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  1. #1
    NBA Legend and Hall of Famer 1987_Lakers's Avatar
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    Default Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, & Ron Harper

    Has there ever been better perimeter defenders on one team as good as these guys?

    IMO it was these 3 guys that really made Chicago's defense elite. Here you have 3 guys who are all 6 foot 6 or taller defending guards, small forwards and having not only the great size, but the quickness to stay with them. With Harper in the lineup, Chicago created alot of havac defensively. You had 3 guys in the starting lineup that could guard 3 positions, that is remarkable. Rodman made alot of All-Defensive teams with Chicago, but at that point he was past his prime defensively, he was good, but not elite, I think Harper should get more credit for Chicago's defense than Rodman, he really made their defense more versatile.

    Chicago's interior defense was solid, Rodman was a solid post defender, but not much of a shot blocker, Longley was flat footed and not much of a rebounder, but still an ok defender. It was Chicago's perimeter defense that really made them elite.

  2. #2
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    Default Re: Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, & Ron Harper

    How about the 2004 Pistons perimeter D?

  3. #3
    NBA Legend Bandito's Avatar
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    Default Re: Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, & Ron Harper

    Quote Originally Posted by Eric Cartman
    How about the 2004 Pistons perimeter D?
    The Pistons had excellent post and perimeter D. They played great as a team and the main starters individual D was good at worst as I think all of them in their prime played excellent D.

  4. #4
    5-time NBA All-Star G-train's Avatar
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    Default Re: Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, & Ron Harper

    Quote Originally Posted by 1987_Lakers
    Has there ever been better perimeter defenders on one team as good as these guys?

    IMO it was these 3 guys that really made Chicago's defense elite. Here you have 3 guys who are all 6 foot 6 or taller defending guards, small forwards and having not only the great size, but the quickness to stay with them. With Harper in the lineup, Chicago created alot of havac defensively. You had 3 guys in the starting lineup that could guard 3 positions, that is remarkable. Rodman made alot of All-Defensive teams with Chicago, but at that point he was past his prime defensively, he was good, but not elite, I think Harper should get more credit for Chicago's defense than Rodman, he really made their defense more versatile.

    Chicago's interior defense was solid, Rodman was a solid post defender, but not much of a shot blocker, Longley was flat footed and not much of a rebounder, but still an ok defender. It was Chicago's perimeter defense that really made them elite.
    Rodman was an elite defender with the Bulls, no question.
    But I agree, Ron Harper's defence was instramental, and when he was shooting well they were unbeatable.

  5. #5
    5-time NBA All-Star G-train's Avatar
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    Default Re: Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, & Ron Harper

    Quote Originally Posted by Eric Cartman
    How about the 2004 Pistons perimeter D?
    Good but not Bulls good.

    Harper/Pippen/Jordan
    Billups/Hamilton/Prince

    One has 2 of the best defenders ever in it, the other doesn't.

  6. #6
    NBA Legend Bandito's Avatar
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    Default Re: Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, & Ron Harper

    Quote Originally Posted by G-train
    Good but not Bulls good.

    Harper/Pippen/Jordan
    Billups/Hamilton/Prince

    One has 2 of the best defenders ever in it, the other doesn't.
    Jordan and Pippen were not bad compared to Prince and Hamilton bro?

  7. #7
    5-time NBA All-Star G-train's Avatar
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    Default Re: Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, & Ron Harper

    Quote Originally Posted by Bandito
    Jordan and Pippen were not bad compared to Prince and Hamilton bro?

  8. #8
    Samurai Swoosh
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    Default Re: Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, & Ron Harper

    Dennis Rodman was still an elite defender. He just wasn't near as versatile as he was on the Pistons when he could defend guards and move quickly laterally. He could guard PFs like nobodies business. And even at time gave Shaq problems.

    But yes, you're stating the obvious about what made the late 90's Bulls defense elite. MJ and Pippen, two of the best perimeter defenders of all-time, and a 6'6 PG / SG who could guard smalls and bigger guards, who was athletic yet had great footwork and technique and was blessed with very long arms.

