Before we bash Scottie too much, let's remember how important he was to MJ and those Bulls teams.
Batman definitely needed Robin in that instance.
Ive been wanting to post this video. Jordans 1-9 record with some context.
Below are some excerpts and stats from games where Mike and Scottie played together in some important playoff series. this was before they won any titles.
89 ECSF, GAME 6 VS KNICKS
Pippen was ejected at the end of the 3rd quarter.
Bulls are a 6 seed team vs 2 seed Knicks.
Without Pippen, MJ drops 12–2–3–1–2 in only the 4th quarter, and the game-winning FTs to get the Bulls in the ECF for the first time in history.
’89 ECF VS PISTONS
Jordan shutdown Isiah in the series to 39% FG.
MJ carried them to 2 wins vs Pistons.
no other team beat them once in the playoffs.
Pippen had a poor 10–7–3 on 40% for the series, while Jordan had to shut down the best player, Isiah, and with Pippen disappearing they lose.
’91 FINALS GAME 3 VS LAKERS
People bring up one game where Pippen did good D on Magic, but forget this.
Pippen fouled out in Game 3 with 10 secs left, Bulls down 2.
Without Pippen, Jordan nails the game tying shot, and causes the deflection on the next possession to force OT.
Jordan leads the Bulls on a 14–4 run after Pippen fouls out, and scores or sets up 12 of their 14 pts.
Without Pippen, Jordan shuts down Magic to 0–0–0 on 0/2 FG and steals a turnover from Magic in the OT to take the 2–1 series lead.
88 SERIES VS CLEVELAND
GAME 1 — BULLS WON 104–93
Scottie Pippen — 0 pts, 2 rebs, 2 ast, 1 stl, 1 blk, 2 tov on 0/5 (00% FG) in 19 minutes
Michael Jordan — 50 pts, 7 rebs, 2 ast, 2 stl, 2 blk, 5 tov on 19/35 (54% FG) in 44 minutes
GAME 2 — BULLS WON 106–101
Scottie Pippen — 8 pts, 12 rebs, 2 ast, 0 stl, 1 blk, 3 tov on 4/8 (50% FG) in 30 minutes
Michael Jordan — 55 pts, 6 rebs, 3 ast, 4 stl, 1 blk, 1 tov on 24/45 (53% FG) in 44 minutes
GAME 3 — CAVS WON 110–102
Scottie Pippen — 6 pts, 1 rebs, 3 ast, 0 stl, 1 blk, 2 tov on 3/7 (43% FG) in 16 minutes
Michael Jordan — 38 pts, 5 rebs, 9 ast, 2 stl, 1 blk, 4 tov on 12/25 (48% FG) in 44 minutes
GAME 4 — CAVS WON 97–91
Scottie Pippen — 15 pts, 5 rebs, 0 ast, 0 stl, 2 blk, 3 tov on 7/11 (64% FG) in 30 minutes
Michael Jordan — 44 pts, 5 rebs, 4 ast, 4 stl, 2 blk, 4 tov on 18/25 (72% FG) in 42 minutes
GAME 5 — BULLS WON 107–101
Scottie Pippen — 24 pts, 6 rebs, 5 ast, 3 stl, 0 blk, 3 tov on 10/20 (50% FG) in 39 minutes
Michael Jordan — 39 pts, 4 rebs, 6 ast, 2 stl, 2 blk, 7 tov on 12/22 (55% FG) in 43 minutes
In the very next round Bulls faced Detroit Pistons and in that series Pippen started all 5 games and averaged 9.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.4 apg, 0.8 spg and 0.6 bpg on 46% FG in 32 mpg. Meanwhile Jordan averaged 27.4 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 4.6 apg, 2 spg, 0.6 bpg on 49% FG in 42 mpg.
GAME 1 — DETROIT WON 93–82
Scottie Pippen — 2 pts, 3 rebs, 1 ast, 1 stl, 0 blk, 1 tov on 1/6 (17% FG) in 23 minutes
Michael Jordan — 29 pts, 11 rebs, 6 ast, 0 stl, 1 blk, 5 tov on 12/22 (55% FG) in 43 minutes
GAME 2 — CHICAGO WON 105–95
Scottie Pippen — 4 pts, 4 rebs, 5 ast, 1 stl, 1 blk, 3 tov on 2/6 (33% FG) in 26 minutes
Michael Jordan — 36 pts, 11 rebs, 1 ast, 1 stl, 1 blk, 2 tov on 14/22 (64% FG) in 44 minutes
GAME 3 — DETROIT WON 101–79
Scottie Pippen — 15 pts, 6 rebs, 1 ast, 0 stl, 0 blk, 2 tov on 7/11 (64% FG) in 32 minutes
Michael Jordan — 24 pts, 7 rebs, 3 ast, 1 stl, 1 blk, 5 tov on 8/20 (40% FG) in 38 minutes
GAME 4 — DETROIT WON 96–77
Scottie Pippen — 15 pts, 7 rebs, 3 ast, 2 stl, 0 blk, 3 tov on 7/14 (50% FG) in 37 minutes
Michael Jordan — 23 pts, 7 rebs, 5 ast, 6 stl, 0 blk, 3 tov on 11/22 (50% FG) in 45 minutes
GAME 5 — DETROIT WON 102–95
Scottie Pippen — 11 pts, 6 rebs, 2 ast, 0 stl,
2 blk, 4 tov on 5/11 (45% FG) in 42 minutes
Michael Jordan — 25 pts, 8 rebs, 8 ast, 2 stl, 0 blk, 3 tov on 10/22 (45% FG) in 43 minutes
...I know he hates to hear it, but Jordan did build that mentally unstable nikka up. It becomes clearer and clearer the more time passes that this dude would not have made it long on his own.
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