Pippen might be done

Pippen: 'I don't think I can go anymore'

March 16, 2004

BY ROMAN MODROWSKI Staff Reporter Advertisement


When Scottie Pippen took the Berto Center court after practice Monday, Bulls operations chief John Paxson told Pippen his latest project would be to work with newly acquired point guard Jannero Pargo.

Such tutoring appears to be all that remains in Pippen's Hall of Fame career.

With 16 games left, Pippen confirmed he probably won't play again this season, and he already has acknowledged there is almost no chance he'll play next season. All that's left is a news conference to officially announce the end of a career that spanned 17 seasons and included six championships.

"I'd like to play once more to say goodbye to the game at this level,'' Pippen said. "But I don't think I can go anymore. I want to, but I don't think I can.''

It's no surprise. Pippen has played just 23 games this season and underwent surgery on his left knee Dec. 12. Problems with the knee continued to flare up as he tried to come back, and there's no reason to risk further damage this late in the season with nothing at stake.

Pippen has been known to change his mind, and he warmed up Saturday before the Bulls' game against the Los Angeles Lakers, but it's unlikely he'll put his body at risk with game action.

Paxson has praised Pippen's after-practice work with his younger teammates. It's one of the reasons Paxson signed him to a two-year, $10.3 million deal. But Paxson also was hoping for 60 games from Pippen in what was expected to be a run at a playoff berth.

It's likely Pippen won't hold Paxson to the second year of the deal.

Working with Pippen was a rush for Pargo, who signed a 10-day contract after Rick Brunson was waived. Pargo grew up on the South Side and attended Robeson.

"Home is where my heart is,'' Pargo said. "I grew up watching [Michael] Jordan, so it's definitely a dream come true.''

Pargo is likely to be the Bulls' last 10-day signee, and in case anyone was wondering, he was brought in with one purpose in mind.

"To win the game [tonight],'' coach Scott Skiles said. "We're trying to win games.

"We've got 18 wins with the roster the way it was, so I don't know why anybody would be insinuating we're not trying to win. We're trying to find people to help the Bulls win a game. It's not any more complicated than that.''

source: http://www.suntimes.com/output/bulls/cst-spt-bull162.html

Opinion/Editorial:

I am very saddened by this news. I know many Rocket fans despise Pip. Scottie Pippen was an outstanding, definitely a top 50 player, however, like many in H-Town, I was quite disappointed by the path his career took post Chicago, especially in Houston.

With the mantle of leadership handed to him, instead of taking charge, Pippen became impatient and blamed others for his shortcomings. I firmly believed Pippen had the chance to become an 10 player (joining the ranks of Hakeem, Jordan, Magic, Russell) if he had led Houston or Portland back to the promised land. Had he remained patient, the 1999-2000 Houston Rockets team could have snared the crown.

I believe Barkley and Dream may have not been injured had he remained, and with the addition of rookie sensation Steve Francis and Shandon Anderson, we would have had a legitimate shot at the crown, even with the rise of the Lakers and competition from the Spurs and Trailblazers.

On Portland, surrounded by immensetalent, Scottie again failed to exercise leadership to lead his team to the promised land. Perhaps the greatest opportunity was in Game 7 of the 2000 Western Conference Finals. Instead of calming the team down and taking charge, Pippen allowed the Blazers to collapse to the Lakers' unrelenting onslaught. Despite the leadership he had exhibited in earlier parts of the series in igniting their comeback from 3-1 down, Pippen failed in the most criticial moments.

Pippen had three other golden opportunities to prove his critics wrong, especially last year against the Dallas Mavericks. In Game 7, Pippen waved off Rasheed Wallace from guarding Dirk Nowitzki and left him open.

Pippen, of course, has suffered a few injuries as the post-Chicago years have gone by.

Ironically, after the Trailblazers exhibited no interest in resigning him, the Spurs were concerned about his health, and teams like Memphis and the Lakers didn't sign him, Pippen ironically ended back up in the place that he seemed to detest so much: the Chicago Bulls.

There had been talk of leading them back into the playoffs, but Pippen's decline unfortunately accelerated, leading to appearances in 23 games. A sad way to go, really.

Nevertheless, despite his inadequacies, Pippen was a great basketball player. Having him play for the Houston Rockets was a dream come true for fans everywhere (even if it was for only a season). It's unfortunate the dream dissolved into a nightmare.

He could have walked in the Halls of the Greats, but he instead he choose the Dunghills of Shortcomings.

I admire Pippen though and it was a great honor to see him in a Rockets uniform, albeit for a short time.

A moment of silence.


Houston Forever

 

I'm still fond of Scottie Pippen and will miss his presence in the NBA.