Michael or Kobe? Guess who Pippen picked

November 20th, 2009, 9:12 am · 19 Comments · posted by JANIS CARR, OCREGISTER.COM

Scottie Pippen no doubt is biased in the Kobe Bryant vs. Michael Jordan-who’s-the-greatest debate. But in his latest comments, there is absolutely no question who he favors.

For instance, Pippen starts off by saying that Jordan holds the edge in most areas of the game, whether is passing or shooting. Kobe’s string of games with 40 or more points?

Yawn, according to Pippen.

“Kobe is truly a great shooter, but he is playing in a different era of the game,” Pippen wrote in a blog. “It’s not as physical. He also has more freedom in going to the basket, which creates a more wide-open scoring opportunity for players like him in today’s game. We’ve never seen the amount of players scoring 30, 40 or 50 points in a game. Ten years ago, if a player scored 50 points in a game, it would be major news all week. But if someone does it now in the NBA, it’s not big news anymore and it doesn’t make the headlines.”

Pippen goes on to say that Jordan played in a tougher era and that today’s energy drinks “help guys bounce back when they have to play a second game in two nights.”

For crying out loud, how ridiculous is that?

Pippen went on to say that “At the end of the day, though, Michael is still by far the greatest player to ever play the game. The comparison between him and Kobe is not all that close when you start to magnify the little things.

“I think Michael had more charisma. Michael would constantly bring you to the edge of your seat because you never knew what was going to happen,” Pippen said. “When he took off on a breakaway, everyone was on their feet and the arena was filled with flashbulbs. You don’t quite see that with Kobe. Things of that nature are what separate the two players.”

So Jordan wins on style points. Yipee.

Let’s wait until Kobe is finished scoring points before anyone starts comparing the two. Maybe there just isn’t a comparison to be made.

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J-Dizzle says:

November 20, 2009 at 10:00 am

Everyone saw Michael do it. Seeing Kobe doing it now is like “ok we’ve seen this before, it’s awesome but we’ve seen it before” so of course there isn’t going to be flashbulbs and whatnot like when Michael did it. When Mike did it, it was unheard of. Now that Kobe’s doing it, it’s not. It’s like riding a new extreme rollercoaster. First visit to the park it’s awesome and exhilarating. Now, the next visit to the park, ya riding that ride again and it’s still awesome, still thrilling, but it’s not the same as it once was.

Pinky says:

November 20, 2009 at 10:08 am

Energy drinks? More physical? Please.

Now I’m going to go look up the 50 point games back then to verify Mr. Pippens claims. Brandon Jennings scored 55, and it seems to be pretty big news right now.

J-Dizzle says:

November 20, 2009 at 1:29 pm

Jennings is a rook. It’s why it’s big news. If he was a 8-10 year vet, it wouldn’t be.

boner says:

November 20, 2009 at 10:16 am

Absolutely agree with Pippen!! Jordan had an inferior cast he was working with compared to Kobe. Luc Longley? Jason Caffey? Bill Cartright?
Sure Jordan had Pippen but after that who else? Kobe had Shaq in the early years and today has Gasol, Odom, and Bynum who is arguably the 2nd best center in the league.

And you can’t dismiss the fact that innovation has allowed players to be fresher to perform on the 82 game schedule.

thechampishere says:

November 20, 2009 at 12:54 pm

If you knew anything about basketball then you’d know that a championship team needs more than 2 superstars. They need excellent role players to play their roles and show up night after night. Do all the “little” big things that don’t show in the stats and often don’t get credit for.

Jordan had Pippen. Kobe had Shaq. If you dissect and compare those championship teams Kobe wasn’t surrounded w/ a wealth of talented individuals but like Mike good role players that played well together.

The same argument that Pippen is making for MJ you could make for Magic who played in the toughest era. It’s just someone’s opinion and I wouldn’t make a big deal about it. Kobe isn’t on MJ’s level yet but I agree w/ Janis (for once). Let’s wait until Mamba hangs up the Nikes before comparing “24″ to “23″.
- J-Dizzle says:
  
  November 20, 2009 at 1:31 pm
  
  A Jordan-less Bulls lead by Pippen in Jordans baseball year reached the NBA Finals if I recall, if not the Eastern Conference Finals. Inferior squad?
  - J-Dizzle says:
    
    November 20, 2009 at 4:27 pm
    
    Scratch that… they made it to the 2nd round of the playoffs and went 7 games against the Knicks. 55 wins as well that season. You don’t do that with a bad bench and supporting cast. That’s a team that showed Jordan had some serious talent around him. You also don’t go for the best record ever at 72-10 by having a bad bench and supporting cast.

deezy76 says:

November 20, 2009 at 11:13 am

Old school cats never give props to new school cats…it’s been that way forever. But to ask Pippen a question like that? Come on now, we all know where his allegiance is.

Lakerfan says:

November 20, 2009 at 11:17 am

Kobe doesn’t showboat on all breakaway attemps.. especially now with him being 31.. just a two handed dunk.. that’s just fine.. but, Kobe is still probably the most creative player in the game with his great footwork. The gasps and the oohs from the crowd come after the plays after they realize what he had just done. But, if that is what Pippen sees as the difference, that’s ok.. I’ll take the boring Kobe. :-)

And Jordan himself says that the illegal defense rules gave him an advantage.. Kobe often sees 3 players when he makes his move with another shadowing behind.. Jordan had refs on his side even if it was more physical.. while Kobe couldn’t get clear foul calls against rookies and rarely has a high scoring game because of FTs or loosening up the D because his man is in foul trouble. Kobe does NOT have it easier.

