I was as skeptical of the offense as anyone back then. But as the season went on, I just thought Hakeem was not willing (or able) to learn new tricks like David Robinson did, and Pippen was whining. Compound this with no training camp in the lock-out year and a compressed season with densely packed games, and it is understandable to see a coach say that he expected a 6ring HOFer to quit whining and just do it...use the spacing to attack like Dallas does with their spread floor (*and like Posey does for begeesus*) ...it should not have been that hard for Pippen to do it. And the stats game doesn't work. Pippen had never played with a dominating center or PF before, much less both. Our center just wanted the ball thrown to him...that was his game. I was upset that Barkley and Pippen didn't play a better two man game, and Hakeem refused to open the basket area by playing a little more in David Robinson's free thrown line game. but part of Pippen's game before he came was as a weakside spotter and quick clock 3pt shooter! Pippen shot more 3s in each of the previous three titles he won with the Bulls than he did in 1999, and had more assists in 1999 than he did the previous 3 titles. Pippen whined instead of just doing it like we saw in he one dominating playoff game, and that's all there is to it, imo.
I agree with you Macbeth! Eventhough Pippen was a jerk, there are problems with the Rockets system. One could only look at Rudys drafting system. At one point, before Griffin, he only draft seniors and MOST IMPORTANT, players that can shoot 3's. Thats why he drafted Collier, right? Turckan? The Rockets had a good ride living at the 3 point line in the championship years, but that good ride is costing them wins and fans who are tired of watching boring basketball.
Fellas the offense we are running today is not the run the same as before. The guys back then were cutting to the basket much more than the current players. They also didn't sit out on the perimeter and dribble the play away. It really shows when you watch a game from the current team and then watch a tape of the old team. Totally different.
Pippen was right about a lot of things, so was Jordan. I don't remember the last time we had a SF who felt this was a worthwile offense. Rudy ball is in no way similar to the Triangle. There is no passing, no one moves without the ball, no one has a defined roll more than, 'When the ball hits your hands, try to score with it.' This is why we're not going to attract high caliber free agents, not that we could sign them with all the idiotic contracts we've been signing over the last few years. We did complain a lot about the offense back then but Rudy was untouchable because of Hakeem. Those days are over.
Rudy as a coach is clearly open to debate. But I absolutely positively believe Rudy when he said he tried more things, tried harder to get Pip involved in the O, in the whole team than he ever had with any other player. Pip just flat out resisted. I have never heard Rudy talk like that about any other player anytime. Yes, I believe Barkley was a mistake, ran Clyde off a season or two too early, was out of shape, under committed but I hate Pip and I like Chuck well enough, sorta. Pip is always unhappy. In Chicago. Here. Portland. Next year with the new and improved Blazers (he thinks he's going front office there after his career is over) or with Lake show or whereever, he will still be perfect and perfectly unhappy. Just ask him, or just listen to that whiney butthole.
Pippen is not a great person and still doesn't get along with his team. He was a mistake but was worth a shot, i don't blame the rockets for trying. Chuck was an entertaining personality but by the time we got him his game was as one dimensional as Rice's when we got him. Both bad mistakes and money wasted when younger, more complete players were available. I don't doubt Rudy tried to find a way to involve Pippen, what I doubt is that he had the knowledge to do so. Pippen is a great defender and scores very well when on the move. He is not a one on one player and that seems to be all Rudy knows. I think he was out of his depth then just like he appears to be now. He needs some assistents experienced in developing young guys and with some offensive schems in mind. Rudy would still have approval and would have to be open minded (not something he is good at) but at least that way he could save his job.
Actually Scottie never had a season wheree he had 20 and 10. His life time average: 16.3ppg..6.4 reb..5.3 asst. is close to his 98-99 Rocket ave: 14.5ppg..6.5reb..5.8 asst. and his 1999-2000 Portland ave: 12.5ppg..6.4reb..5.3asst Scottie just wanted more plays run for him and less for Barkley and the Dream.
In all objectivity. . . a jerk can be right sometimes. But no, he's not right. Many people have put in valid points here. I'm not going to repeat them. If a kid like Francis can ignore Rudy's scheme, as many people here observe, then what makes you think one of "the 50 best players in NBA history" underperformed because he had to follow Rudy's scheme?
Good point... Pippen did what he can to improve the team and help us win... he wouldnt want us to lose or mess up.. but just having a great player such as Mr.Pippen and having him leave was painful.... it hurt but hey that was the past. We still love you Pip
Pippen was just bitter about being the 3rd option on offense. And maybe if he didn't dribble the ball off his foot vs. LA, he could have been the 2nd option after Dream went down with an injury. But instead he had to cry about this and that and his teammates. Hey Pippen, it's not Charles Barkley who made you look like you suck. It's your suckiness that made you look like you suck.
Why were Scottie's number even worse on the Trailblazers? Face it, Scottie was past him prime. And yes, that can happen in one year. For the record, I think Scottie's numbers were 14-6-5. Really not that bad at all for being the third option on the team...Pip just didn't like that roll.
I believe that the imposition of the zone defense is responsible for stopping guys from cutting to the basket. If they try that today, they end up in the teeth of a 2-3 zone surrounded by 3 players with no place to go. I believe this is what has screwed up Cuttino as it took away the strongest part of his game. He's now forced to play a midrange game like say a Michael Findley or a Coby Bryant which is not his forte. It would also explain why Francis ends up driving into the teeth of the zone and jumping up where he (a) misses the shot (b) turns the ball over or (c) gets fouled.
Scottie Pippen was right. Our offense was kinda nothing. Just give it to someone and let him try to score 1on1.....or pass it out and shoot and drive......which isn't a bad offense. But it won't work anymore....with zone defense and all these other rules. That's why the Rockets need to get some more shooters...
I remember Pippen criticizing the offense, but I don't remember his criticism being that there were too many iso's. I do remember he was unhappy with the role he was given in the offense. But I do think he was wrong. For the personel we had that time, I think the offense was right. If Pippen said that Houston had too many ISO's today, he would be right. Pippen never was able to take responsibility and lead. Pippen is not a leader. In Portland he's blamed his coaches, his teammates, and the GM. Yet he's the one out there on the floor, as he was in Houston. But the guy never says it's my fault I should do more. That being said some of Pippen's complaints in Portland were true, but that doesn't mean he handled it correctly or couldn't have taken responsiblity himself. In answer to your question the Rockets personel was so different as were the zone defense rules at the time when we had Dream Barkley and those guys. Our offense was correct for our team at the team at the time, and Pippen was wrong. But Pippen is correct considering our offense and zone defense rules today.
