The truths and myths to Scottie Pippen

[RogueBorg]

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/...scottie-pippen

The Truths and Myths to Scottie Pippen

Truth: Scottie Pippen was the best wing defender of his era

Truth: Pippen was a product of Jordan, Phil Jackson, and Chicago

Myth: Pippen deserved to be on the 1992 dream team
By the time the Dream Team was announced, Scottie Pippen had played in one all star caliber season, which was the 91-92 season in which he averaged 21-7-7. Pippen was growing as a player and entering his prime.

On the other hand, Isiah Thomas was just coming off leading the Detroit Pistons to back-to-back titles, Thomas was considered the best point guard in the NBA, and was adding to his Hall of Fame resume.

Isiah Thomas deserved to be on the team, and no explanation other than conspiracy, and retaliation for Isiah Thomas being part of the “Freezing out” Jordan in the 1985 All-Star game.

Supposedly, Jordan said he wouldn’t play if Zeke was named to the Dream Team, and Pippen labeled Isiah a cheap shot artist. Bottom line: Isiah deserved it more than Pippen.

Dominique Williams deserved it more than Pippen too; at the time Wilkins was a more established player, and a much better scorer than Pippen would ever be.

Pippen did not belong on the 1992 Dream Team; there were a few others who deserved it more.

Myth: Pippen was a clutch player

Pippen was a top 50 player of all time

Myth: Pippen was one of the greatest players of his era

The Bottom line
Scottie Pippen was a great player, he had a great career, but the bottom line is Scottie Pippen wouldn’t be celebrated the way he is today had he not played with Michael Jordan.

Pippen came to the league in a perfect situation, had he been asked to carry a team on his back his whole career, Pippen would be ring-less.

We saw it when Jordan left basketball, Pippen was asked to carry the team, and he knew he couldn’t do it.

I’m not saying Pippen isn’t a Hall of Famer, but he wasn’t a top 50 player, he wasn’t one of the greatest of his era, he wasn’t a clutch player, he was a product of the great Michael Jordan.

Pippen was the ultimate sidekick to the greatest of all time, in what was the greatest one-two punch of all time, and there’s no shame in that.

[expansionera]

Scottie Pippen was a great player, he had a great career, but the bottom line is Scottie Pippen wouldn’t be celebrated the way he is today had he not played with Michael Jordan.

Funny given Jordan never won a playoff game without Scottie, Scottie won 50 games and advanced in the playoffs without Fraudan. Were BJ Armstrong and Horace Grant a product of Scottie?

[Johnny32]

the product of jordan led the bulls to two less wins the season after jordan quit because he was too mentally and physically exhausted to complete. he was 1st team all nba, 1st team all defense, 3rd in mvp voting, and allowed horace grant to flourish and become an all star. only the worst call in nba playoff history stopped his team from probably going back to the finals. my guess is the lg wanted ny in the finals and protect precious jordan's legacy in the process.

[SouBeachTalents]

How do you guys seriously not get tired of talking about Scottie Pippen all the time. He’s legit the most tired discussion on the forum lately.

[theman93]

Funny given Jordan never won a playoff game without Scottie, Scottie won 50 games and advanced in the playoffs without Fraudan. Were BJ Armstrong and Horace Grant a product of Scottie?

He won those games and advanced in the playoffs with a developed championship roster and seasoned HC. The Bulls 1985-87 weren't that, so making that comparison is laughable.

And no they were a product of being forced to try and fill MJ's void - hence the higher USG% and increased FGA's.

Btw, great thread OP

[WhiteKyrie]

I think Scottie is the best team defender and rotation guy I have ever seen. But he wasn’t the man defender Mike, GP, Kobe, Leonard were.

[3ba11]

.
DPOY VOTING

1988.... MJ (1st).... Pip (none)
1989.... MJ (5th).... Pip (none)
1990.... MJ (5th).... Pip (none)
1991.... MJ (7th).... Pip (7th)
1992.... MJ (3rd).... Pip (3rd)
1993.... MJ (2nd)... Pip (none)
1996.... MJ (5th).... Pip (2nd)
1997.... MJ (5th).... Pip (4th)
1998.... MJ (4th).... Pip (9th)


Jordan was clearly viewed as the Bulls' best defender, and even the LEAGUE'S:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GilQsS3oifM&t=02m47s



Here's the exchange in the 91' Finals between Marv Albert and Mike Fratello when MJ gets his 2nd foul in Game 2:

ALBERT: Do you stay with Jordan on Johnson?

FRATELLO: There's no question that he's the best guy to play Magic Johnson, but maybe you pick and choose when you put him on Magic..."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o8l6oM6Jeg&t=12m23s

^^^ this sentiment was echoed by the NBA in the Bulls' Championship Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeAUz2dZ_NQ&t=35m03s

[AirBonner]

Outscoring every 2nd option at the time while playing dpoy level defense is about as good as you can get for a true 2nd option. That’s the fact pal

[3ba11]

Outscoring every 2nd option

Everyone ragdolled and outscored Pippen:

1990 ECF - Dumars

1992 ECSF - X-man

1993 1st Round - Kevin Willis (while Dominique literally doubled Pippen's scoring)

1994 ECSF - Ewing

1995 1st Round - Larry Johnson

1996 ECF - Penny

1996 Finals - Schrempf & Payton

1997 1st Round - Juwan Howard

1998 ECF - Smits

[AirBonner]

Everyone ragdolled and outscored Pippen:


1990 ECF - Dumars

1992 ECSF - X-man

1993 1st Round - Kevin Willis (while Dominique literally doubled Pippen's scoring)

1994 ECSF - Ewing

1995 1st Round - Larry Johnson

1996 ECF - Penny

1996 Finals - Schrempf & Payton

1997 1st Round - Juwan Howard

1998 ECF - Smits

Those are first options. You expecting Pippen to outscore the first options now too? How selfish

[3ba11]

Those are first options. You expecting Pippen to outscore the first options now too? How selfish

They're all 2nd leading scorers for the opponent in a given series

Ultimately, Pippen peaked at 16-22 ppg, so he even when he outscored guys he was basically tying them with worst-ever efficiency.

Furthermore, Pippen wasn't a 2nd option without MJ because he was outscored by opposing 2nd options in 7 of 7 series without MJ

[tontoz]

On the other hand, Isiah Thomas was just coming off leading the Detroit Pistons to back-to-back titles, Thomas was considered the best point guard in the NBA, and was adding to his Hall of Fame resume.

Isiah hadnt made an All-NBA team for 5 years, not even 3rd team. He wasn't close to the best pg in the league.

I would argue he wasn't the best guard on their team during their title years.

As far as the Dream Team goes the competition wasn't with Pippen (setting aside MJs objection) it was with Stockton (who actually was an All-NBA player) or even Laettner.

Laettner was really the guy who didn't belong. The decision to put a college player on a team with all those stars was ridiculous.

[TheGoatest]

Wow, that propaganda article written by a pro-Jordan propagandist really made me forget the fact that Pippen did better than Jordan on both of the two occasions he played without him than Jordan did in either of the two occasions he played without Pippen.

[Axe]

Truth: scottie pippen was acquired by the bulls in order to extinguish a 1-9 skidmark that was posted in 1985-87 by their lonely first option bt

[getting_old]

Got to spend quality time in his college town of Conway, Arkansas.

Paid a visit to the school.

Geez but he came a long way.