Kobe-Defense-Pippen talk

[qwerty]

I am making this earlier than usual so that if anyone comes by some interesting snippets that they would like to share with others they can.

 

 

Washington Wizards (45-37) (16-25 on road) @ Chicago Bulls (47-35) (27-14 at home)

 

STARTING LINEUPS

 

Arizona-6'3-ARENAS St.Louis-6'5-HUGHES Indiana-6'11-JEFFRIES UNC-6'9-JAMISON UNC-7'-HAYWOOD

 

VS

 

Duke-6'1-DUHON Kansas-6'3-HINRICH Tau Ceramica-6'7-NOCIONI UTEP-6'9-DAVIS G'Town-6'9-HARRINGTON

Edited April 22, 2005 by qwerty

[Kalapse]

Marc Stein came out with his 2005 playoff power Rankings and had the Bulls 8th out of 16 teams. Here what he said:

 

8. Chicago Bulls

For only the 10th time in league history, a team is heading to the postseason without its leading scorer ... and eight of those 10 teams were dismissed in the first round.

 

The Bulls, though, aren't fretting too much about history, for a couple of reasons. Reason No. 1: Curry is indeed Chicago's top scorer at 16.1 ppg, but the Bulls' go-to guy is the very available Ben Gordon, a Goose Gossage-like closer (21 double-digit fourth quarters) who's bidding to become the first rookie ever to win Sixth Man Award honors. Reason No. 2: In spite of the scary Curry situation and the loss of Deng and a brutal schedule in February and March, Chicago is a stunning 38-18 since Jan. 1. That ranks the Bulls sixth in the league, behind only Dallas (39-14), Detroit (39-15), Phoenix (37-16), Houston (36-16) and Miami (35-16) and ahead of San Antonio (34-17). They can handle adversity, in other words, as confirmed by the Bulls' recovery from that 0-9 start.

 

Oh yeah, he had the Wizards 16th out of 16 teams.

 

16. Washington Wizards

This is a franchise that hasn't won a playoff series since 1982, and only the Clippers (stretching to their Buffalo Braves days in 1976) have a longer drought.

 

To end their own barren spell and beat Chicago, these Wizards must have dominance from each arm of the league's highest-scoring trio (Gilbert Arenas, Larry Hughes and Antawn Jamison).

 

The Bulls are shorthanded, true, without the sidelined Eddy Curry and Luol Deng, but Curry wasn't an automatic fourth-quarter participant for coach Scott Skiles in spite of his status as Chicago's only down-low scoring threat. Figure that the Bulls, even without Curry, can punish Washington's defensive and rebounding shortcomings while making Arenas, Hughes and Jamison work hard for their points. In what has to rank as one of the surprises of the season, in a season filled with them, Chicago still leads the league in opponent field-goal percentage at .422. Which makes me believe the Bulls advance at Washington's expense.

[Kalapse]

ESPN "Expert" Picks:

 

[SoxFan1]

Bill Walton is an idiot.

[qwerty]

And the winner is .. Shaquille O'Neal. He's simply the Most Valuable Player in the game. He transcends the game. .... If I was to say that there was anyone else who's deserving of it, it would probably be Dwyane Wade. I like how his game has expanded. I would throw Steve Nash into the discussion as well, but a guy who plays on offense and doesn't have an impact on the other end of the court doesn't really turn me on.

 

 

NBA Coach of the Year

 

And the winner .. Scott Skiles I'm a little biased because I've been able to watch Chicago all season long along with Skiles and I have a good understanding of how this team has transformed itself. I was in the mix when the Bulls were losing and couldn't win 20 games.... Skiles deserves the award. Has any team started from a lower place on the ladder than the Bulls before the season started and achieve success 82 games later? Plus, don't forget, the Bulls started out 0-9. Skiles has them playing defense and playing hard all season and they are a true team in every sense of the word.

 

NBA Rookie of the Year

 

And the winner is .. It's a tie! Co-Rookies of the Year: Ben Gordon and Emeka Okafor. I know, I know. You're a little surprised. Probably even shocked. After all, a few weeks ago I was pushing that Ben should win the award out right. But after watching Emeka play some more and comparing the stats, which are very similar, I've come to the conclusion that they're both doing great things for their teams....

