Sam Smith on 2010 HOF Inductee Scottie Pippen

::drives van off of bridge::

There was just something about that year that made it so fun. The old stadium’s last year, Kukoc was a rookie and it was Pippen’s team. It just made you realize how good Pippen was without Jordan. I think the 1994 year was just like the peak of 90’s basketball for the Bulls. Yeah they came back and won more with Rodman but all the rivals started to die off. Orlando gave them a good shot but that was nothing like the Knicks and Pistons. I think 94 was the last great series with the Knicks and the Bulls got a raw deal. But it was just a fun season.

Best commercial http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgy1sqJaaIM

great pip vid. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9vFHYVXtRk

to the 1.8 seconds issue is that Scottie had spent the entire year being that team’s MJ. He was the guy carrying the team, being the leader, being the centerpiece and focus of that team and at it’s most crucial point Phil went in another direction.

It worked out in the end and I don’t think Phil regrets it or thinks he made the wrong choice but it was still unfair to Pip. Should he have pouted and taken himself out of the play? Probably not, but how would MJ have reacted in that same situation?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-D9Zf6uMdDk

When is Kukoc gettin’ in?

Especially for someone who grew up in northern california during the time and, without the rise of the internet, really knew nothing of the ‘behind the scenes’ stuff that went on. A few things stick out as I read this:

1. It really seemed as if there were no heroes or villains within the organization; just 4 polarizing figures that made you jump either left or right depending on what you hear about them. Those figures, of course, being MJ, Scottie, Krause and Phil.
2. Obviously this is just wild speculation, but you get the feeling that if Krause from back then were running the LeRod Cavs then those teams would have won multiple titles. Small sample, I know, but Krause seemed to draft and trade in what he felt was in the best interest of the Bulls and not how Jordan particularly wanted things. Imagine a GM/Owner tandem in Cleveland that did not spend the last 5 years catering to what a high school graduate with no real scouting ability and what he wants.
3. Wow, one of 12 kids. I do not want to even get into why anyone would have that many kids, but just wow regardless.
4. Why isn’t Horace Grant introducing Scottie? Are they no longer as close as they were?

I suppose that is all.

I’ll say what’s on my mind—I’m not going to be a phony—and sometimes people don’t like that. I don’t like making a front.

The Bulls wanted someone to go out and be quiet. They say, ’You’re a player and you do your job.’ That’s not me. I know some things I’ve said or things I’ve done haven’t always been understood, but if it comes down to speaking your feelings or doing what you have to do, you’re cheating yourself if you don’t voice your opinion. You’re allowing people to run over you. And I’ll never do that."

he was the defensive mastermind of the bulls dynasty. steals, blocks, dunks, long arms, very graceful and all those pull up 3s – hell yeah that was scottie pippen! My favorite player growing up.

In the spring of 1991 I was sitting in Spanish class at Evanston high school (ETHS, wuuuut!) when we noticed a bunch of kids running down the hall in the middle of the period. One of them stopped at the door and whispered something to the kid sitting closest, then word started spreading around the room and kids just started getting up and leaving right in the middle of class. It turned out Scottie was getting a haircut across the street, Evanston having the closest black barbershop to wherever he lived up on the north shore. It was a mob scene.

Contrast that with the next year when Jim Harbaugh, then the starting quarterback of the Bears, came to do a voter registration drive and sat through three straight lunch periods in the corner of the cafeteria and was just plain ignored by everyone.

Anyway I love me some Scottie. Maybe not the greatest player ever but definitely my favorite.

“Ewing for Smith. Smith. Stripped Smith. Stopped Smith. Stopped again by Pippen! What a play by Scottie Pippen!” THAT WAS NIIIICE

“Scottie is not the kind of player to make winning shots, game-winning plays, but he was always more unselfish than Michael. If I were on the floor, I’d want to play with a guy like Pippen more than Jordan, but the perception always runs ahead of the reality, and Michael was the guy always perceived as hitting that winning shot and Scottie not doing it.”

Steve Kerr used to recount times on the floor he’d go several minutes and not get a shot and become a bit wary. He said Pippen would run by him and say, "I know you haven’t gotten a shot. Don’t worry. Next time, I’ll get you one." Kerr said it was uncanny Pippen seemed to know what everyone on the court needed.

but you better believe i had my Scottie jersey too, and i remember jumping out of my seat watching that dunk on Ewing on TV.
 i always believed Scottie was as much of an athlete as MJ. the measurables are there. similar height and weight. both dunked from the foul line. similar speed. MJ might’ve had the edge in intangibles/ “it” factor, but Scottie was just like the glue that held it all together. did the dirty work. basically defined the term “point forward”. i just always loved his game. silky smooth. and his long arms just made him a nightmare on defense. that combo of having the two best players at SG and PG is what really made the dynasty IMO.

…and i will say, when “the decision” happened, Heat fans would tell me “oh, you guys had a Dream Team back in the day, too.” all i can say is the Bulls never “colluded” to build a dynasty. they did it what i consider the right way: draft great players, put perfect compliments around them, give them a genius coach.

MJ- drafted
Pip- drafted
HoGrant- drafted
Rodman- so much baggage many teams wouldn’t take him on.
Kukoc- drafted (i point him out b/c someone told me “the Bulls went and got the best Euro player.” hey, other teams had the chance to draft him)
BJ- drafted
Pax- signed as a 2nd or 3rd year player if i recall

they just don’t build teams like that anymore.

Scottie is also my favorite Bull of all time. It’s really nice to see that I’m not alone in this.

Congrats Pip!

He’s got to take a small role first to rise up the ranks to top chef.

The story about Kerr is what I like. A few years back Pippen was the third wheel on the CSN crew for the playoffs. Between quarters Pippen was talking about what the Bulls had done. Pip was walking through every single movement on the court in the quarter. Every pass, every shot, and every missed opportunity. Sam talks about Phil saying Pippen was the smartest player he’d ever coached.

Pippen has a gifted mind for the game. I hope he takes a low man coaching role to get a shot at exercising that talent.