Pippen wants to coach Bulls

[Elano]

Larry Bird never coached before he led the Indiana Pacers to the NBA Finals.

Pat Riley was briefly a Lakers assistant but primarily a broadcaster before becoming one of the most decorated coaches in NBA history.

Isiah Thomas never had coached, and while it's not going well for him now in New York, he had three productive seasons in his first coaching job with the Indiana Pacers.

Don Nelson was an assistant coach in Milwaukee for two months before beginning what should be a Hall of Fame career.

Doug Collins was briefly an Arizona State recruiting assistant before coming to the Bulls. Doc Rivers never coached before being named NBA coach of the year in his rookie season in Orlando. Avery Johnson was on Nelson's staff less than one season before taking over as head coach and taking the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals and being named coach of the year.

So why not Scottie Pippen as the next coach of the Bulls?

"What's my disadvantage?" Pippen asked. "No NBA coaching experience? [Scott] Skiles' record with the Bulls wasn't that great. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to do what you've done your whole life. I've played basketball, run teams and won.

"They didn't put me at point guard because I could dribble good. They put me there because I could run a team. I wasn't the best dribbler, the best shooter. I wasn't a point guard. But I knew how to run a team."

Pippen, who is living in Ft. Lauderdale and dabbling in a few business ventures, clearly has given this some thought.

"With a guy who loved to touch it and shoot all the time, I was able to keep him under control," Pippen said, referring, of course, to Michael Jordan. "That didn't come from the bench, it came from making the right decisions. You try to make the game fun for everyone and then we were able to find Mike. The games I felt he was getting off too much, I'd find a way to get other guys off. And then guys weren't running at him all the time and he could take off in the right place."

Pippen wonders why he hasn't been approached about getting into coaching.

"What's the key to this good ol' boy system they have?" he asked. "You've got to go to Europe and coach two years? Sit next to someone for a year? And then looking at someone like me and trying to figure out how your team did it, how you got there every time? Guys like Skiles have never been there. Can he give a motivation speech like someone who's been in those games? I've played for championships.

"What experience do you need? You have assistants who have been there. If I made a mistake, I wouldn't be the first coach to make a mistake. I'd love the opportunity to be part of the organization now that Skiles is gone. I've won championships with this organization and been in the competition when everything was on the line. I was a coach on the floor. Why isn't that experience?"

Jim Boylan is the Bulls' coach for the rest of the season and could catch lightning in a bottle and earn the job. Veterans who have been NBA coach of the year, like Larry Brown and Rick Carlisle, are lining up. Around the NBA, coaching the Bulls is considered the best job available with a solid, if not great, core, management that's willing to pay for players, a loyal fan base and first-class facilities.

But Pippen? The guy who had the migraine headache, the 1.8-seconds-left strike, the sundry embarrassing episodes? Yes, Pippen, the player Phil Jackson entrusted to run the triangle offense. Teammates regarded him as one of the smartest players in the league, and trusted him to involve them in the game.

Pippen may not know where Musharraf comes from, but he knows where the double team is coming from and where to find open space. He has an innate feel for the game, if not always social niceties.

As Pippen likes to say, "How many titles did Jordan win without me?"

Their fierce rivalry and competition fueled those championship Bulls teams. No one could slack off watching the two go at one another in practice the way they did. The games became the easy part.

I recall Steve Kerr remarking that Pippen was the one who'd know when you needed a shot to find your rhythm and where you felt comfortable getting the ball. Pippen would consult with Jackson on defensive strategy, and it was he who suggested he take Magic Johnson in the 1991 Finals, which proved decisive.

Playing the point forward role that might have been invented with him in mind, Pippen brought a dysfunctional Trail Blazers team to the brink of the 2000 NBA Finals. But injuries got the best of him afterward.

General manager John Paxson signed Pippen in 2003 for leadership, but Pippen was injured and says he mostly backed off after Bill Cartwright was fired.

"I didn't come there to play for Skiles," Pippen said. "I didn't like him, didn't like him as a player."

One question about Pippen is whether he'd put in the necessary work, but he seems eager. He's leaving for Sweden and Finland this week to play in some exhibition games with club teams.

Why?

"They wanted to see the best," he said with a laugh. "Who else would they ask?"

But Pippen says he's serious about coaching, and if there is an opening in Chicago, be believes he's perfect. He has been watching the Bulls. And one thing we know about Pippen is he's not afraid to say what he thinks.

