The reason he's overrated is everyone thought he could step out of MJ's shadow and lead a team. Obviously, the guy couldn't. He has no leadership skills and did not help the team in the least. Other veterans we brought in such as Drexler and Barkley honed their games to fit our offense and excelled. Why should Pippen not be expected to do the same. He's a piece of garbage. In my mind, the defining moment of his post-MJ career was dribbling the ball off of his foot to lose Game 5 against the Lakers. Nuff said.
So you dont vary your offense at all to incorporate a player with specific skills? You could be right. Maybe Rudy had mis evaluated the guy and how he could fit in before the trade was made. If so, thats not entirely Pippens fault.
He was wrong, and he should've been frustrated with his sorry ASS game. Ever since his last championship with Chicago, he has played like CRAP. He cannot hit open jumpers(3 or otherwise), and his d is suspect. And leadership? What's that? I'm sure Portland could have used that in their numerous playoff appearances since the trade. Much like Vin Baker and Shawn Kemp, Pippen has been a huge BUST since he signed that huge contract in the lockout season.
I think we were all caught up in the moment about Pippen and his rings and hope that he was the missing puzzle to bring us to the Finals, but I'm guessing he assumed that the Rockets wouldn't be the best fit for him, or his big nose.
I just find it amusing that he was once the most underpaid player in the NBA and now the most overpaid. I don't have much against Pippen(good team defense player) except when he called Charles Barkley a "sorry fat ass" and insisted that Jordan told him Charles would never win a championship b/c of charle's work ethic...those words were chosen carefully to hurt Barkley personally. That's just wrong especially when Barkley volunteer a big pay cut to get Pippen's whining ass out of Chicago.
I remember leaning over the rail, yelling at Pippen as he walked into the locker rooms. I was a little tipsy and just wailed "Pippen, you suck." I also would do this whenever is got really quiet in the Summit. "Pippen, you suck!" About a dozen of us went to the game and we were spread all around the arena. All shouted and booed. I flew down from Dallas for that game. That was the most fun I think I had that lottery-bound season. Thanks Scottie. You suck.
I remember going to a Spurs/Trailblazers game in San Antonio, and booing Pippen whenever he touched the ball. I plan on doing that again tonight
What about the story that Pippen pounded on the door of the ladies room at a resteraunt demanding to use the bathroom first while there was a long line outside of the bathroom? What about the story that while Jordan was out playing baseball, Pippen refused to go on the floor because the play was not designed for him to shoot the last second game winning shot? "Players of MY caliber deserve to be respected," Pippen said. I say, players of HIS character deserved to be booed everywhere. Besides, Pippen is the brother of Osama bin Laden. Ask rockHEAD.
I agree with Rockets03's assessment of Pippen. I have missed going to every Rockets game where Pippen has come back after being traded. I'll be BOOING big every time that sorry punk gets the ball. I hope Mobley lights him up as usual. If he was upset with the offense he could've gone about it another way. When he wanted to I remember one game where he took over (vs. Portland ironically enough). The problem was he thought he was actually good but he was overrated and perhaps the most overrated defensive player of all time. He used to get lit up on a nightly basis on defense. I'm glad he's gone but wish he would've gone to management to demand a trade instead of UP Close on ESPN because we would've had Jermaine O'Neal instead of lazy crazy Cato.
some playes are loved. some players are honoured. some players are respected. some players are forgotten. some players are disparaged. some players are hated. damn. of all the possiibilities, pippen really screwed up here in houston didn't he? before he went, he managed to alienate barkley, hakeem, rudy, the rocket management (damn we could have had J. Oneal...), the younger players, the fans, and the media. truly truly an achievement to earn such universal hatred. but looking back now, i think we got the better end of the bargain with wiz and cato... hell, we've even managed to sabotauge one of our main western conference rivals with his fat ass and even fatter contract!
I went to the Compaq center last year when we lost to Portland due to Rasheed. But the game was so much fun that night. I couldn't even talk afterward. I remember we had several drinks and at halftime we found some better seats down near the bottom. I know MR. Quitten heard us. There were some season ticket holders(SNOBS) next to us that said we were being to loud and the guys wife told her husband lets go. Them were "Fans that sit on there hands" Anyway, it has to really bother him during the game. When it would get quiet we would yell it as loud as we could, you could hear us on the other side I'm sure. I agree with several post in this thread, even the Pip lovers but he did do us wrong the way he handled it. Does anybody think Jordan really said that about the Chuckster? If you are going to the game GET LOUD!!!!!
Those arent real Rockets fans...you shoulda jus got louder and louder and pissed them off til they left....
CLFranchise, We did exactly that. She looked over to her hubby and told him that they were leaving. He looked like he didn't want to leave but he did as told.
Pippen and Drexler were not the same style of player. Drexler was a slasher like Jordan. Pippen like to run without the ball, or get the ball in the post. He also did well on the fast break. You said that Pippen turned himself into a 3-point shooter? I say Rudy forced him into that role. Don't believe me? Are you telling me that the Rockets used a fast break style offense or a motion offense in 1997??? We know that's not the case. Back then (the one year that Pip was with us), we used the same offense that we always used: dump it into Hakeem, kick it out to the 3-point shooters. Same old stuff. Pippen has a loud mouth, sure. But all I care about is that the guy could play if he was used right. Use his skills the best you can. We didn't not do that. We tried to turn him into a stationary shooter. Would you be happy if you were in his place? No, you'd want a change. Add the fact that Pip and Barkley didn't get along just made things worse. Barkley resented the fact that Pippen had 6 rings, and Pippen wasted no time rubbing it into Barkley's face. Sometimes Barkley deserved it. He sure deserved it when he called the Rockets roaches. Those of you that want Mobley to tear up Pippen can rest that it will probably happen? Why? Mobley is better now than Pippen. Pippen's days are over. His best years are behind him. He's getting old. So, if Kobe or Mobley beat on Pippen, big deal. That's like some one bragging about shutting down Jordan now. I feel that if we could go back 10 years and bring Pippen to Houston with the up-tempo style play the Rocket use today we would be able to use him for what he's good at. Plus, we'd have him at the start of career, not the end. P.S. I have had the same debates with cc.net people here about Hakeem. Some people will never forgive him for what he said before he left for the Raptors. They love to hold a grudge.
