Pippen Blog on MJ vs Kobe...Interesting Stuff

[SoCalSpursFan]

Sorry if this has been posted already and sorry if this if off topic. I'm new to the forum but I thought you all might find this interesting.

Enjoy.

Pippen's Blog on MJ vs Kobe

[1Parker1]

Defense was promoted. Guys took pride in it. Today defense is no longer a part of the game. Guys are driving to the basket. There are rules where you can't step in front of them. To me, it is taking away from the game seeing a guy like Tony Parker taking advantage of the rules. He is shooting 55 percent from the field. That says something about the game itself.

While I think Pippen makes a few good points in the blog...such as how Kobe scoring 81 is not good for the team in the long-run, etc. I'm tired of every analyst in the NBA over-analyzing the performance.

[1Parker1]

Interesting Pippen evalulation on Bowen last year:

A lot of people mention Bruce Bowen as a candidate, but he's not a defensive player and he's never been a defensive player. He's got a seven-footer behind him who can block shots. What's his defense? Run you at the seven-footer? You put a seven-footer like Tim Duncan behind me, who's gonna get defensive player of the year, me or Tim Duncan? The deal with Bowen is he's 6-7 and there's not many people who can shoot over a 6-7 person. He never received the Defensive Player of the Year Award when he played in Miami, did he?

[T Park]

Pippen is a bitter, pathetic person.

[ALVAREZ6]

Pippen > NVE

[exstatic]

Pippen has a major "Robin" complex. What a . By his own logic, he never did because he played with Jordan.

[1Parker1]

Pippen has a major "Robin" complex.

That's funny.

[nkdlunch]

He sounds like a sour grape the whole time. But it's true before it was more physical game and now it's too easy for players to get to the basket 'cause of the way the officials call it now.

[Phenomanul]

He sounds like a sour grape the whole time. But it's true before it was more physical game and now it's too easy for players to get to the basket 'cause of the way the officials call it now.

After the Palace Brawl..... you would have to address on court physicallity... especially when there is such a fine line between aggressiveness, passion for the game, and borderline-unsportsmanlike conduct....

[implacable44]

I think he makes a lot of good points. The league is trying to promote scoring because that is what people want to see - that is what sells tickets. No way could Kobe have gone for 81 back in the 80's or eraly 90's - back when you could hand check and bump and there was no "protected" circle. Back when the no lay-up rule was in effect for guards coming down the lane - TP would be in trouble.

Who cares what he says about Bowen - I mean it is true - Bowen has a 7'foot TIm Duncan behind him who is first team all defense all the time. That allows him to cheat more and challenge more jumpers because when people drive around him - and they routinely do - there is TD waiting for them. Stop being a bunch of sensitive punks and accept the truth. Bowen is PERFECT for this team and he BENEFITS from Tim being on the floor.

[Medvedenko]

Pippen was getting owned by Kobe when he was in Portland....sad really and he was brought on to help this current lakers....Yeah I know if Jordan was in his prime he would average 50 in todays game....yadadada...just like if Kobe was in the 80's where scoring was up like crazy he would never reach 40
Bull I say...why, no zones or any sophisticated scouting or defensive schemes that technology today enables. There is better defense today than there ever has.

[implacable44]

Defense these days is terrible - who are you kidding ? the NBA today is filled with kids who grew up on the AND 1 mix tape mentality. I don't think the league has been this weak in 30 years. Today's player is the million dollar move and ten cent shot guy. Pippen was getting owned by Kobe when he was in Portland ? He was like 35-37 years old and Kobe was what ? - 22 23 ? Dude is one of the 50 greatest players ever.

[vanvannen]

Pippen was getting owned by Kobe when he was in Portland....sad really and he was brought on to help this current lakers....Yeah I know if Jordan was in his prime he would average 50 in todays game....yadadada...just like if Kobe was in the 80's where scoring was up like crazy he would never reach 40
Bull I say...why, no zones or any sophisticated scouting or defensive schemes that technology today enables. There is better defense today than there ever has.

Just a load of crap. So AI made MJ fall while he was guarding him (I think in AI's rookie season?) Does that make MJ a subpar defender? The guy was one of the best defensive players ever. So was Pippen, in my opinion the best SF of all time.

[implacable44]

Just a load of crap. So AI made MJ fall while he was guarding him (I think in AI's rookie season?) Does that make MJ a subpar defender? The guy was one of the best defensive players ever. So was Pippen, in my opinion the best SF of all time.

that would be LArry Bird thank you

[Que Gee]

Who cares what he says about Bowen - I mean it is true - Bowen has a 7'foot TIm Duncan behind him who is first team all defense all the time. That allows him to cheat more and challenge more jumpers because when people drive around him - and they routinely do - there is TD waiting for them. Stop being a bunch of sensitive punks and accept the truth. Bowen is PERFECT for this team and he BENEFITS from Tim being on the floor.

WELL SAID!

[DarkReign]

I have nightmares from the Bulls of the 90s to this day.

Prime Pippen > 99.9% of the players in the league right now.

Kobe isnt one of them, but I think the point about Kobe 'owning' him is laughable. Pippen was a broken down has-been who was in the league for the money at that point.