 

Most Improved Player

 

And the winner is .. Amaré Stoudemire. Even though he's made a tremendous leap this year, this isn't an award for LeBron James. He won Rookie of the Year last year and he's already proven he's a great player. You can't come back and prove you're the most improved after that. He's just the best in his class. I like Kirk Hinrich of the Bulls as a candidate for Most Improved. He's been tremendous...

 

Defensive Player of the Year

 

And the winner is .. Allen Iverson. With the way the game's being called now, I don't see a lot of defense in the league. They don't physically give you a chance to challenge a guy.... The Rules Committee has taken all that out of that game and they're promoting scoring. ... 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? .... Allen Iverson gets my vote because of his ability to steal the basketball. He's expends so much energy on the offensive end, carrying the load for the Sixers while leading the league in scoring yet he also brings it on the defensive end...

 

Executive of the Year

And the winner is ... John Paxson Chicago Bulls. In the short amount of time he's been in Chicago, there isn't any doubt that John has made all of the right moves,including getting rid of my old behind. ... But I think John Paxson has done a tremendous job and really cleaned up the whole image of the team. He's gotten guys that come from winning organizations and desires nothing but to be the best. Thanks to his moves, not only is the present bright but so is the future.

 

Sixth Man of the Year

And the winner is ... Ben Gordon. Ben is a big part of the reason why the Bulls are where they are and heading into the playoffs. He's a rookie and he's coming in during situations that he's not familiar with yet responds and lights a spark under the team with his scoring ability. His ability to score when the game in on the line in the fourth quarter has been particularly impressive....

 

http://www.nba.com/blog/blog30.html

[SoxFan1]

Thats awesome. 4 awards for 1 team! They all deserve them. GO BULLS!

[greasywheels121]

Thats awesome. 4 awards for 1 team! They all deserve them. GO BULLS!

 

Look who wrote the article.

[SoxFan1]

Look who wrote the article.

I know but they are all realistic!

[SoxFan1]

Only thing I would argue is that "both Okafor and Gordon did a lot for their teams" What? Did the Bobcats make the playoffs????

[flippedoutpunk]

lets go bullies!!

[whitesoxin']

I'm so pumped for this game! It's been a long long time since one of my Chicago teams has been in the Playoffs.

[SoxFan1]

I'm so pumped for this game! It's been a long long time since one of my Chicago teams has been in the Playoffs.

Yeah..........all the way back to 2000!

[qwerty]

Only thing I would argue is that "both Okafor and Gordon did a lot for their teams" What? Did the Bobcats make the playoffs????

:headshake

[whitesoxin']

Yeah..........all the way back to 2000!

Well since 2000 for the Sox, 2001 for the Bears, and 1998 for the Bulls. That is a long drought IMO.

[Spod=Ratings]

besides the scrubs( Who no one cares about) was 98 the last time we advanced in the playoffs in the four major sports?

Edited April 24, 2005 by Spod=Ratings

[qwerty]

besides the scrubs( Who no one cares about) was 98 the last time we advanced in the playoffs in the four major sports?

 

Well since 2000 for the Sox, 2001 for the Bears, and 1998 for the Bulls. That is a long drought IMO.

[Spod=Ratings]

i meant win a series. like advance in the next round

Edited April 24, 2005 by Spod=Ratings

[qwerty]

Oh, and what pippen said about bowen makes him look like a f***ing moron. Not a good defensive player? He just has to run to his seven foot friend? Why the f*** is his seven foot friend not a first team defender then? Bown is one of the best defenders in the nba plain and simple. Everything else pippen said though i can see but that just pissed me off.

[qwerty]

i meant win a series. like advance in the next round

 

Qwerty = pwn3d.

Edited April 24, 2005 by qwerty

[nitetrain8601]

Oh, and what pippen said about bowen makes him look like a f***ing moron. Not a good defensive player? He just has to run to his seven foot friend? Why the f*** is his seven foot friend not a first team defender then? Bown is one of the best defenders in the nba plain and simple. Everything else pippen said though i can see but that just pissed me off.

 

It doesn't make him look like a dumbass. One of the greatest, if not the greatest lock down defender in history would know. How come Bowen didn't latch on with other teams like the Bulls??? How come when he was with the Heat his defense wasn't any good??? What Pip said was truth.

