Ok...this is not going to win me many popularity contests, but I have been re-thinking the whole Scottie Pippen debacle lately. Now I know that Pippen is/was a jerk, and had personality conflicts with members of the team, but I also remember his primary issue with playing for the Rockets was the offense we ran. At the time, he said that our offense was too static, too iso-oriented, and that he was wasted just standing on the perimeter waiting for an open 3-pointer. Of course, in the wake of his departure we all blasted him for this, pointing out that this 'kindergarten offense' had lead us to a Championship or two, had been in place when he wanted to come here...and there were some who pointed out that Pippen had more options available to him in our offense should he be more assertive. A few years later...and with another team-oriented offensive success (Anderson) also lying by the side of the Rockets'road spitting up missed open 3s and not much else, we should probably ask the question: Was Pippen right? What he said about our offense, while at the time seen as an unconsciounable shot at our beloved Rudy T, has by and large become the accepted wisdom in here. Very few people, unless I miss my guess, feel all that differently about our offense now than Pippen did then. I know that this would be akin to a Democrat admitting Gingrich had a point, or a Republican praising a Clinton acomplishment, but I ask you, in all objectivity....was pippen right?
yes. but most of us knew of it too. we're just pissed the way he left and blasted everybody from rudy to barkley to hakeem
To me, that was the beginning of the end to Rudy being a good coach. I used to sit there in amazement on how he took a motion player and good mid range scorer and turned him into Matt Bullard. anyone noticed how Clyde Drexler shooting % went down even though he was surrounded by a great center and pf? I did. The difference between Clyde and Pippen was Clyde would never go 3-9. Maybe 3-19, but he was going to take his share of shots regardless. Once again Rudy took a player who was used to playing mid game and in and hadhim standing at the 3 pt line. On top of that , Anderson was the 1st one of the former player to really notice how Francis and Mobley only looked for each other. He was right also. This offense still have the same flaws as it did when Pippen was here. Look up and you'll see Posey straddling the 3pt line like Bullard along with griffin. Its outdated,old,and slow no matter ho some view it. Many people blasted Pippen because of the remarks he made about Barkley , not so much about the offense.
We could not change the offense, and that's that. We were getting an ageing Pippen to join an ageing Barkley and an ageing Hakeem. Obviously, we were going for a 3rd title, and you don't win a title in a 50-game season where you JUST changed the offense to fit your nwe acquisition. We could've chnaged the offense, or Pippen could've adjusted better. Both sides said "It's my way or the highway." Had Pippen committed himself to the system a little more, we could've gone much further.
I want to add that Pippen is not a bad player, and the only problem I have with him is the WAY he left. He shouldn't have blasted teammates. On a side note, Barkley REALLY should've been in MUCH better shape if he wanted a title THAT bad. I also want to say that Pippen would be PERFECT for the Rockets right now. What he does in Portland is EXACTLY what we need here, which is and experienced guy running the Point, and if it means we can leave Francis facing PG's, that's great.
Pippen brought the ball up the court quite a bit. As the initiator of the offense, he could have done whatever he wanted with the ball. You really think Rudy was forcing him to play a certain way? How do you explain his production being even worse on the Trailblazers? Fact is, the guy was past his prime, and in a situation than he had never succeeded in before; playing on a team with big men and without MJ. Was the team's offense static? Yes. Like you said, that's how we won two championships. And as "point forward," part of that was Scottie's fault. Was Pippen wasted? No. He just wasn't as good as he used to be and was frustrated.
The Rockets were 31W - 19L with Pippen,,He scored 14.5ppg 6.5 reb and 5.8 asst....and played exellent D most of the time. In Pippens 1st interview as a Rocket he mentioned he expected to be the go-to man..he never had the skills for that.. and with the Dream and Barkley on the team it wasnt going to happen. Pippens b**** with the Rockets..was that he didnt want to play second fiddle to the Dream or Barkley.
He was right about the offense. It would be difficult to argue against that. But we still don't like him
Pippen is a cancer in the locker room and terrible influence on young players. Recently, he blasted his GM in portland and saying that he never forgive him fro trading J' O'neal. Guess what pip! jermaine wouldn't be the player he is in Portland.!
