So where do the Bulls stand now? Well, we headed into the FA market looking to add a veteran 2/3 that can defend, shoot, and be a 2nd option. Hard to find at the MLE, but we have been after this type of player for awhile. Hard to believe it came in the form of Scottie Pippen, the great wing player that helped catapult the Bulls to 6 titles. This is a great fit for this season, next season(should he come back), and maybe an additional season.........but what happens after that? Some viewed this as a decent move, a temporary fix, nothing more, nothing less. These same people are worried about our future at that spot. Pippen can fit in now, great, but we still don't have a player to take over for him. Well, signing Pippen means a whole lot more than that. It adds respectability to this young team. Suddenly Rose doesn't have to burden all the scoring load down the stretch. He now has a legit sidekick to help him. It also adds a good "face" to this team. Pippen has never been known for losing. He wont accept it. This will translate onto th younger guys both on and off the court. Pippen will help teach the younger guys about winning. Face it, since coming in the NBA, Curry, Chandler, Crawford(the 3 building blocks) don't know whats it like to win at this level. Expect that to change with Pippen. He'll have these guys going all out for everything......or at least, thats the hope. He is a great mentor. He will be teaching/mentoring/coaching the young'ins thru out the season. Pippen is a perfect fit for this role. But what happens to the wing spot after he leaves? Well, there is small hope that some of Pippen's veteran leadership will rub off on Eddie Robinson, and maybe ERob will prove to be a starter. That seems unlikely IMO. There is rookie Tommy Smith as well. A tall, atheltic, SF that is a good shotblocker. Perhaps he could have a future. But 2nd round picks rarely develop into anything(there are exceptions.....however, a majority don't.) We'll either have to address this via trade(see my Grizzlies/Bulls Trade thread.....where I name Battier as a possibility), draft(next year), or FA(next year). But in the meantime, what we do get, is a lot more competitive. We were a good home team last year. We struggled on the road. Vets can win on the road. Pippen being added should help alleviate some of that problem, and add more wins. 3-38 on the road 27-14 at home. We'll have a more competitive/talented team now with Pippen. With the Bucks faltering, perhaps we could sneak into the playoffs. Its not totally out of this realm to believe it. Our home record was among the upper half in the East. If we can just win on the road, we have a good chance. And thats what Pippen will do for us. Bring in a winning attitude. Something that has been missing since 1998.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Well, signing Pippen means a whole lot more than that. It adds respectability to this young team. Suddenly Rose doesn't have to burden all the scoring load down the stretch. He now has a legit sidekick to help him. It also adds a good "face" to this team. Pippen has never been known for losing. He wont accept it. This will translate onto th younger guys both on and off the court.</div> Rose will still ballhog no matter who is on the team. I dont think pippen will be happy with it either, because Pippen still has a big ego. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Pippen will help teach the younger guys about winning. Face it, since coming in the NBA, Curry, Chandler, Crawford(the 3 building blocks) don't know whats it like to win at this level. Expect that to change with Pippen. He'll have these guys going all out for everything......or at least, thats the hope. He is a great mentor. He will be teaching/mentoring/coaching the young'ins thru out the season. Pippen is a perfect fit for this role.</div> Do you really think those guys will listen to pippen? No way, they dont want to hear it they will tell pippen to get away from them with that stupid crap. How is pippen a mentor? I have never seen him mentor anyone. Hes crazy, did you see some of that stuff he pulled in Portland. He had like 5 ejections 2 years ago. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">But what happens to the wing spot after he leaves? Well, there is small hope that some of Pippen's veteran leadership will rub off on Eddie Robinson, and maybe ERob will prove to be a starter. That seems unlikely IMO. There is rookie Tommy Smith as well. A tall, atheltic, SF that is a good shotblocker. Perhaps he could have a future. But 2nd round picks rarely develop into anything(there are exceptions.....however, a majority don't.) </div> Eddie Robinson is a benchwarmer for life dont expect anything out of him. Like you said earlier the bulls will likely look for a SF in free agency next offseason.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Truemaster14:</div><div class="quote_post">Rose will still ballhog no matter who is on the team. I dont think pippen will be happy with it either, because Pippen still has a big ego. </div> This remains to be seen. Pippen is the only one who will get in Rose's face after a bad shot......No one did it last year. That was a problem. Pippen still has a big ego? Who the hell doesn't at that level? The difference is Pippen is a 6 time champion, top 50 player, and future HOFer. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Do you really think those guys will listen to pippen? No way, they dont want to hear it they will tell pippen to get away from them with that stupid crap. How is pippen a mentor? I have never seen him mentor anyone. Hes crazy, did you see some of that stuff he pulled in Portland. He had like 5 ejections 2 years ago. </div> Yes. Lets see. Pippen has 6 rings, been in the L for a long time, was named as one of the greatest 50 players. In short, the young'ins will give him respect..........watch. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Eddie Robinson is a benchwarmer for life dont expect anything out of him. Like you said earlier the bulls will likely look for a SF in free agency next offseason.</div> Its ERob's last chance........Its all up to him.
I wish I could provide you with a quality response to that long post, but I can't. There isn't anything that you said wrong. Good post.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Spartanfan2003:</div><div class="quote_post">I wish I could provide you with a quality response to that long post, but I can't. There isn't anything that you said wrong. Good post.</div> Thank you kind sir. :mrgreen:
very good post. i'm hoping that after Pippen retires, the Bulls can pull a trade and try and get either Battier, or Posey. I think it's very unlikely that ERob becomes a decent starter, so we need to hope that one of those trades does come up. I think the Bulls have a terrific chance of making the playoffs. All they need is a half way decent road record. It doesn't have to be a winning record, it just needs to be decent. I don't think that will be too hard. The Bulls could have won six more road games if you think about all the OT games. I think Pippen will push them over the edge in that area, and those OT games will turn into wins.
Vintage summed it all up. After reading this, it makes me excited that the Bulls wont be such a laughing stock. Pippen will have a profound impact on the young players. If he doesnt, it will be their fault.