["THE" MoSav]

LOL!!

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

LOL...not after what he said about some of the Bulls players:


Scottie Pippen on the current Bulls

By Sam Smith | Tribune pro basketball reporter
10:49 PM CST, December 30, 2007

Scottie Pippen says he has been watching the Bulls. Here are some of his observations:

On Tyrus Thomas:
"He can be a defender and a shot blocker. You don't want him taking those ill-advised shots, jumping and trying to pass the ball. He dribbles better with his left hand than his right. He must have broken his arm when he was a kid. He shouldn't be dribbling. He should be a fetcher. Like Ben Wallace, [Joakim] Noah, go get the ball. They don't have enough athletes. I could see why they went for someone like Thomas. He's athletic, but he doesn't know how to play the game. He's great from the neck down. What can he do? Have him do that."

On Ben Wallace:
"I'd say I need more effort from him. I need positive numbers in rebounds, deflections, charges. He's not playing with four All-Stars anymore. He plays defense every night or Tyrus Thomas is out there playing. You don't pay a rebounder $15 million. OK, they did. He doesn't know the game like Dennis Rodman did. Dennis knew how and why he got rebounds. So you keep on him or he doesn't play."

On Ben Gordon:
"It's his shot selection. You take those bad shots, you're sitting down. He's out there shooting for a contract. Offensively, they can be as good as last year. But their shot selection is horrible. [Luol] Deng also is playing for a contract. There's no flow to their game. Gordon has to make plays. If there's two, three guys running at him, he still wants to make a shot. Those shots are out of position, your teammates don't expect them, you are not in position to rebound and get back. Taking bad shots is a sign of a lack of respect for your teammates. You think I'm going to run back if I know B.J. Armstrong is jacking it up? My shot is just as good as his. That's what players think."

On Kirk Hinrich:
"He just needs direction. He's guarding Kobe, Tracy McGrady, the best players. He's not that talented. Let him run the offense. But you can't have midgets running your backcourt. Little guards always put you in a vulnerable position. You've got to send help. It puts too much pressure on the defense. I'd tell Kirk to try to control the game, don't force shots, but late in the game be ready. Early, I'd have him off the ball."

On Luol Deng:
"He's solid. But he doesn't have enough speed. He plays more upright, so it's tough for him to go out and guard smaller guys. I think Deng is on the verge of being a star. But all that money talk added pressure. Now he's trying to show 28, 29 teams what he's about instead of going out and playing. When the reality is maybe one or two would be looking at him."

On Andres Nocioni:
"I'd sit down with him and say, 'Show me you're a winner and play like it. Not with those crazy antics. Make your hustle work in a positive way.' He's turning into Rasheed Wallace with the kinds of things he does on floor. It makes the officials turn on the whole team. And you stop getting calls. Don't shoot those ill-advised shots. Don't look to get bailed out by the refs."




Great...So Kirk Hinrich is "not that talented", Ben Gordon is "playing for a contract with a horrible shot selection", and Luol Deng is "solid without enough speed". And, oh yea, you got "midgets running the back-court". Way to lobby for a job!

["THE" MoSav]

LOL...not after what he said about some of the Bulls players:


Scottie Pippen on the current Bulls

By Sam Smith | Tribune pro basketball reporter
10:49 PM CST, December 30, 2007

Scottie Pippen says he has been watching the Bulls. Here are some of his observations:

On Tyrus Thomas:
"He can be a defender and a shot blocker. You don't want him taking those ill-advised shots, jumping and trying to pass the ball. He dribbles better with his left hand than his right. He must have broken his arm when he was a kid. He shouldn't be dribbling. He should be a fetcher. Like Ben Wallace, [Joakim] Noah, go get the ball. They don't have enough athletes. I could see why they went for someone like Thomas. He's athletic, but he doesn't know how to play the game. He's great from the neck down. What can he do? Have him do that."

On Ben Wallace:
"I'd say I need more effort from him. I need positive numbers in rebounds, deflections, charges. He's not playing with four All-Stars anymore. He plays defense every night or Tyrus Thomas is out there playing. You don't pay a rebounder $15 million. OK, they did. He doesn't know the game like Dennis Rodman did. Dennis knew how and why he got rebounds. So you keep on him or he doesn't play."