Was Pippen right?.....you're not going to make me say it are you?....I don't wanna say it....please....okay....the answer rhymes w/ "fes" and its the opposite of "no"....but don't make me say it....he was still way ****ty & petty about the whole thing, but "Fes, fes he was right."
Sorry MacBeth I remember it quite differently!! He blamed the defence and Charles Barkley in particular. He quoted Jordan telling him not to go to the Rockets as Barkley was a lazy ******* and never plays defence. Of that he was correct, but it was a lame excuse . Pippin just didnt fit the way the Rockets focused arround a big man!
MacBeth, all I know is you're not getting my vote in the next best poster thread. First, I'd point out that we had people here taking shots at Rudy T was back then -- though perhaps not quite as emboldened as they are now -- so saying Rudy T was our beloved may be an overstatement. And second, I suppose I'm one of those very few people you mentioned that don't see our offense now as Pippen described it then. Our offense then was predicated on the iso in a way our current offense is not (current popular wisdom notwithstanding).
You are right on about Jordan telling Pippen was too lazy to ever win a championship. What's even funnier is that lately some pro Rudy Ters claim that the triangle is like Rudy T's isolation. I guess these people never see the other two players on the court constantly cutting through the lane.
Pippen blamed the Rockets....and Shandon wasn't too happy with us either. What have they really done since they left though? I'm not saying Pippen was 100% wrong with his assessment of some of the workings of the Rockets, but he definitely behaved like a worthless punk. Fitting that he went to the blazers.
I know almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, and I am by no means a Pippen fan, But the Blazers were one quarter on the road with a 15 point lead from going to the NBA Finals the year directly after he left Houston.
All I remember is Rudy constantly having to defend himself on the radio. "We're trying to get him involved in the offense. We've got a bunch of plays designed for him, but you just don't see them. Blah blah blah". No one could understand how Scottie Pippen - 20/10/5 guy, suddenly became Snottie Quitten - 9-6-3 guy. He looked lost, and didn't mesh. He moped. The players argued - pointed at different spots on the floor - or gave the 'clear out' elbow wave ("F#$k off"). Where was Rudy? Drawing on his napkin. Breaking tape. and more tape. sulking. not. fixing. the. problem. Not that he didn't want it to be all hunky-dory. Everything he tried, didn't work. The problem was, moving the pieces around on the board didn't change the way they worked. So he decided to go with the percentages - what delivered pts the most. The elbow wave. Rudy never did figure out how to play with players in motion, multiple touches, double screens, curls, pick and back pick, back cuts, or passing from multiple "posts". In trouble, Rudy went for the blanket. Iso. Screw it, Scottie. Get your own. It's all on you.
To begin, that whole season was screwy. IMO, Stern should have cancelled that season. The Rockets would have been a much better team had they not had to deal with the drama of the lock-out. Anyway, I still say that a player of Pippen's supposed caliber shouldn't have felt the need to have plays called for him. In fact, a team consisting of Dream, Charles, and the ball in Pippen's hands shouldn't even need a coach. They ought to be able to tear it up with each other after a few practices and games. Scottie brought the ball up the court. Scottie passed it inside and stood there. Do any of you really believe that Dream, Charles, or RudyT wanted him or told him to camp out at the friggin' 3-point line??? Of course Dream and Charles are going to call for the ball when they're in position, Doing that is what is going to get them into the Hall of Fame. But that certainly doesn't mean that Pip couldn't have done his own thing. Pippen was among the best at slashing through defenses and taking it to the hole. Why he felt that he had to wait specifically for plays to be called for him is still a mystery to me. IMO, yes, Scottie Pippen was technically right about our offense, but also IMO, Scottie Pippen is the one who wasted his opportunities. Clyde managed to do all right with the so-called "dump it into Dream and get out of the way" offense, and when Clyde came here, it was well-into the season and he fit right in simply by doing what he did best. Scottie and the Rockets would have best served by Pip doing what Pip did best.
Yes, he was right. Posey just said the same things about the offense except in a nice way. And he's also right that Barkley was an ass. Barkley has a huge ego and had a history of conflict with other players. He and Hakeem even had some tension between them! Why would anyone get in a fight with Hakeem?? KJ didn't like him in Phoenix and he's a big reason Clyde Drexler left.
