Would Michael Jordan have won without Scottie Pippen?

There is a myth out there that Michael Jordan may not have won without Scottie Pippen. In 1997/98, at 35 years of age and with an injured index finger, Jordan was required to lead the Bulls without Scottie Pippen for the first 35 games of the season. The Bulls started 12-9 before they turned it around, winning eight straight and 11 of 12 after they returned home in December. When Pippen returned in mid January the Bulls were 24-11 and even after Pippen's return it was still Jordan carrying them.

Again in 'Game 6' of the 1998 NBA Finals with Scottie Pippen being virtually useless with a bad back it was, once again, up to Jordan. A game in which he practically held off the Jazz alone, finishing with 45 points in taking 15 of the Bulls' 19 free throws and 35 of their 67 shots. He scored 16 points in the fourth quarter and made all eight of his free throws. Jordan and the Bulls won their sixth championship with Jordan winning his sixth Finals MVP award. "I didn't think he could top that game," Phil Jackson said refering to the Flu Game. "He topped it tonight. I think it was the best performance I've seen in a critical situation and critical game in a series."


SCOTTIE PIPPEN'S ROLE ON THE TEAM
Scottie Pippen enabled Michael Jordan to carry less of the load. Pippen's ability to guard an offensive player, enabled Jordan to safely freelance in the lanes for steals and the fast break that broke most teams. Because if Jordan gambled wrong on defense, Pippen would be there to help and vice versa. It was also Pippen who directed the triangle offense, enabling Jordan to get in position on the wing to attack the defense. Relieving Jordan of the duty of distributing the ball.

It wasn't that Pippen could do things Jordan couldn't, or wouldn't, it was that he relieved Jordan of having to play every role on the team. Jordan may not have won all six championships without Pippen but he certainly would have won multiple championships without him.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Michael
• Jordan
• Scottie
• Pippen
• 1997
• 1998
• game
• finals
• championship
• winning
• shot
• the
• pose
• mvp

[TheBakeroBoy]

Jordan and Pippen are both great players but they got those rings with the help of RODMAN and their great role player team mates and most of all Phil Jackson.

[Hersh715]

I THINK THE REAL QUESTION IS COULD MICHAEL WIN WITH HIS TONGUE IN HIS MOUTH?

[LouiepMusic]

Ima be honest Allen Iverson almost broke the "you can't win w/out any help" saying cuz lord knows he had sum bums lol & still got to the finals lol.

[gwynedd1]

Which player can win without having any teammates worth a crap? That said Pippen was among the best support players ever. His game fit lock and key with MJ.

[mistanderson]

@DaMonstaMasta Some how u forgot about Horace Grant in the first part of the 3peat.

[TaegukiStyle]

PIPPEN BITCH!

[DaMonstaMasta]

There is no way MJ would have won championships without Scottie or partly Rodman. They made it so MJ could go off for 30+ points a game. They were unbelievable defenders. And Scottie was very good offensively and got their defense sets straight. There was to many good teams back then that the Bulls would of went against that i doubt they would of won any without mainly Scottie and other teammates. There was NY, Boston. LA, CHI, Utah, Indiana, Portland, that could of made it to the finals anyear

[Verrsus]

MJ MADE Pippen. He boosted his confidence, showed him what training and the will to win really means, and gave him the open shots because he got doubled or tripled.

Don't get me wrong, Pippen was a talented player so that he could cash in on that advantage to play beside MJ.

[CaptPrice274]

ok what question is this without scottie MJ wouldnt even have a championship... before scotttie and horace or rodman came, MJ struggled to win a playoff round he lost two straight by larry and the celtics MJ wouldnt be the same without his HOF teamates

[lionelangemario]

people who ask this question(m.j without pip?) are just people who din't know anything about pippen and are surprised to discover his greatness thanks to video on youtube.

but if michael didn't have pippen and had another talent like kemp for example(remember the trade rumor?)it would have been the same result...because kemp would have been a killer under the leadership of jordan.

[nOodl3z07]

4:47 " a man possesed" more like a GOD possesed