pippens thoughts

I'm sorry, but if you say Pippen was overrated or worse than Nique than I really dont think you know anything about basketball.

How many rings did MJ win without Pip?

Scottie Pippen was one of the most complete players in the history of the game. Point Foward, defensive stopper, complimentary scorer, and when need be go to guy.

How many rings did MJ win without Pip?

How many rings did Pippen win without Jordan? Once Pippen left Chicago things went downhill very fast for him. Even though his back was going, even when he was healthy he looked nowhere near the player he was in Chicago.

I firmly believe there was no way Pippen could have ever been the go-to guy on his team consistently. Sure he stepped it up every now and then when Jordan had an off night, but there is no way Pippen could have been that for a 12 year career.

Just look at the two years Jordan was retired. Pippen's numbers barely improved and the Bulls lost in the Eastern semi's both years.

Pippen was a great player, but he benefited tremendously from playing with Jordan.

[grunt]

Re: Pippens thoughts

How many rings did Pippen win without Jordan? Once Pippen left Chicago things went downhill very fast for him. Even though his back was going, even when he was healthy he looked nowhere near the player he was in Chicago.

I firmly believe there was no way Pippen could have ever been the go-to guy on his team consistently. Sure he stepped it up every now and then when Jordan had an off night, but there is no way Pippen could have been that for a 12 year career.

Just look at the two years Jordan was retired. Pippen's numbers barely improved and the Bulls lost in the Eastern semi's both years.

Pippen was a great player, but he benefited tremendously from playing with Jordan.

Look at Pippins number when Mike retire the first time. It not really a big drop off.

[poster]

Re: Pippens thoughts

Pippen had a killer year when Jordan retired the first time. He was probably the best all around player in the league at that time. And if it wasn't for that garbage call against Hubert Davis they would have played Houston for the title that year. Pippen was a great player and worthy of his Top 50 status.

[sirjam]

Re: Pippens thoughts

How many rings did Pippen win without Jordan? Once Pippen left Chicago things went downhill very fast for him. Even though his back was going, even when he was healthy he looked nowhere near the player he was in Chicago.

I firmly believe there was no way Pippen could have ever been the go-to guy on his team consistently. Sure he stepped it up every now and then when Jordan had an off night, but there is no way Pippen could have been that for a 12 year career.

Just look at the two years Jordan was retired. Pippen's numbers barely improved and the Bulls lost in the Eastern semi's both years.

Pippen was a great player, but he benefited tremendously from playing with Jordan.

Pippen carried that team to the semis which they may have won, if it wasn't for a bad call. To say that Pippen is overrated is rediculous. Who do you think carried the team during those stretches that Mike would rest on the bench. Also he was a shutdown defender as well. If anything he was underrated, IMO.

[Rocky]

Re: Pippens thoughts

Pippen had a killer year when Jordan retired the first time. He was probably the best all around player in the league at that time. And if it wasn't for that garbage call against Hubert Davis they would have played Houston for the title that year. Pippen was a great player and worthy of his Top 50 status.

Exactly. Pippen was one of the greatest all around players of all time. He could score alot if he wanted, but that wasn't his game.

[sirjam]

Re: Pippens thoughts

Found this on another site. Not sure of the source.

Really interesting to read...he's not afraid to speak his mind.


Whom he would pay to watch: Kobe [Bryant]. San Antonio as a team. They play team basketball and beat you with consistency. Cuttino Mobley. A hard worker who wants to win. Dwyane Wade. He brings a lot to the game. I like guys who play hard and not just on one end. [Tracy] McGrady just scores; same with Ray Allen and Steve Francis. I can watch [Allen] Iverson. I'm not as big a fan. You get tired of seeing one guy shoot the ball all the time. I'd rather watch Steve Nash, even though sometimes he dribbles too much. [Dirk] Nowitzki, I don't like his game. If I could still play, I'd guard him every time. He plays one end of the court. You have to hide him on defense. When McGrady guarded him, he was done. I like [Ron] Artest, though I'm not sure he can keep it up, very exciting, fundamentally sound. He just doesn't bring it from a mental standpoint. Carmelo Anthony? The NBA kills some of these guys. Here's a guy who wants a maximum contract. What have the Denver Nuggets ever done? Have they won a division? Where are they this year?"

Michael Jordan: "He made basketball fun, even more than anyone can imagine it being. We were two guys competing against one another every day. You knew every day you went to practice it wasn't going to be boring."

Being the sidekick: "You always have to understand the pecking order. I knew I wasn't going to be bigger than Michael. I had to find my niche and I accepted that."

