Dell's Pointless Lists - Greatest NBA Small Forwards

[Senser81]

37. Yup, I used to play the shit out of that game.

It was the only basketball game that you could actually play defense until Sega came out with NBA Live 96. It had a better physics engine than Madden/NCAA too. Dr. J wouldn't just 'phase through' Bird in order to dunk. I loved breaking the backboard.

[dell71]

It was the only basketball game that you could actually play defense until Sega came out with NBA Live 96. It had a better physics engine than Madden/NCAA too. Dr. J wouldn't just 'phase through' Bird in order to dunk. I loved breaking the backboard.

Breaking the backboard was definitely the highlight of the game.

[Lanteri]

Question for you Dell. Where would you have Grant Hill (in his prime) ranked? Dude was pretty filthy back in his Detroit days.

[dell71]

Question for you Dell. Where would you have Grant Hill (in his prime) ranked? Dude was pretty filthy back in his Detroit days.

Hard to say. LeBron aside, what a player actually accomplished plays a big role for me. That said, Hill was a lot like Pippen but scored more points. If he would've stayed healthy, there's no telling how good he could've been and he almost certainly would be on this list. Hope that helps.

[Senser81]

Question for you Dell. Where would you have Grant Hill (in his prime) ranked? Dude was pretty filthy back in his Detroit days.

By "filthy", do you mean "good"? Didn't know that Linda Cohn was posting on this message board.

I think at his very best, Grant Hill was probably the best small forward in the NBA at the time. But I don't think he was ever amongst the best 2 or 3 players in the NBA. To me, guys like LeBron, Bird, Dr. J, Rick Barry, and Elgin Baylor were the best players in the NBA regardless of position.

[dell71]

Bumped cuz I'm completing the set.

[Liquidrob]

Dell, how old are you? Did you ever play the Dr.J vs. Larry Bird computer game? I used to play that all the time on my Commodore. Actually it was one of the best sports games for that system.

great game

[Liquidrob]

Pippen is the most overrated player in history, he was a great role-player and thats where it ends, he couldnt lead a team when he wasnt with Jordan

Wilkens was battling Bird and the Celtics in the playoffs going all out and when Pippen got his shot to be the man he was sitting on the bench while Toni Kukuc is hitting game winning shots

Great role-players should be graded under great players, sorry Pip

[Vinsane]

Pippen is the most overrated player in history, he was a great role-player and thats where it ends, he couldnt lead a team when he wasnt with Jordan

Wilkens was battling Bird and the Celtics in the playoffs going all out and when Pippen got his shot to be the man he was sitting on the bench while Toni Kukuc is hitting game winning shots

Great role-players should be graded under great players, sorry Pip

I guess overrated is being a player that can play any position on the court 1-5. Solid and complete game, he can score inside, he can score outside. Need rebounds? Pippen did that too. The Bulls without Pippen would of went no where, Jordan couldn't will them to victory if he scored 40 points, or 63, the Bulls still lost. You say role player, and you throw a guy like Toni Kukoc out there?

Kukoc was nothing more than a role player for the Bulls. He started, yes. When Michael Jordan was out playing Baseball he had a spot in the starting line-up. After Jordan came back? Kukoc was moved to the bench. Third in scoring on the team (Behind Jordan/Pippen) but was nothing more than a sixth man, which he won an award for and I think currently is the only player to do so on a championship team.

You're right Kukoc was a solid member of the squad but come on? Great player? Great players start, and no one is saying "Jordan couldn't of done it without Toni". So take a seat on the bench, sorry Toni.

[Liquidrob]

I guess overrated is being a player that can play any position on the court 1-5. Solid and complete game, he can score inside, he can score outside. Need rebounds? Pippen did that too. The Bulls without Pippen would of went no where, Jordan couldn't will them to victory if he scored 40 points, or 63, the Bulls still lost. You say role player, and you throw a guy like Toni Kukoc out there?

Kukoc was nothing more than a role player for the Bulls. He started, yes. When Michael Jordan was out playing Baseball he had a spot in the starting line-up. After Jordan came back? Kukoc was moved to the bench. Third in scoring on the team (Behind Jordan/Pippen) but was nothing more than a sixth man, which he won an award for and I think currently is the only player to do so on a championship team.

