Side note: I believe that the general assumption is that Pippen's career went on a downward spiral when he took that charge from Malone late in the 98 finals.
Well, I am simply blown away by your argument. Listen, sport, I'd prefer you were 'nice' to someone else...If you're not going to present a logical position, or at least make an attempt, don't waste my time.
What is there to argue... Robert Horry is the same player under glorified Phil Jackson that he was under Rudy T... sure he has a little more experience and muscle but otherwise exactly the same player. And It's because that is all he is capable of. He can occassional slash to the basket and shoot threes with the best of them. Scottie Pippen looks worst with Portland than he did with the rockets. Let's face it MJ made him... and shooting threes has always been apart of his repertoire. When you have a MJ on your team to get triple teamed and dish you the ball in the open you better learn how to shoot the three. Granted his best attributes where that he was a defensive stopper and that he could run like a gazelle... And he did that with the Rockets... (remember that Laker playoff game when he scored 35, he was slashing and running the court and shooting threes, but then the next game he didn't show up) but he was inconsistent. Scottie Pippen has always been a whiner. He feed off of MJ and always blamed everyone for his own defects. Rudy had an open door and with Pippen and was willing and ready to implement any type of offensive strategy... But in the end Scottie was not able to perform and he cost us the laker series with his stupid play... Ditto for Shandon he did not turn out to be the player the rockets wanted more because of inconsistency than any other reason. When he was at his best he was slashing and driving and shooting threes. But he didnot show up some nights and it was that inconsistency. Shandon was not our future and the Rockets realized that. But promise were made and whether you believe it or not the Rockets honored a promise and kept it. Leaving another short term option with Rice... And unlike you under the circumstances I believed getting Rice would help our team and it would have if he could have shot at least as good as he did with the Knicks. I mean still had a post up game and played decnt defense, not great but decent and he could shoot lights out. But he didn't shoot lights out, he shot terrible. As far as Griffen he is not a three Rudy didn't use as a three and since your topic is about Rudy and three's what the hell are you bringing him up for? I guess because he shoots threes but Rudy didn't teach him that... the kid is a natural... And Rudy did try to work him down low with an ocassional success but for the most part he lost post game stinks... I think that will change in time but for now in the big leagues his best thing going is his shot blocking and three point shooting and that's more than you can say for any of the other 19 year olds... Rudy gets the most out of his players he always has and always will... If the only game they have is low post (Hakeem) than he utilizes it ... He is not looking for 3's that can just shoot the three... That being said in this league you have to have three point shooters on your team. Inside out is the name of the game and Rudy developed it before anyone... But know everyone does it. You dish it into Shaq, he gets triple teamed and dishes to Fox who nail the wide open three. Kobe drives down the middle and is double teamed and he dishes it to Horry who nails the three... Parker dishes into Duncan who is double teamed, he dishes out to Smith and he misses... The Spurs lose... The spurs lost that series cause no one could hit the three consistently. Three point shooting is a part of the game a big part. it speads open the court and allows you to have open lanes to the basket... So I hope we always have three who can shoot the three as well as do everything else and I guaratee you Rudy will get the most out of whoever that three is.
Oh, yeah...and Hakeem only left before this season...so we were still trying to placate him, to some small degree...and while he was here, you can bet Rudy's mindset hadn't completely turned to just what he needed to do with his team of tomorrow. I know Rudy's not a fantastic coach. He just decides to give the ball to his best player(s) and let them create. We got stuck with Glen Rice because Shanderson's agent had us over a barrel with signing his client to a below-market deal, and the Rox had to take care of Shanderson (albeit send him packing) so that the organization wouldn't look bad in the eyes of free agents (although, if we don't start winning soon, that'll be taken care of for us, regardless). If Rudy was going to implement a new offense before injuries decimated this team, can we assume he isn't completely blind to change? They have inquired after Lamar Odom. Let's see what happens. Come on, lotto balls, bounce our way.
