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PauloCatarino · 03-17-2007, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BadBaronRudigor

For anyone who cares about winning rather than just numbers, I would say no non biased viewer would put Barkley in the same category as Hakeem, Robinson, O'Neal, and Malone.

I was talking about hability, not personality.
By your criteria, i wouldn't put Hakeem and Shaq on the same level as Robinson and Malone.

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Offensively, sure, but Charles was a terrible defensive player both man-to-man where he would leave his man open cheating off for extra rebounds, fail to box out, and was handicapped by his size, and help defense where he seemed to have a very low defensive basketball IQ. Additionally there were all the issues with his off-court drinking (and bar fights), and locker room arguements where the same things that make him the most entertaining commentator in basketball, his willingness to say anything that pops into his head, instead often created dissension and team disunity. This taken into account, I could see taking Pippen for a championship caliber team that needs a final piece over Charles who is likely to disrupt and mess it up, much as Rodman did to the Spurs playoff/title hopes.

Thing is, IIRC, Barkley saw he was going nowhere with the Sixers. Oce they had an interesting backcourt with Dawkins and Hawkins, but Johnny blew his knee and was never the same again. At center, they were so desperate they would put Manute Bol and Shakleford (sp?) at the 5, etc., etc. Barkley sort of quit on the team and went solo. I agree with you here.

BUT, i don't recall Barkley being so desruptive in the Suns.

Bball_Doctor · 03-19-2007, 01:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hakeem

Pippen finished third in MVP voting in '94 with 390 points. Barkley finished 10th, with 5 points. That was Barkley's worst season in years. He only averaged 22/11. Barkley was the better player, but by that season, a lot of people thought Pippen was just as good. And Barkley was 31 and had already peaked. Pippen was 29 and just hitting his prime. I don't recall trade rumors, but it's certainly plausible.

You have to keep in mind that Barkley missed a bunch of games that year. I think he barely played 60 games. Pippen was also riding the momentum of the 55 wins when the MVP voting came around. In terms of during the midseason and certainly before Jordan retired I don't remember Pippen being held in the same company but by the end of 94'season Pippen was close. Although despite his 3rd place voting few actually regarded him in the top 3 best players in the league. He was certainly top 10 and arguably top 5 but his reputation took a hit after the Bull's poor record the next season and if Jordan had not come back I am not sure what further damage that would have done to his reputation. Basically his top 3 or 5 status was short lived and had Jordan not come back and helped the Bulls return to prominence his top 10 status would be under life control especially with the emergence of young players like Penny and Grant Hill. In fact, I remember quite a few people who considered Hill the best SF over Pippen in the league starting in Hill's 2nd season.

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