 

BTW, The Bulls will continue tradition and wear black shoes for at least tommorow's game.

[whitesoxin']

Qwerty = pwn3d.

qwerty = illiterate

 

Even the '98 Bulls, I was 9 years old so I didn't really get into it a lot. About all I remember is running around the house dancing after MJ hit that shot. The Bears got owned by the Eagles, the Sox got swept, and that is really it for playoffs with my teams when I've been old enough to comprehend stuff. Let's hope all of that changes this year with the Bulls AND Sox.

[qwerty]

It doesn't make him look like a dumbass. One of the greatest, if not the greatest lock down defender in history would know. How come Bowen didn't latch on with other teams like the Bulls??? How come when he was with the Heat his defense wasn't any good??? What Pip said was truth.

 

BTW, The Bulls will continue tradition and wear black shoes for at least tommorow's game.

 

His defense was good but people did not view him as a defender then. He was viewed as a solid guy who could make some threes. Until he was given the chance to show what his true skill was. He never stuck with a team or could even make a team because of how bad his mid range jump shot was. Bowen is not up for defensive player of the year, year in year out because he runs to a seven footer ( who is not a first team defensive player himself). Alot of people do not like bowen because he has the biggest reputation in the league for being dirty. He kicked wally in the face when he clearly didn't have to. He also uppercuts people and trips them purposely. Does it really matter if it took him so long to get into the league? Ben wallace was not drafted and he is a beast defensively. Just because a player wasn't given the chance or couldn't make it at a certain time doesn't mean they are not good, just overlooked or didn't have the desire.

 

Hinrich, nocioni, and duhon are probally only good defensively because they have two seven footers to run to right? Set up a poll on either ralgm or bbb and 90% or more will say he is one of the best perimeter defenders in the nba.

Edited April 24, 2005 by qwerty

[DBAHO]

It doesn't make him look like a dumbass. One of the greatest, if not the greatest lock down defender in history would know. How come Bowen didn't latch on with other teams like the Bulls??? How come when he was with the Heat his defense wasn't any good??? What Pip said was truth.

 

BTW, The Bulls will continue tradition and wear black shoes for at least tommorow's game.

Maybe because Bowen just had no offensive game back then whatsoever. The game of basketball has changed over the past 10 years, and lockdown guys like Bowen (who is one of the best if not the best defensive swingman in the game today) and Trenton Hassell who don't really get by well on offense have become very valuable on their teams.

[SleepyWhiteSox]

It doesn't make him look like a dumbass. One of the greatest, if not the greatest lock down defender in history would know. How come Bowen didn't latch on with other teams like the Bulls??? How come when he was with the Heat his defense wasn't any good??? What Pip said was truth.

 

BTW, The Bulls will continue tradition and wear black shoes for at least tommorow's game.

 

Agreed.

 

Pippen is one of the GREATEST defenders of all time. I would never view the man that gave us 6 championships as a "dumbass."

 

I'm sure posters at bbbb or whatever know a lot more than a six-time NBA World Champion, 4th in steals all-time, playoffs in 16 of 17 years, NBA All-Defensive Team from 1991-2000, 7-time All-Star, two-time Olympic gold medal winner, and one of the 50 greatest players of all-time...

 

But I'm going to go ahead and side with Pippen.

 

Seriously though, bad-mouthing Pippen is sacriligeous coming from a true Bulls fan, in my opinion...

[qwerty]

Agreed.

 

Pippen is one of the GREATEST defenders of all time.  I would never view the man that gave us 6 championships as a "dumbass." 

 

I'm sure posters at bbbb or whatever know a lot more than a six-time NBA World Champion, 4th in steals all-time, playoffs in 16 of 17 years, NBA All-Defensive Team from 1991-2000, 7-time All-Star, two-time Olympic gold medal winner, and one of the 50 greatest players of all-time...

 

But I'm going to go ahead and side with Pippen.

 

Seriously though, bad-mouthing Pippen is sacriligeous coming from a true Bulls fan, in my opinion...

 

To say bowen is not an elite defender is a dumbass comment. I don't care if jordan, kerr, or pippen said it.

Edited April 24, 2005 by qwerty