Jordan retires and the bulls become pippens team, and what does he do? Choke in the eastern conference finals against the Magic. Why? Because he didnt have the talent or killer instinct to lead a team and take over games. Tracy Mcgrady is more physically gifted, has a better shot, and IS already a more well rounded player than Pippen was. The only edge I give Pippen was his passing ability, but you can atrribute that to the oppertunities given to him in the Triangle offense. Jordan made Pippen better. Nobody has made Mcgrady better, he just took his game up to another level this season, a thing Pippen was unable to do. Also, I have to give the defensive edge to Pippen. That being said, I still hope the rockets kick the sh*t out of McGrady friday ------------------
Another thing I like about McGrady is his post up game. He has developed a nice little jordanesque fadeaway that is becoming deadly. ------------------
Disclaimer: I hate Scottie Pippen. I do think McGrady will become a great player. You kind of reinforced my point though. Yes, Pippen and the Bulls lost in the Eastern COnference finals, BUT they did make it that far, sans Jordan. With a corps of players like they had, only Pippen was left to lead that team. The fact that he got them that far is impressive in its own right. ------------------ There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
I admit that this is tempered by not having seen McGrady play that much before the last Orlando game, but I was really impressed with his play - he was dancing out there. He seemed to really be under control and got the shots he wanted. I think what we want to do for tonight is to have Shandon guard him (I know he gives up a little height, but it's really not that bad) and then let him get by occasionally for a Hakeem or Cato swat. I'm actually hoping that Rudy taught Houston how to beat a zone defense so that we don't have 50+ turnovers again. Then we can afford to let TMac live up to his schmack and shut the others down. ------------------ Ex-Canuck loving life and the Rox in H-town
Yea, I understand, not really a great example. I just think McGrady has more talent than Pippen did. ------------------
Again, i do not like Pippen, but who else did he have behind him? Rodman? all he can do is play defense and rebound, Kerr?one dimensional, Kukoc?Soft, Longley?Your kidding. He did have the benefit of playing with the greatest ever, but that still doesn't take away from the fact that he was a good player. ------------------ Never Underestimate the Heart of a Champion
This might be a little of subject, but I'm really becoming a fan of the Magic. I love the way they play defense, always mixing up their sets, and the pace they play at. They remind me of a D1 team. Hats off to Rivers & Co. for over-achieving the last 2 seasons. ------------------
T-Macs game this year has been better than Pippens best year. Pippens best year coincidentally was the first year MJ tried to retire. While some clame he carried that team to the Eastern Conferance Finals I say that is a lie! Pippen refused to go back into a game in the second round in the final seconds because Phil wanted Kucoc to take the last shot. If the Bulls miss that shot then they also loose that game and probably that series and never see the ECF. So don't ever give me a load of crap that Quitten carried that team. Hell, he quit on Chicago long before he ever quit on us. I don't ever see T-Mac Quitten on his team like that. The great players fight till the end and never give up on their teams with a few seconds left on the clock and down by two! To put Quitten in the same catagory as Jabbar, Bird, Magic, Dream, Big O, Dr.J, MJ and the other greats of this league is a insult of the highest degree! ------------------ [This message has been edited by crash5179 (edited February 26, 2001).]
Yes, but that doesn't take away from his game. That just once again proves he is a *******, but not a bad basketball player. ------------------ Never Underestimate the Heart of a Champion
Yes it does take away from his game! He refused to go into a game with only a couple of seconds and down by two! With the guy that is suppose to be the teams leader refusing to play because he has to pout what do you think that was like for the rest of the team? It took away one of the offensive options for the Bulls. What if Kucoc is denied the inbound pass or misses the shot? You need your best player on the court when the game is on the line, not pouting on the bench! Can you name even one other player that would refuse to go into a game in that situation because he is pouting? I can't. ------------------ [This message has been edited by crash5179 (edited February 26, 2001).]