On Ben Gordon:
"It's his shot selection. You take those bad shots, you're sitting down. He's out there shooting for a contract. Offensively, they can be as good as last year. But their shot selection is horrible. [Luol] Deng also is playing for a contract. There's no flow to their game. Gordon has to make plays. If there's two, three guys running at him, he still wants to make a shot. Those shots are out of position, your teammates don't expect them, you are not in position to rebound and get back. Taking bad shots is a sign of a lack of respect for your teammates. You think I'm going to run back if I know B.J. Armstrong is jacking it up? My shot is just as good as his. That's what players think."

On Kirk Hinrich:
"He just needs direction. He's guarding Kobe, Tracy McGrady, the best players. He's not that talented. Let him run the offense. But you can't have midgets running your backcourt. Little guards always put you in a vulnerable position. You've got to send help. It puts too much pressure on the defense. I'd tell Kirk to try to control the game, don't force shots, but late in the game be ready. Early, I'd have him off the ball."

On Luol Deng:
"He's solid. But he doesn't have enough speed. He plays more upright, so it's tough for him to go out and guard smaller guys. I think Deng is on the verge of being a star. But all that money talk added pressure. Now he's trying to show 28, 29 teams what he's about instead of going out and playing. When the reality is maybe one or two would be looking at him."

On Andres Nocioni:
"I'd sit down with him and say, 'Show me you're a winner and play like it. Not with those crazy antics. Make your hustle work in a positive way.' He's turning into Rasheed Wallace with the kinds of things he does on floor. It makes the officials turn on the whole team. And you stop getting calls. Don't shoot those ill-advised shots. Don't look to get bailed out by the refs."




Great...So Kirk Hinrich is "not that talented", Ben Gordon is "playing for a contract with a horrible shot selection", and Luol Deng is "solid without enough speed". And, oh yea, you got "midgets running the back-court". Way to lobby for a job!

LOL!!

[WC Iz Active]

hahaha Pippen is such a lame.

[OG Hack Wilson]

hahahahahahaha

[thisoneguy360]

He'll teach them to bench themselves when a play isn't set up for them

[.:DaYg0sTyLz:.]

LOL...not after what he said about some of the Bulls players:


Scottie Pippen on the current Bulls

By Sam Smith | Tribune pro basketball reporter
10:49 PM CST, December 30, 2007

Scottie Pippen says he has been watching the Bulls. Here are some of his observations:

On Tyrus Thomas:
"He can be a defender and a shot blocker. You don't want him taking those ill-advised shots, jumping and trying to pass the ball. He dribbles better with his left hand than his right. He must have broken his arm when he was a kid. He shouldn't be dribbling. He should be a fetcher. Like Ben Wallace, [Joakim] Noah, go get the ball. They don't have enough athletes. I could see why they went for someone like Thomas. He's athletic, but he doesn't know how to play the game. He's great from the neck down. What can he do? Have him do that."

On Ben Wallace:
"I'd say I need more effort from him. I need positive numbers in rebounds, deflections, charges. He's not playing with four All-Stars anymore. He plays defense every night or Tyrus Thomas is out there playing. You don't pay a rebounder $15 million. OK, they did. He doesn't know the game like Dennis Rodman did. Dennis knew how and why he got rebounds. So you keep on him or he doesn't play."

On Ben Gordon:
"It's his shot selection. You take those bad shots, you're sitting down. He's out there shooting for a contract. Offensively, they can be as good as last year. But their shot selection is horrible. [Luol] Deng also is playing for a contract. There's no flow to their game. Gordon has to make plays. If there's two, three guys running at him, he still wants to make a shot. Those shots are out of position, your teammates don't expect them, you are not in position to rebound and get back. Taking bad shots is a sign of a lack of respect for your teammates. You think I'm going to run back if I know B.J. Armstrong is jacking it up? My shot is just as good as his. That's what players think."

On Kirk Hinrich:
"He just needs direction. He's guarding Kobe, Tracy McGrady, the best players. He's not that talented. Let him run the offense. But you can't have midgets running your backcourt. Little guards always put you in a vulnerable position. You've got to send help. It puts too much pressure on the defense. I'd tell Kirk to try to control the game, don't force shots, but late in the game be ready. Early, I'd have him off the ball."

On Luol Deng:
"He's solid. But he doesn't have enough speed. He plays more upright, so it's tough for him to go out and guard smaller guys. I think Deng is on the verge of being a star. But all that money talk added pressure. Now he's trying to show 28, 29 teams what he's about instead of going out and playing. When the reality is maybe one or two would be looking at him."

