Pippen's Career - Bulls win in 1994 and Blazers win in 2000

[migya]

Had the Bulls beaten the Knicks in the 1994 playoffs and beaten the Rockets and won that championship and the Blazers beaten the Lakers in that WCF game 7 in 2000 and beaten the Pacers and won that championship, how is Pippen's Career viewed. How much better is he and where is he alltime among players?

[Statlanta]

green font. He becomes better than Michael Jordan and LeBron. green font.

He becomes better than Durant and around Dr. J.

[Narigo]

Depends on how well he plays

[HBK_Kliq_33]

A blown call in 94 and blown 15 point lead in 2000 from 8 rings and probably 1 finals MVP. I would say he moves in to the top 15-top 10 and is ranked around where Kevin Garnett is.

[liamliam1234]

Well, the 1994 hypothetical is pretty ridiculous. The aftereffects on Jordan and Hakeem’s standing alone would be massive.

But if the Blazers do not have that meltdown in 2000 and they lose a fair series against the Rockets in 1994, I think he jumps up a few spots. Where he is now is, what, borderline top twenty-five? I think it would give him a pretty good case over Barkley, at least, and plenty of casual fans would use it as a reason to put him over Garnett and Robinson. So average there is like borderline top twenty?

[migya]

Well, the 1994 hypothetical is pretty ridiculous. The aftereffects on Jordan and Hakeem’s standing alone would be massive.

But if the Blazers do not have that meltdown in 2000 and they lose a fair series against the Rockets in 1994, I think he jumps up a few spots. Where he is now is, what, borderline top twenty-five? I think it would give him a pretty good case over Barkley, at least, and plenty of casual fans would use it as a reason to put him over Garnett and Robinson. So average there is like borderline top twenty?

Just hypothetical.

Pippen winning it all without Jordan would be huge because he always stands in Jordan's shadow and many don't think he was quite the winner, though quite a number did give him rave reviews for his 1994 season and rightfully so.

I think he moves ahead of the likes of DrJ and maybe Garnett. Top 20, maybe in the top 15.

Pippen certainly could have done himself well taking over the 4th quarter in that game 7 v Lakers, it was in his hands.

[Sublime187]

MJ stans would have a heart attack if the Bulls won in 94 lol.

[Jiminy Glick]

Well just say he won 7 rings, his ranking would increase to where it belongs. He is underrated.

[HBK_Kliq_33]

Well, the 1994 hypothetical is pretty ridiculous. The aftereffects on Jordan and Hakeem’s standing alone would be massive.

But if the Blazers do not have that meltdown in 2000 and they lose a fair series against the Rockets in 1994, I think he jumps up a few spots. Where he is now is, what, borderline top twenty-five? I think it would give him a pretty good case over Barkley, at least, and plenty of casual fans would use it as a reason to put him over Garnett and Robinson. So average there is like borderline top twenty?

Just hypothetical.

Pippen winning it all without Jordan would be huge because he always stands in Jordan's shadow and many don't think he was quite the winner, though quite a number did give him rave reviews for his 1994 season and rightfully so.

I think he moves ahead of the likes of DrJ and maybe Garnett. Top 20, maybe in the top 15.

Pippen certainly could have done himself well taking over the 4th quarter in that game 7 v Lakers, it was in his hands.

Yeah I feel Pippen is the KG of small forwards. KG just plays with more energy, so people like to overrate his impact.

-elite length
-goat level athleticism for position
-goat level defense
-elite playmaking for position

Problem is with both of them is ability to take over the game. 2010 KG had the same opportunity as 2000 Pippen to take over 4th quarter vs Lakers but they both could not. KG'S career naturally should have been to be a goat level sidekick to a great scorer and win a bunch of rings, just like Pippen. KG instead was the man on his team and never could get them over the hump in the playoffs until he became the 2nd scoring option in Boston.

[No-more-rings]

Them Bulls wouldn’t have beaten the Rockets.

[bledredwine]

I’m so tired of seeing these closer-Jordan threads and will simply call them out. What a coincidence that everyone’s so curious about Scottie Pippen! I didn’t realize that we had so many Bulls fans.

Anyway,
The BUlls vastly overachieved in Pippen’s best season and their point differential indicated what should have been a considerably worse record.

Pippen is excellent, but these hypotheticals are ridiculous.

If Pippen was able to become a 25 point scoring threat in the playoffs who can put on 30 point series when needed while maintaining a dynamic playing style, carrying the team to wins? Then he would have been a completely different player. This thread is basically saying “what if Pippen was a better Michael Jordan, but was still Pippen”, the irony being that many here were comparing Kawhi to Jordan (of course, spur of the moment).

But Pippen was definitely a second option, much in the same style that Stockton or Payton was. None of those three could take over games as number one option against the best teams. They didn’t have an ability to create offense out of thin air like so few can.

I’ve noticed that there are a ton of threads altering the reality directly or second-hand regarding Jordan. I’m sure that it isn’t a coincidence and highly doubt that this thread is genuinely curious about Pippen. The picture isn’t painted as you guys wish, because the reality is that he was that good/important and won that much not simply because of teammates. Pippen (2nd option) was needed, like any other of the GOATs in history.

[Jaivl]

Jordan goes from overrated to underrated for the casuals.

[Cavsfansince84]

I still feel to this day that the 94 Bulls' ability to get to 55 wins says more about the overall depth and mindset they had developed to win as a team as well as Phil's/Tex's coaching than it did Pippen's ability to excel as the #1/leader of a team. I give Pippen some credit for that year as well but that was a team that didn't really need leadership from Pippen imo.

[Sark]

A blown call in 94 and blown 15 point lead in 2000 from 8 rings and probably 1 finals MVP. I would say he moves in to the top 15-top 10 and is ranked around where Kevin Garnett is.

That wasn't a blown call. He fouled Davis. In today's game that would be a flagrant 1.

[migya]

I’m so tired of seeing these closer-Jordan threads and will simply call them out. What a coincidence that everyone’s so curious about Scottie Pippen! I didn’t realize that we had so many Bulls fans.

Anyway,
The BUlls vastly overachieved in Pippen’s best season and their point differential indicated what should have been a considerably worse record.

Pippen is excellent, but these hypotheticals are ridiculous.

If Pippen was able to become a 25 point scoring threat in the playoffs who can put on 30 point series when needed while maintaining a dynamic playing style, carrying the team to wins? Then he would have been a completely different player. This thread is basically saying “what if Pippen was a better Michael Jordan, but was still Pippen”, the irony being that many here were comparing Kawhi to Jordan (of course, spur of the moment).

But Pippen was definitely a second option, much in the same style that Stockton or Payton was. None of those three could take over games as number one option against the best teams. They didn’t have an ability to create offense out of thin air like so few can.

I’ve noticed that there are a ton of threads altering the reality directly or second-hand regarding Jordan. I’m sure that it isn’t a coincidence and highly doubt that this thread is genuinely curious about Pippen. The picture isn’t painted as you guys wish, because the reality is that he was that good/important and won that much not simply because of teammates. Pippen (2nd option) was needed, like any other of the GOATs in history.

Keep your accusations of supposed motives that someone else has to yourself. My point was about Pippen, not Jordan, and I'm not a Bulls fan and yes, Jordan is the GOAT and much better than Lebron.

Pippen is undervalued alltime but almost proved he could win it all as the best player on a team.