Shaquille O'Neal: "I can respect Shaq. Everyone gets old in the game. He's on the downside. I went through that. I still like watching him play. He's an X-factor whenever he's on the court."

Charles Barkley: "Probably one my greatest competitors. He's one guy who really helped me take my game to another level, understanding how to rebound the ball and power it out into a fast break. He'd hit you a cheap shot here and there, but at the end of the day you had a lot of respect for him."

Who's like him: "From an individual standpoint, Tayshaun Prince."

His career highlight, the Dream Team: "As a kid growing up, it was always a dream to be a part of the Olympics. And then to play with Magic [Johnson], it was the biggest highlight. I wasn't the type of guy to pull out a camera and take pictures, but I wanted to."

Kevin Garnett: "He really set the tone for self-destruction. He's very productive but unproductive. He gets you all the stats you want, but at the end of the day his points don't have an impact on [winning] the game. He plays with a lot of energy and a lot of enthusiasm, but in the last five minutes of the game he ain't the same player as in the first five."

Houston: "In all fairness, I don't even want to be remembered for playing there. It was a bad situation for me. I didn't realize what I was stepping into. I thought Dream [Hakeem Olajuwon] was better than he was. I didn't realize he was dead. I'd just come off my second back surgery. My game was limited, but no one knew it. I had a dead foot. It's still dead today. When I went to camp we were thinking the nerve would regenerate. Playing in Houston was such a step back from what I was accustomed to, the way things were run, how disorganized practice was, guys late all the time. It's the little things that destroy a team. Things were too casual for me. I needed to get to L.A. and Phil [Jackson]."

Portland: "It was cool, but [GM Bob] Whitsitt destroyed the team. We got to the [conference] finals and he brings in Shawn Kemp. He trades Jermaine O'Neal. The sad part is we weren't even together a year and he destroys the team. Then he got all the crazier players, athletes but dumb players. I'd have Rasheed [Wallace] on my team anytime. He's a smart player."

Today's players: "Look at the travel. They have all these CDs. They're gone one day and they have a library of music. They're not thinking about basketball. We'd get on the plane and Phil would pop in a tape and we'd watch the game. See a shot or a move. Then we'd get up the next day and have a film session."

Favorite moment: "Guarding Magic in the '91 [Finals]. That was huge for me. I always wanted to guard Magic. I always felt I could defend him. Even though I idolized him, it came to a point where I wanted to put myself ahead of someone like that. I asked to guard him from the beginning. After Michael got in foul trouble, I got him."

Is this from Quite Frankly interview? Man I missed that one. Does anyone know where I could find a clip from that show?

[Jistic]

Re: Pippens thoughts

Pippen had a killer year when Jordan retired the first time. He was probably the best all around player in the league at that time. And if it wasn't for that garbage call against Hubert Davis they would have played Houston for the title that year. Pippen was a great player and worthy of his Top 50 status.

Exactly.

Pippens best two years, numbers wise were when Michael was "playing" baseball. Career highs in scoring, steals, rebounds. He was a MONSTER that year averaging almost 3 steals a game.

That '94 team was one of my favorites, even though I missed MJ. That team played their hearts out. Pippen was the focus of the oppsing teams defense every night. He locked down the other teams top scorer, and rebounded as well. You could really see him grow as a player not in MJ's shadow.

People that didn't watch him night in and night out, especially in the MJ-less years probably won't appreciate how good he really was.

[HMcCoy]

Re: Pippens thoughts

How many rings did Pippen win without Jordan? Once Pippen left Chicago things went downhill very fast for him. Even though his back was going, even when he was healthy he looked nowhere near the player he was in Chicago.

I firmly believe there was no way Pippen could have ever been the go-to guy on his team consistently. Sure he stepped it up every now and then when Jordan had an off night, but there is no way Pippen could have been that for a 12 year career.

Just look at the two years Jordan was retired. Pippen's numbers barely improved and the Bulls lost in the Eastern semi's both years.

Pippen was a great player, but he benefited tremendously from playing with Jordan.

I used to say the same thing. There was a Pippen thread about a year ago, and like m'man BEB, I was firmly in the "Pip is overated camp"....Until I actually looked at the numbers. I was trying to make a case against Scottie, but I was surprised to see that he increased his season stats across the board, scoring, rebs, assists...everything. He even upped his steals to a ridiculous 3.5 per. Not to mention that he maintained the Bulls respectability and carried tham to the post season both years.

Pip was 33 years old and coming off surgery when he left the Bulls, so I don't think you can fairly compare Pip with and without MJ based on the fact that he was clearly on the downside of his career.

Pip was a 50 greatest...I think he would have put up just about the same career without MJ, minus the rings.

edit...Damn you Jistic, beat me to it. Great post.