I've been over it, too. But it's still fun to have a laugh at Pippen's expense. It's not a matter of getting over it. I think we've all been over it since Steve Francis played his first game for us. Call it irony, call it poetic justice or call it cosmic payback, but Pippen is getting what he deserves. Rim Check, that excuse about us poorly evaluating his abilitites is the biggest crock of **** I've ever heard. A player who is supposed a top 50 player of all time should be able to adapt to ANY system. It's all basketball. He knew we didn't have the triangle here. He knew that Charles and Hakeem were the current go-to guys on the team. All he had to do was step up and perform, instead of whining and blaming others for his ineptitude. ------------------ [This message has been edited by SpaceCity (edited May 07, 2001).]
I think you are absolutely right in saying the Rockets didn't do a good job at evaluating him before we signed him. I was astounded by the size and length of his contract. Considering how much effort the Rockets put into scouting draft picks (interviewing coaches, friends, etc. having PIs write up reports and whatnot) I'd think at least as much -- if not 10 times as much -- effort would go into such a big-ticket item as Pippen was. Didn't they know all about his stupid behavior when he was a Bull? Shouldn't they have known he was a quitter looking for his payday? I guess Jordan's game put up that much of a smokescreen. But, you're on the money: the Rockets botched that one badly. However, the Rockets organization is not over it, even now. We were big money FA players. Our other target was Antonio McDyess. As I recall, McDyess told us no and so we went for Pippen. But, what if we took that Pippen money and put it toward something else? Traded some picks or some young quality for another big ticket? Or saved the money until the next offseason? Or even signed a couple solid rotation guys? We'd get more value from that $15 million than Walt Williams and Kelvin Cato. We've recouped a lot of the cost by being able to unload Pippen and not be saddled with him through 2005. And I'm glad I don't have to root for him anymore (which I did grudgingly while he was here because I hated the Bulls). But, by signing Pippen the Rockets squandered a great opportunity to really improve the ballclub and either give Dream and Charles a legit shot at a ring or start rebuilding for the future. So, if the team hasn't recovered, why should I? ------------------ RealGM Gafford Art Artisan Cakes
Well, you gotta have heroes and villains. The Rockets are all heroes. Every Rocket who got traded away, but still bled Rocket Red was/is still a Rocket. Free agents who left us and players who demanded trades are villains. Just like the Jazz. Villains. It's fun to wish Pippen's team ill will, just like I wish the Jazz ill will. Now if Dream leaves, I dunno what I would do. ------------------ Founding Father of the Refs Suck Club
So where does the blame lie? With the person who hired the bad employee or the bad employee? If your boss hired a lame worker it could be said that he should have done his homework. did we do our homework? Was it our fault? I'm not saying it was, I'm just asking the question. ------------------ humble, but hungry.
I don't think it really matters who is to blame. Who cares at this point? The only people thinking about Quitten are us. I doubt the Rockets sit around all day wondering what if's. They are to busy dealing with what IS. ------------------ So, I took the million dollars and bought a steam shovel...
