[ This was posted on realgm.com.......see comment third paragraph from the bottom....more reason to hate. As Scottie Pippen visit's Chicago for what many consider to be the final time as an NBA player, with Pippen previously stating that this will be his last hurrah, Scottie is hinting that he may just have more fuel left int he tank after all. Ex-Bulls teammates Michael Jordan and Horace Grant both appear to be in their final seasons in the league - though with Jordan you can never be sure - Pippen believes that if he can continue to contribute he will continue to play. Play where, however, is the question. Pippen has not ruled out playing again in Portland, but their cap situation might prevent the six-time champion from returning. But what about a reunion with Phil Jackson in Los Angeles? "If I can contribute, yeah," Pippen said. "If Phil wanted me and I could contribute, not be a 12th or 13th man." "I don't regret going to Portland," Pippen said. "The only regret I have is going to Houston. I should have sat out the '99 season and then put myself on the market. I tried to push a deal [to the Lakers from Houston]. That's what pushed me out of Houston." [\b] And of course there cannot be a Pippen-Chicago story with yet another dig at Jerry Krause and Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf, whom Pippen still feels were to blame for the dynasty break up. "There's nothing for me to regret about that," said Pippen, who said he would have rejected a one-year $15M contract to keep the team together and left should Jordan have not retired. I didn't do anything wrong. It was not the players' fault. The regret should be for Krause and Jerry Reinsdorf. What they did makes what we did much greater. Because it's going to take that much longer for them to put any type of team together, a team that can just compete for the playoffs. The league is getting better, but they keep going back and trying to play catch-up."
I don't get it. Why does he regret going to Houston? Well he has the right to say that, cuz we boo him every time he is in possession of the ball! Anyways, the Chicago Bulls ended the Trailblazers' 8 game winning streak! Thank God! They must have been tired after 4 games in 5 nights...
During 1999, we played a slow down, post up game and that type of game didn't fit Pips style. It was taking him out of the game and using him as three-point shooter. That wasn't his game. It was just a bad mix of styles. Pippen and Rudy didn't get along because he wanted Rudy to use him with a more motion style offense. Sound familiar? Yesterdays boring style of play is the same thing most of the Rockets fans dislike today. Pippen would fit better in today's Rockets than 1999.
Hmm...do you mean Yesterday as in a few years ago...or Yesterday as in the day before today? If you mean Yesterday as in the day before today, I thought we won! It seemed like a good game for us...
Right, Pippen was only a good scorer with the Bulls because he could run the floor, and wasn't as effective with decent players filling the lanes. So he didn't fit in with Houston - big deal, he was signed to a superstar contract so he was obligated to earn his paycheck and get along. Like many of his teammates, he is a complete ass and has spent the last four-five years destroying his career.
If you get a job, and you decide it's not the right place for you. You have the right to leave. But, you are not obligated to "like it." In the NBA, you can't just leave. You have to be traded. If you feel that everyone is "obligated," then why don't you go a get a job that you hate, then use the statement: I hate my job, but I'll just say here and pretend I like it.
You and I are probably in the minority on this one. Pippen indeed made himself look like an ass with regards to the way he left. However, personally, I've never had a problem with him wanting to leave. His game is not one that is suited to playing with a dominant center, like Hakeem. He needs motion so he can use his passing skills efficiently. He also needs to be on a team that runs alot. He was just a bad fit for us. Our team just was not like that. I've always wondered how people would look at him if he had never made those comments about Barkley's fat ass. Would he be as hated as he is now?
What... Pippen can play with a dominant center. He just wanted the balled to be passed more. And the "Dominant Center" not to just post up and hit or miss.
I hated our offensive during those years. It was slower than the Jazz. But, Pip was right about Charles. Jordan knew it, Pippen knew it. Some people say that Pip shouldn't talk about someone else game if his own game wasn't very good. But Charles game COULD flourish in the Rockets system in 1999 (he got the ball all the time). Pippens game could NOT flourish because the Rockets system at the time wasn't based on motion; like Pip works best in. By the way, most fans are fickle. If you bring them wins, all sins are forgiving.
Hakeem only passed to the 3 point shooter. Once the ball was in the post, if rarely came out, much less passed to a cutter. Hakeem didn't know how to pass to cutters. He didn't not have that type of court vision (like Yao). Thus, Pip never got the ball unless he sat out on the three point line. Boring!
And yet guys like Horry and Drexler had no problem fitting in. They both could shoot from the outside....but I seem to remember some great finishes at the basket from both of them. Strange how Pippen could not do the same. There are other ways to get traded. The way Pippen did it isn't the right one. And he's doing the same kind of stuff in Portland...and he did it in Chicago.
Horry loved the 3 pointer because he wasn't a player that could create his own shot. Drexler gave us a scoring option during 1995 and some of 1996. But, since it was Hakeem's team, and he was getting older, the fast paced game that Drexler (knees) and Pippen liked so much started to become a rarity. In the end, Drexler's game was relegated to a 3 point shooter in his last year. His game gave way to Barkley and Hakeem slow down pace. Also, Drexler and Horry were always better spot up shooters that Pippen. Pip was a slasher, cutter, dunking small-forward. I felt that Drexler was a better over-all shooter than Pip even during the 80's and early 90's. Our slow down style just didn't fit with Pip. And I don't blame him for leaving. It was the most boring offense in the league.
Pip didn't have a way with words. He always rubbed Houston fans the wrong way. But, some fans just throw out things like "He sucks" and "He was nothing w/out Jordan" and "He can't play" etc, etc... None of that is true. He was just the wrong type of player for our slow down offense in 1999. See, they just clump all the bad things about Pip and say that it's all his fault for the Rockets woes; like waiting for Hakeem to retire. Kinda like the Jazz are doing now. They are waiting for Malone and Stockton to retire. Do they really think that they have a chance? We didn't in 1999.
Well Pippen being my favorite player I've heard that many a time and after a while, you really get sick of discussing it with people who use the same old weak tired non true arguements. Not that I think everyone has to think as highly of Pippen as I do, I'd just rather everyone not hate him or at least acknowledge that he was and is a pretty darn good ball player. If I'm lucky Pip will play two more years in the league, but he's not sure if it's Portland, possibly LA.
Yeah, even Calvin Murphy likes Pip. He acknowledges that Pip said some cocky words. But, he always defends Pip and his talent. If you want to get into a debate about Pip. Ask Calvin about his view point on Pip. I've heard him defend Pip on-the-air a number of times. By the way, no one was more outspoken and cocky than Calvin! Plus, he can fight!
I am not commentating on his playing since I used to like the way he played in chicago but his professionalism in handling the situation was all wrong. Anyone else notice, he hasn't played well in Portland either? I guess it's Pippen's way or no way....no team works like that. He didn't try to adjust to the style of play. He could have watched game tape and realized the type of offense they played back then. He's became a big whiner in Houston and Portland. In fact, his Portland team choked against the Lakers. that was his best chance for a ring without MJ.....He currently has no chance with Portland therefore he wants to go to LA and play for Phil....He a coattail type of player.