You're right Kukoc was a solid member of the squad but come on? Great player? Great players start, and no one is saying "Jordan couldn't of done it without Toni". So take a seat on the bench, sorry Toni.

you need reading comprehension lessons

where did I say Toni Kukoc was great? Thats the point, Pippen finally got his shot to be the man, Jordan was gone, the Bulls are in the playoffs and he is sitting on the sidelines and Kukoc is taking the final shot

lol @ any 'great player' sitting on the sidelines all sad in that situation

Scottie Pippen was a great role-player, just like Dennis Rodman, Joe Dumars, James Worthy, etc...but they are not better than the guys that were the team

I love the Pippen can play 5 positions, yes, Pippen can play center, lol, sure, maybe for the 'Run TMC' Warriors, but thats not a real center position, so Pippen can now guard Ewing, Hakeem, Robinson, Shaq, etc...just stop

To say the bulls without Pippen would have went no where is laughable, when Jordan was dropping 63 and losing to the Celtics it wasnt just because Pippen wasnt there, Horace Grant, Paxson, Bill Cartwright, later Rodnam and Kerr and others all helped get the Bulls to the top along with Pippen

Jordan was the man and everyone else helped

[Vinsane]

you need reading comprehension lessons

I'll get reading comprehension lessons, when you get grammar comprehension lessons. Fair enough?

where did I say Toni Kukoc was great? Thats the point, Pippen finally got his shot to be the man, Jordan was gone, the Bulls are in the playoffs and he is sitting on the sidelines and Kukoc is taking the final shot

And when Pipped "got his shot" to be the man in Portland, he leads them to the WCF.

lol @ any 'great player' sitting on the sidelines all sad in that situation

Scottie Pippen was a great role-player, just like Dennis Rodman, Joe Dumars, James Worthy, etc...but they are not better than the guys that were the team

Last I checked a "team" isn't one man. Unless your Kobe, and even then he hasn't won a ring.

I love the Pippen can play 5 positions, yes, Pippen can play center, lol, sure, maybe for the 'Run TMC' Warriors, but thats not a real center position, so Pippen can now guard Ewing, Hakeem, Robinson, Shaq, etc...just stop

As lanky as Pippen is, and his defensive prowess what it was? Yeah Pip probably could of guarded any of the above IMO.

To say the bulls without Pippen would have went no where is laughable, when Jordan was dropping 63 and losing to the Celtics it wasnt just because Pippen wasnt there, Horace Grant, Paxson, Bill Cartwright, later Rodnam and Kerr and others all helped get the Bulls to the top along with Pippen

91 - Pippen guards Magic Johnson. Stellar defense changed the scope of the series for L.A. Pippen really defines the definition of "point forward". Leads the team during the regular season in assist, second in scoring, rebounding, and steals.

92 - Fourth quarter, game six of the Finals. Down 15, Pippen, not Jordan led the Bulls on a 14-2 run. Doing so, with the reserves. The Bulls went on to outscore the the Blazers 33-14, winning their second title.

97 - Game 6, Pippen intercepts the inbound pass, tosses it ahead to Toni Kukoc, game winning slam.

Jordan was the man and everyone else helped

Guess so.

[Liquidrob]

all that shit you posted didnt help your case, sorry

having pippen guard a center doesnt mean he can play 5 positions, doesnt work like that

when pippen came on, so did horace grant, bill, etc...pippen is not the reason the bulls won championships, it was because jordan and his supporting cast got better which pippen was 1 of, thats it

pippen wasnt the man in portland, same role as before, he wasnt the go to guy in portland

when your coach is giving game winning shots to kukoc over you, that says something

also, the 'point forward' is another joke, just because he brought the ball didnt make him a point forward, giving it to jordan after half court doesnt make you a point forward

john paxson and steve kerr hit bigger shots than pippen ever did, jordan wasnt going to pass it to pippen so he can throw up a bank shot

[Vinsane]

all that shit you posted didnt help your case, sorry

having pippen guard a center doesnt mean he can play 5 positions, doesnt work like that

when pippen came on, so did horace grant, bill, etc...pippen is not the reason the bulls won championships, it was because jordan and his supporting cast got better which pippen was 1 of, thats it

pippen wasnt the man in portland, same role as before, he wasnt the go to guy in portland

when your coach is giving game winning shots to kukoc over you, that says something

also, the 'point forward' is another joke, just because he brought the ball didnt make him a point forward, giving it to jordan after half court doesnt make you a point forward

john paxson and steve kerr hit bigger shots than pippen ever did, jordan wasnt going to pass it to pippen so he can throw up a bank shot

This is a list of Small Forwards, not the world versus Jordan. I guess it's easy to win a debate when your argument is Jordan > All.

Who was 'the man' in Portland? A fifth year player in Sheed? Steve Blake? Arvydas Sabonis? Stoudamire? Or your veteran leader, 13th year player Scottie Pippen?

[jags224]

LARRY BIRD FTMFW!, top five to ever play the game imo

[dell71]

Since it is my list, I obviously think I have Scottie in the right place. That said, he was not "the man" in Portland. I think part of the problem that led to the unraveling against LA in game 7 in '99-'00 was they really had no go to guy. 'Sheed was the best player but doesn't really have that makeup. Steve Smith & Scottie were on the downside. Yes, Pippen provided veteran leadership but averaged only 12.5 ppg and was below his career averages across the board.