Still, Kobe has to win more titles and provide MVP performances for the next 3, 4 seasons to compare with Jordan’s career.

November 20, 2009 at 12:29 pm

Bulls without Jordan won 55 games… Bulls had talent spread out and were deep.. while lakers’ bench is weak. Lakers rely on their 1-6 to get it done now. During the years with Shaq, Shaq and Kobe did the heavy lifting. Probably only in 2000 the lakers had somewhat of a deeper bench.

titi says:

November 20, 2009 at 2:08 pm

wow, janis, you really dislike kobe, and it shows so much.

so, i guess kobe only scores, right? kobe does more than score, you are diminishing the great talent kobe is.

J-Dizzle says:

November 20, 2009 at 4:21 pm

Ummmm… I think she was expressing sarcasm, not support for what Pippen said man. Though with this line “Let’s wait until Kobe is finished scoring points before anyone starts comparing the two. Maybe there just isn’t a comparison to be made.” I think it’s more a case of, let’s let Kobe finish his career then compare the two and see who really is the better player. Right now Kobe is still playing, he’s in the prime of his career still. Kobe right now is on his 4th ring at a time Jordan only had his 2nd. I can say plenty more that could really trash on Pippen and his thoughts and comparisons of the 90’s ball vs now but I’ll save that. He’s not worth the pixels.

vish sherman says:

November 20, 2009 at 9:04 pm

My opinion is that it is not fair to compare any players. It is a case of different scenario. The team that they are playing, their individual skill, competitiveness, supporting players, coaches, team management and many more. Kobe is Kobe and MJ was MJ. The only area they are comparable both work hard and want to win games. Stop making comparisons between Kobe & MJ as they are not playing against each other.

November 20, 2009 at 11:03 pm

Mike had more charisma???? Riiiight.

Kaveh says:

November 22, 2009 at 3:12 am

MJ and Kobe are the most similar mega basketball stars that i know of. If you compare guys like Magic, Jordan, Wilt, etc. These guys were all very different from each other. Jordan and Kobe are exact replicas. Kobe even models his career after Jordan and you can completely tell.

Compare the young Kobe with the current Kobe. Young kobe was a take it to the hole type of player. Current Kobe is a mid-range, post you up, understand the triangle type of player. Jordan went through the exact same metamorphosis. These guys even played in the exact same offense with the exact same coaches, lol.

That said, there are some differences between them:

Jordan is a better defender, by a small margin
Kobe is a better scorer
Jordan is more athletic
Kobe is more skilled/technical
Jordan is mentally tougher (very slight)
Kobe is smarter
Kobe understands the game better

Overall, I think that Kobe is the more skilled player. Every facet of his game is assassin like. Jordan was physically a more gifted player. Tough to say who is better. It is close.

November 22, 2009 at 4:28 am

What Phil Jackson has noted about Kobe and Jordan and what’s seperated the two is their hands. Jordan has much bigger hands to the point where he was able to hold the ball out one handed and was able to keep opposing players off guard because of it. It’s a small thing but a big time weapon. While much of Kobe’s game is modeled after Jordan’s, he does add facets that are modeled after other guys as well. He took the post like Jordan, but he’s modeled it after Hakeem. During his younger years he did take it to the hole and he still occassionally does. His driving the lane opened his outside game and vice versa. I wouldn’t say Jordan is mentally tougher. Kobe killing teams while dealing with a rape case, 2 dislocated fingers and some other things makes me question that. Jordan was a better 1 on 1 defender while Kobe is a better team defender. Kobe is the better outside shooter as well. Jordan was physically tougher. Both have an equal killer instinct. I wouldn’t say either of them are smarter and understand the game better. Jordan was much of an assassin as well.

BGh says:

November 24, 2009 at 10:00 am

he had an infererior cast in a diltuted league. In the mid 90s you could win the championship with two stars because of over expansion and more terrible teams. You could try and argue that Jordans bulls in 97 would beat the lakers today, but I say doubtful The overall talent on the Lakers vastly passes the talent that was on those bulls teams.

J-Dizzle says:

November 24, 2009 at 12:45 pm

I’d have to disagree wholeheartedly. I love the Lakers.. LOVE THEM! But defensively they were much better then we are now. The physical nature of the Bulls would give the Lakers fits. Rodman would likely draw Gasol and the Worms physical and defensive nature would give Gasol fits. He would also draw Bynum, but I think Bynum would have an easier time then Gasol, more because of his size and the fact that Bynum doesn’t shy as much from physical play. The bigger and also physical centers would pose some problems but I don’t think enough to keep Bynum from being effective. Pippen would offer some problems for Artest but mainly Odom who he’d likely draw as well. Jordan and Kobe… well that is that. Those two would be in a shoot off with each other. That Bulls team was STACKED with size with no one from the looks of it under 6′2″. Excellent rebounders as well.

Shane says:

November 24, 2009 at 11:25 am

Laker homers…………gotta love it!

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