When MJ told Pippen to guard a young Kobe for him

[GrayGoat]

https://youtu.be/YYein2YQ794
First actual competition at the guard spot and MJ got his ass whooped

[3ba11]

.

Pippen couldn't handle quick wings with good handle like Hill or Kobe:


http://cdn.makeagif.com/media/10-10-2015/NZrhCv.gif



Here's Kobe shaking his head after breaking Pippen BADLY in 99' - Pippen is joke to him:


http://cdn.makeagif.com/media/10-10-2015/DtKoPr.gif..



But just a few months earlier, Jordan had no problem stuffing Kobe's crossover in 98' ASG:


http://cdn.makeagif.com/media/10-10-2015/EStPHq.gif



Here's another one - Pippen can't handle Grant off-the-dribble - he can't stay in front:


http://cdn.makeagif.com/media/10-09-2015/5FXjSn.gif



But MJ can - he stays in front of Grant every step of the way and forces wild shot:


http://cdn.makeagif.com/media/10-10-2015/n1LWjI.gif


The reason MJ was so much better defending quick ballhandlers like Hill, Kobe or Westbrook is because he was a 2-guard, and was the frequently the primary, all-game defender on quick point guards.

For example, MJ was matched up against Gary Payton from the TIP-OFF in Game 3 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meL62CUehuw&t=0m48s) and Game 5 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFiqeJcgXfg) of the NBA Finals and was the main defender throughout the game..

MJ was also the main defender and matched up from the tip-off against Isiah Thomas (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9MfhFFE7fc&t=0m28s) and Rod Strickland (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3JqY3CECW8).. And we all know he was matched up from tip-off against Magic, when he guarded Magic for 14 of 20 quarters (http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showpost.php?p=11713075&postcount=45) (70%) in the 1991 Finals.

MJ's far greater experience playing quick ballhandling guards and his superior athleticism made him a better perimeter defender than Pippen

[3ba11]

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DPOY VOTING

1988.... MJ (1st).... Pip (none)
1989.... MJ (5th).... Pip (none)
1990.... MJ (5th).... Pip (none)
1991.... MJ (7th).... Pip (7th)
1992.... MJ (3rd).... Pip (3rd)
1993.... MJ (2nd)... Pip (none)
1996.... MJ (5th).... Pip (2nd)
1997.... MJ (5th).... Pip (4th)
1998.... MJ (4th).... Pip (9th)


^^^^ MJ was clearly considered the better defender AT THE TIME, and Pippen's defensive capabilities have been vastly overrated by revisionist historians since... :confusedshrug:... the dpoy voting and various other sources (like the NBA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOgJhzj4W9M&t=35m00s)) confirm the actual sentiment at the time (that MJ was the Bulls' best defender)

[GrayGoat]

MJ asked Pippen because MJ couldn’t limit Kobe. Kobe lot him up for 51pts

[3ba11]

MJ asked Pippen because MJ couldn’t limit Kobe. Kobe lot him up for 51pts


MJ didn't defend Kobe in that game - Stackhouse guarded him

Ultimately, MJ was clearly a better defender than Pippen based on:

1) DPOY voting

2) the eye test (see gifs above)

3) Phil's opinion (he choose Jordan as primary defender on Magic, Drexler, Payton, Isiah - all the best players),

4) everyone's general opinion (see video below)

5) Jordan carried the GOAT scoring load while Pippen had the smallest scoring burden ever, so he could focus on defense, yet he was still inferior defender




MJ asked Pippen because MJ couldn’t limit Kobe. Kobe lot him up for 51pts


93' Jordan was clearly viewed as the Bulls' best defender, and even the LEAGUE'S:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GilQsS3oifM&t=02m47s



Here's the exchange in the 91' Finals between Marv Albert and Mike Fratello when MJ gets his 2nd foul in Game 2:



ALBERT: Do you stay with Jordan on Johnson?