On Andres Nocioni:
"I'd sit down with him and say, 'Show me you're a winner and play like it. Not with those crazy antics. Make your hustle work in a positive way.' He's turning into Rasheed Wallace with the kinds of things he does on floor. It makes the officials turn on the whole team. And you stop getting calls. Don't shoot those ill-advised shots. Don't look to get bailed out by the refs."




Great...So Kirk Hinrich is "not that talented", Ben Gordon is "playing for a contract with a horrible shot selection", and Luol Deng is "solid without enough speed". And, oh yea, you got "midgets running the back-court". Way to lobby for a job!

lol@ not so talented midgets running the Bulls backcourt. Sounds like a few of their championship years.



Besides, how the fuck is Humpty Hump gonna be an NBA coach?

[GangstaBoogy]

LOL...not after what he said about some of the Bulls players:


Scottie Pippen on the current Bulls

By Sam Smith | Tribune pro basketball reporter
10:49 PM CST, December 30, 2007

Scottie Pippen says he has been watching the Bulls. Here are some of his observations:

On Tyrus Thomas:
"He can be a defender and a shot blocker. You don't want him taking those ill-advised shots, jumping and trying to pass the ball. He dribbles better with his left hand than his right. He must have broken his arm when he was a kid. He shouldn't be dribbling. He should be a fetcher. Like Ben Wallace, [Joakim] Noah, go get the ball. They don't have enough athletes. I could see why they went for someone like Thomas. He's athletic, but he doesn't know how to play the game. He's great from the neck down. What can he do? Have him do that."

On Ben Wallace:
"I'd say I need more effort from him. I need positive numbers in rebounds, deflections, charges. He's not playing with four All-Stars anymore. He plays defense every night or Tyrus Thomas is out there playing. You don't pay a rebounder $15 million. OK, they did. He doesn't know the game like Dennis Rodman did. Dennis knew how and why he got rebounds. So you keep on him or he doesn't play."

On Ben Gordon:
"It's his shot selection. You take those bad shots, you're sitting down. He's out there shooting for a contract. Offensively, they can be as good as last year. But their shot selection is horrible. [Luol] Deng also is playing for a contract. There's no flow to their game. Gordon has to make plays. If there's two, three guys running at him, he still wants to make a shot. Those shots are out of position, your teammates don't expect them, you are not in position to rebound and get back. Taking bad shots is a sign of a lack of respect for your teammates. You think I'm going to run back if I know B.J. Armstrong is jacking it up? My shot is just as good as his. That's what players think."

On Kirk Hinrich:
"He just needs direction. He's guarding Kobe, Tracy McGrady, the best players. He's not that talented. Let him run the offense. But you can't have midgets running your backcourt. Little guards always put you in a vulnerable position. You've got to send help. It puts too much pressure on the defense. I'd tell Kirk to try to control the game, don't force shots, but late in the game be ready. Early, I'd have him off the ball."

On Luol Deng:
"He's solid. But he doesn't have enough speed. He plays more upright, so it's tough for him to go out and guard smaller guys. I think Deng is on the verge of being a star. But all that money talk added pressure. Now he's trying to show 28, 29 teams what he's about instead of going out and playing. When the reality is maybe one or two would be looking at him."

On Andres Nocioni:
"I'd sit down with him and say, 'Show me you're a winner and play like it. Not with those crazy antics. Make your hustle work in a positive way.' He's turning into Rasheed Wallace with the kinds of things he does on floor. It makes the officials turn on the whole team. And you stop getting calls. Don't shoot those ill-advised shots. Don't look to get bailed out by the refs."




Great...So Kirk Hinrich is "not that talented", Ben Gordon is "playing for a contract with a horrible shot selection", and Luol Deng is "solid without enough speed". And, oh yea, you got "midgets running the back-court". Way to lobby for a job!

Yeah Pippen is a real fuckhead. Those comments should've never came out if he was planning on applying for that job.

[7even]

I can't believe Pippen said all that stuff. Crazy.

[swangin and bangin]

pippen still tryin

why dont he just get a tnt job

[.:DaYg0sTyLz:.]

pippen still tryin

why dont he just get a tnt job

cus he's got a face for radio...

[GangstaBoogy]

pippen still tryin

why dont he just get a tnt job

cus he's got a face for radio...

LMAO oh shiet +1