HOUSTON -- It was all Houston's sellout crowd could ask for: another chance to boo Scottie Pippen and to see the Rockets beat the Portland Trail Blazers. Steve Francis scored 26 points, including six in the final 3:37, as the Rockets held off the Trail Blazers 90-89 Tuesday night for their season-high, fourth straight victory. "This is the first time for me to win four in a row in the NBA and it really feels good," Francis said. "With all the injuries that we have had and Hakeem (Olajuwon) less than 100 percent, we still have the will power as a team to get things done." With the Rockets trailing 84-82, Francis hit two free throws with 3:37 to play and he added a layup with 2:19 to go that put the Rockets ahead for good. A 17-foot jumper by Francis and two free throws by Anthony Miller increased the lead to 90-84 with 1:23 left. It was Pippen's second visit to Houston since the Rockets traded him in the offseason and he was razzed each time he touched the ball. Pippen had 12 points and eight assists. Pippen didn't want to talk about taunts but he was impressed with Francis and fellow rookie Kenny Thomas, who had a career-high 22 points and 14 rebounds. Francis had 12 assists for the second straight game "They played well, they did what they had to do to win," Pippen said. "Kenny Thomas stepped up and hit some big shots. He was spectacular. He gave them the inside scoring they needed." After Houston took a six-point lead, Rasheed Wallace completed a three-point play with 1:05 to play and Pippen added a layup with 34 seconds to play to cut Houston's lead to one. Portland got two chances to win, but Pippen missed a driving layup with 5.7 seconds to play and Greg Anthony's final shot bounced off the rim. "I was the first option on the play," Pippen said. "I always expect to get the call. You saw what happened." Steve Smith led the Trail Blazers with 21 points and Wallace finished with 17. Francis got hot in the third quarter, leading a 15-4 Houston run that gave the Rockets a 67-64 lead with 2:39 left in the third quarter. Francis had eight points in the run and the Rockets led 73-71 after three. "I think this is our most impressive win of the year," Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. "Yes, we had beaten the Lakers, but this was like a road game for us with the back to backs, but to overcome the adversity of the first half with all the changes we've had is phenomenal." Olajuwon played before the home crowd for the first time after missing 20 games recovering from hernia surgery and drew loud applause when he entered with game with 2:59 left in the first quarter. Olajuwon had six points, four blocks and three steals in 19 minutes. "This was a big win for them," Pippen said. "They beat one of the top teams in the NBA. Sometimes a win like this can turn a whole season around. They are very scrappy and they play hard."
"I was the first option on the play," Pippen said. "I always expect to get the call. You saw what happened." Right, Pip. You always expect to get the call. And when you don't, you refuse to go onto the court. And yes, we saw what happened. First your teammates counted on you to drive for the winning basket, and when you ran into Kenny Thomas you rotated your shoulders away so that you simultaneously deprived yourself of the ability to make the shot OR get the foul. Then, instead of setting a proper pick for your man, you got in his way and blocked him from getting a clear shot at the buzzer. Bottom line, Pip, you did what we've seen you do many times before: cost your team the win in the final seconds. Except that this time, we weren't your team.
Well said Will. Those who don't think Scottie is an bloated egotist, read this: "I sort of voiced my opinion about a teammate, and I was booted out," Pippen said. "I was man enough to step up and say what I felt about how Charles played and how he approached winning, and I paid the price of leaving here. I can live with that." As the Chronicle pointed out .... err, "booted out"? Did you not ask for a trade before the comments? The man contradicts himself on a daily basis.
"Man enough"? "Step up"? "Paid the price of leaving"? Real men don't pass blame. Real men don't quit on their teammates. Real men face up to their mistakes. Real men don't pass off their cowardice as courage. Real men don't pass off their desertion as exile. The only manhood you'll ever understood, Scottie, is the one you think with.
Damn, did you guys hear the commentators on TNT kissing the Blazers' and Blippen's ass?? They were all sayin' stuff like "Pippen is all about winning, and that's why he didn't work in Houston" and "Houston just doesn't have that playoff mentality" . . . I wanted to smack them . . . they seemed to be very down on the Rockets and insinuated that the Rockets are just a bunch of scrubs tryin' to play ball with the big boys. . .
Thanks for finding the exact quote Clutch. I tried to sum it up as best I remembered in my post "Pippen is such an A$$!!" How do you spell "no class"? P-I-P-P-E-N This guy is such a loser. ------------------ Tanking is not acceptable. End of story.
Pippen showed his nature in Dallas over the weekend. Michael Finley of the Mavericks is a workout partner and good friend of Pippen. Prior to the Mavs/Blazers game, Pippen said "Finley does not deserve to be an All Star. He just puts up numbers on a bad team" How can you say that about a friend? Well, Finley lit his A$$ up for 30+ points and the Mavs beat them going away. With friends like Pippen, you don't need enemies! As RocketPimp so eloquently put it "NO CLASS"
In relation to Pippen's comments (strictly player hating on a better player) about Finley, I heard something about Jimmy Sexson and Pippen showing up at Mark Cuban's house. Has anyone else heard about this???I did hear Cuban wouldn't let his ass in....good for him.