    They wreaked havoc on teams. Watch game 1 of the ECF in 1996 v.s. the Magic. Magic were up by like 25 or something, and the Bulls defense kicked into high gear and it was lights out. A thing of beauty to watch for the true fan of the game.
    Last edited by Money 23; 09-17-2012 at 02:53 AM.

  9. #9
    5-time NBA All-Star G-train's Avatar
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    Default Re: Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, & Ron Harper

    Quote Originally Posted by Money 23
    Dennis Rodman was still an elite defender. He just wasn't near as versatile as he was on the Pistons when he could defend guards and move quickly laterally. He could guard PFs like nobodies business. And even at time gave Shaq problems.
    Despite about 7 inches height difference and 60 pounds of weight difference, Rodman guarded Shaq one on one with no double teams (unheard of at time) and kept him to averages, which meant no open looks for Magic shooters and a total ass kicking wipe out sweep of teh number 2 seed in the 96 playoffs.

  10. #10
    Samurai Swoosh
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    Default Re: Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, & Ron Harper

    Quote Originally Posted by G-train
    Despite about 7 inches height difference and 60 pounds of weight difference, Rodman guarded Shaq one on one with no double teams (unheard of at time) and kept him to averages, which meant no open looks for Magic shooters and a total ass kicking wipe out sweep of teh number 2 seed in the 96 playoffs.
    Exactly. He did about as fine of a job on Shaq as you could do, especially considering the physical disadvantages.

    Thank you for being able to actually remember his abilities on the Bulls.

    @ Rodman not being an elite defender. Only time during the whole three peat where I saw Rodman at times get abused was from Kemp during the '96 Finals.

    He wasn't a stationary player like Malone or even Shaq. He was young, athletic, and had springs in his legs.

  11. #11
    5-time NBA All-Star G-train's Avatar
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    Default Re: Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, & Ron Harper

    Quote Originally Posted by Money 23
    They wreaked havoc on teams. Watch game 1 of the ECF in 1996 v.s. the Magic. Magic were up by like 25 or something, and the Bulls defense kicked into high gear and it was lights out. A thing of beauty to watch for the true fan of the game.
    bulls owned that game from the start I think.

  12. #12
    Samurai Swoosh
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    Default Re: Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, & Ron Harper

    Quote Originally Posted by G-train
    bulls owned that game from the start I think.


    Do I have it confused with game 2?

    One of the games the Bulls were down by like 20 something to start the 2nd half.

  13. #13
    7-time NBA All-Star KG215's Avatar
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    Default Re: Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, & Ron Harper

    Yeah, the Bulls won game one by 38. Orlando had a 15 point halftime lead in game two.

  14. #14
    College superstar Dragonyeuw's Avatar
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    Default Re: Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, & Ron Harper

    Quote Originally Posted by G-train
    Despite about 7 inches height difference and 60 pounds of weight difference, Rodman guarded Shaq one on one with no double teams (unheard of at time) and kept him to averages, which meant no open looks for Magic shooters and a total ass kicking wipe out sweep of teh number 2 seed in the 96 playoffs.
    True, that was an outstanding defensive job. Having said that, I don't think he'd have had the same kind of 'success' against 2000 Shaq. The mental skills by that point had caught up to the physical ones. Hypothetical, of course....

    And on that note, having a tough, defensive-oriented power forward was probably the difference between Chicago winning and losing to the 1995 Magic. Jordan had some uncharacteristic errors in that series, but he played well enough that a Rodman or a Grant would have been a big difference. I think Jordan being 'unJordan-like' in 95 is a bit overstated; he played much better than he's given credit for.
    Last edited by Dragonyeuw; 09-17-2012 at 08:50 AM.

  15. #15
    NBA Legend pauk's Avatar
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    Default Re: Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, & Ron Harper

    Its their versatility that was one of a kind...

    4 guys that could defend 3 positions (Jordan, Pippen, Rodman & Harper)
    &
    2 guys that could defend 4-5 positions (Pippen & Rodman)

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