Better defender: Pippen or MJ?

[thabisyo]

Who was the mastermind defender behind the bulls championships?

No agendas

[andgar923]

MJ

[Electric Slide]

Pippen

before someone says Jordan was doing all the work offensively, Pippen in 94 when he was doing all the work offensively was a better defender than Jordan ever was.

[wally_world]

MJ was the slightly better man-to-man defender, just because of his intensity and determination to win.

Pippen the better all-around defender (weakside blocks, versatility, passing lanes etc).

[KNOW1EDGE]

MJ was the slightly better man-to-man defender, just because of his intensity and determination to win.

Pippen the better all-around defender (weakside blocks, versatility, passing lanes etc).

what he said.

Pippen was longer and more versatile.

But Jordan was quicker, lower to the ground, and had the intensity and determination.

[NumberSix]

MJ was the best at everything ever. Obvi.

[Marchesk]

MJ was the best at everything ever. Obvi.

Only until Wilt is brought into the conversation

[andgar923]

Pippen

before someone says Jordan was doing all the work offensively, Pippen in 94 when he was doing all the work offensively was a better defender than Jordan ever was.

MJ was the Bulls' go to stopper, not Pip.

Sure, usually the defensive assignments got split up between them (and Harper during the last 3 peat), but when they needed to stop somebody it was MJ that covered that player.

Another myth that surrounds this kinda talk is that Pip was not only the player that covered the other team's best scorer, but he was used as a free safety of sorts. So which is it?

In fact both MJ and Pip roamed and were assigned the best scorer (depending on position and match ups). MJ was just as good if not better as a help defender due to his instincts, IQ and timing. Pip naturally could cover more ground due to his length, but MJ was the smarter tougher defender.

But Pip got done up many more times. Many many more times.

[SamuraiSWISH]

1st 3-peat: MJ
2nd 3-peat: Pippen

Career Totality: MJ

Better instincts, IQ, playing of angles, superior lateral quickness, anticipation skills, lockdown man defender, excellent help defender, elite pick pocket skills, a demon in the passing lanes.

Pippen at his best was merely more versatile due to a couple of extra inches in height and wingspan.

[CavaliersFTW]

dat doberman defense

[havoc33]

Pippen was the best overall defender. His ability to read defenses and disrupt the offensive flow was unmatched. His excellent basketball IQ, huge wingspan and athletic ability all contributed to this. After the 97 Finals defeat, both Stockton and Malone admitted that Pippen was the most difficult task with facing the Bulls, not Jordan.

The defense Pippen played from 92-98 is some of the best I've ever seen in basketball.

[East_Stone_Ya]

Pippen due to his versatility as defender. He could guard players 1 to 3 and sometimes even 4.

[CJ Mustard]

Jordan was the greatest wing defender ever.

[Harison]

Phil said something along those lines "for entire game Pippen sometimes was a better defender than Jordan, but when it mattered the most - MJ could completely shut-down his man."

[jstern]

I always heard that it was Jordan, but it has all gotten blurred with anti Jordan agendas on the internet. I saw a video of Barkley, Kenny, Magic agreeing that Jordan was the best defender of his era.

And I understand how it must feel for people who didn't watch Jordan play with people constantly saying that he was the best at this or that, must sound brainwash. But what can you do if its true. I think it has to do with Jordan's mind, focus determination. Obsessive to be the best.