FRATELLO: There's no question that he's the best guy to play Magic Johnson, but maybe you pick and choose when you put him on Magic..."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o8l6oM6Jeg&t=12m23s



^^^ this sentiment was echoed by the NBA in the Bulls' Championship Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeAUz2dZ_NQ&t=35m03s

[TheGoatest]

Nothing new here. The Great Scott Pippen guarding the opponents' best player is what kicked-off the Bulls' championship run back in 1991.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eibq7MpTAvE

jordon was never the best perimeter defender on the Bulls championship teams, nor even the second best overall defender.

[AirBonner]

Nothing new here. The Great Scott Pippen guarding the opponents' best player is what kicked-off the Bulls' championship run back in 1991.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eibq7MpTAvE

jordon was never the best perimeter defender on the Bulls championship teams, nor even the second best overall defender.

Big facts

[Hey Yo]

Pippen guarded Magic the majority of the 91 finals. 3ball posted an article recently not knowing that one 20 things noted in the article was that Phil called on Pip to lockdown Magic.

Another backfire.... getting easier and easier

[3ba11]

Pippen guarded Magic the majority of the 91 finals. 3ball posted an article recently not knowing that one 20 things noted in the article was that Phil called on Pip to lockdown Magic.

Another backfire.... getting easier and easier


You're obviously purposefully lying to get a reaction and I'll happily play along as the educator

Pippen guarded Magic for 5 of the 20 quarters in the 91' Finals

This includes the 2nd, 3rd and 4th quarters of Game 2 and the 2nd and 3rd quarters of Game 3... And the last 4 minutes of Game 4

That's it

Jordan guarded Magic the entirety of Games 1, 4, and 5, and also the critical Game 3 fourth quarter and OT

So again, Phil choose MJ as the primary defender on the best player (Drexler, Magic, Payton, Isiah) and Jordan got more DPOY votes nearly every year (despite goat scoring burden, while also having the media consistently say that he was the Bulls' best defender

Carry on

[Hey Yo]

Not according to the article you recently linked.


It's over for your Pippen schtick...

[3ba11]

Not according to the article you recently linked.


It's over for your Pippen schtick...


Everything I linked says Jordan was the Bulls' best defender and even the LEAGUE'S - any mention that Pippen guarded Magic is just the media trying to dumb things down for everyone.

But Jordan was the primary defender on Magic.. There's a thread on RealGM that charted every possession - Jordan guarded him for 70% of possessions.. Or you could skim through the games yourself.

Pippen guarded Magic for 5 of the 20 quarters in the 91' Finals

This includes the 2nd, 3rd and 4th quarters of Game 2 and the 2nd and 3rd quarters of Game 3... And the last 4 minutes of Game 4

That's it

Jordan guarded Magic the entirety of Games 1, 4, and 5, and also the critical Game 3 fourth quarter and OT

So again, Phil choose MJ as the primary defender on the best player (Drexler, Magic, Payton, Isiah) and Jordan got more DPOY votes nearly every year (despite goat scoring burden, while also having the media consistently say that he was the Bulls' best defender

Carry on

[bison]

.

DPOY VOTING

1988.... MJ (1st).... Pip (none)
1989.... MJ (5th).... Pip (none)
1990.... MJ (5th).... Pip (none)
1991.... MJ (7th).... Pip (7th)
1992.... MJ (3rd).... Pip (3rd)
1993.... MJ (2nd)... Pip (none)
1996.... MJ (5th).... Pip (2nd)
1997.... MJ (5th).... Pip (4th)
1998.... MJ (4th).... Pip (9th)


^^^^ MJ was clearly considered the better defender AT THE TIME, and Pippen's defensive capabilities have been vastly overrated by revisionist historians since... :confusedshrug:... the dpoy voting and various other sources (like the NBA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOgJhzj4W9M&t=35m00s)) confirm the actual sentiment at the time (that MJ was the Bulls' best defender)

Pippen wasn’t a great defender for most of his career, particular his first several years. MJ had to instill it into him and teach him to be a better defender. MJ basically daddy dicked Pippen into being a good sidekick eventually resulting into back to back 3peats. MJ had to work to make his right hand man great. Compare to Lebron whose sidekicks were readymade and fully developed by the time they were gifted to Bron as teammates, eg Kyrie Wade and AD. MJ never had that luxury yet managed to win more than Bron.