Now, put Kobe in the early 90s against Pippen. I see a much different outcome. not only because Scott was younger, but because there is no way, no how Kobe gets 40 on him. Scottie would straight elbow the young punk in the mouth, discouraging from ever trying to embarass him on the floor again.

I long for those days. This hand check, baby-stting superstar crap is so lame. You have guards leading the league in points in the paint.

GG NBA.

[nkdlunch]

Pippen was getting owned by Kobe when he was in Portland....sad really and he was brought on to help this current lakers....Yeah I know if Jordan was in his prime he would average 50 in todays game....yadadada...just like if Kobe was in the 80's where scoring was up like crazy he would never reach 40
Bull I say...why, no zones or any sophisticated scouting or defensive schemes that technology today enables. There is better defense today than there ever has.

It's not really the quality of today's defenses we're critizisig. It's the new rules and the new way the officials call the games, they don't let defenses get away with the same things as before. because like someone said they want to promote scoring.

If we bring the old knick or bulls teams to play in today's NBA, they would suck cause they all would foul out early.

[Medvedenko]

It's called Zone defense....why don't players average more than they did 15-20 years ago and why are team averages below those standards as well. Are the players worse than they were back in the day....In all sports, Hockey, Baseball and Basketball scoring has decreased...why, because defense is the mantra, that's what wins the ring and this has been preached for a long time now. Scoring is down for a reason and it's because of defensive schemes. Back when Wilt scored his 100 points his team scored like 170 points in that game and he took 60+ shots and 30+ ft's. Oh and Pippen is jealous.

[nkdlunch]

Pippen is jealous

jealous of what? he has 6 rings!

[leemajors]

medvedenko, the game has changed. you have to admit that. defenses have adapted to the new rules, but it was a lot harder to score 40 vs the pistons of late 80/early 90s and the knicks teams of the 90s. they beat you up, and you simply cannot do that anymore or you foul out like danny fortson.

[ManuTastic]

It's not really the quality of today's defenses we're critizisig. It's the new rules and the new way the officials call the games, they don't let defenses get away with the same things as before. because like someone said they want to promote scoring.

If we bring the old knick or bulls teams to play in today's NBA, they would suck cause they all would foul out early.

That's all true. Pippen is right: they ARE blowing the whistles quicker. And to me, that's a good thing. As Pippen says, today TMAc and Kobe and Nowitzki can score like crazy. And I would add: that's great, right? I mean, keeping a great player down by grabbing and holding and beating him up was the norm, and it sucked. Remember when the league was all about wasting high lottery picks on 7-ft stiffs? Remember those thrilling Knicks/Miami series that were more like rugby scrums? Remember how they were boring as ? Now teams draft actual players in the first round, and draft big 'projects' later on. The games are better, the players are better, and truly exciting players like Parker, AI, Kobe, etc. are flourishing. And they should. Good job NBA.

[implacable44]

It's called Zone defense....why don't players average more than they did 15-20 years ago and why are team averages below those standards as well. Are the players worse than they were back in the day....In all sports, Hockey, Baseball and Basketball scoring has decreased...why, because defense is the mantra, that's what wins the ring and this has been preached for a long time now. Scoring is down for a reason and it's because of defensive schemes. Back when Wilt scored his 100 points his team scored like 170 points in that game and he took 60+ shots and 30+ ft's. Oh and Pippen is jealous.

jealous - 6 rings - top 50 player ?

scoring was on the decline - I think it is on the rise - I do believe there are like 8-10 teams averaging 100 points a game- Miami, Detroit, Phoenix, Dallas, Boston, Denver, Philly,and Seattle to name some and then you have Sacramento, Golden state, Chicago and a few others are at 99 ppg.

[implacable44]

That's all true. Pippen is right: they ARE blowing the whistles quicker. And to me, that's a good thing. As Pippen says, today TMAc and Kobe and Nowitzki can score like crazy. And I would add: that's great, right? I mean, keeping a great player down by grabbing and holding and beating him up was the norm, and it sucked. Remember when the league was all about wasting high lottery picks on 7-ft stiffs? Remember those thrilling Knicks/Miami series that were more like rugby scrums? Remember how they were boring as ? Now teams draft actual players in the first round, and draft big 'projects' later on. The games are better, the players are better, and truly exciting players like Parker, AI, Kobe, etc. are flourishing. And they should. Good job NBA.

I don't know if I would agree that today's players are better than those of the 80's 90's.

[Medvedenko]

I never said Kobe vs the Pistons, Bulls, or the Knicks would score 81 points....just like I don't think Kobe can score 81 points vs the Pistons or the Spurs this year. So what the is your point. Pippen is still a chump and that's my opinion. Every team in that era was averaging over 100 points a game, great defense or ty players...you make the call

[Warlord23]

I think it is pretty pointless to compare across eras especially when one player has't completed his career ... also comparing single-game feats with career figures or season stats. Most of Kobe's achievements are either in 1 game or over a hot streak ... 81, 62 in 3, record no. of 3-pointers, # of 45+ point games etc.

I think the comparisons to MJ have to be made at the end of Kobe's career ... then we'll be talking season-wide or career-wide stats. Just a matter of matching up against 5 MVPs, 6 Finals MVPs, 10 Scoring les, 2 seasons of 200 steals + 100 blocks, #1 in all-time PPG average, a 32-8-8 season, etc etc