HT: 6-8 | WT: 228 | AGE: 35 |YR: 14
CAREER STLS: 2.0 | BLKS: 0.9
By Fred Carter
Special to ESPN.com
Once upon a time Scottie Pippen was the best defensive small forward in the game. But as time does to every player, it's taken away his speed, quickness, athleticism and jumping ability. Those are the things that Scottie utilized to play defense.
Just as his former teammate Michael Jordan altered his game when he got older, and used his experience to gain an edge over opponents, so must Pippen do in matching up with Tracy McGrady. He has to pick his spots and exert his will at vital moments of the game. Pippen can, with the help of Stacey Augmon, stop McGrady when he really has to. Over the course of an entire game McGrady is simply too athletic for Pippen to handle, but he's smart enough to know what to do when the game is in the balance.
Offensively, Pippen hasn't really been scoring. That's another part of his game that has begun to slide as he has gotten older and further removed from the glory days in Chicago. But Portland has enough offensive players. Pippen's real value, and one where McGrady can't even begin to approach his effectiveness, is as the orchestrator of the offense and team leader.
Pippen's role has evolved into a leadership and control position. In the big games, Scottie can rev it up for the big games physically but his skills pale in comparison to McGrady's. Where Pippen is clearly a cut above him is as a team leader and facilitator of an offensive system.
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HT: 6-8 | WT: 210 | AGE: 21 | YR: 4
CAREER STLS: 1.0 | BLKS: 1.5
By Dr. Jack Ramsay
Special to ESPN.com
Tracy McGrady has stepped up his game since going with Orlando. If he's healthy and can play at full strength, the Magic swingman will pose too many quickness problems for Pippen.
At only 21, McGrady is extremely athletic and is improving every year. His numbers have gone up every year, and they should continue to improve. He will probably finish with better than the 21.8 points per game he is averaging now. With Grant Hill out, McGrady is the Magic's main player. So he has the green light within Orlando's offense, which always gives a player great comfort.
Generally, what teams do against McGrady is dare him to shoot from outside because he's not a great perimeter shooter. But he is elusive and very good at putting the ball on the floor or driving to the basket. He also excels in the open court and around the basket. McGrady has great body control in the air; he can change direction in the air to get to the basket or to create shooting room.
Scottie Pippen isn't as good a defender as he once was. At one time Pippen was the best defender in the game on perimeter players. He has probably lost a little quickness and agility, but Pippen is still very good.
While McGrady is only an average defender, Pippen won't score a lot of points anyway because he's not a priority in the Blazers' offense. Pippen can pass and rebound, but so can McGrady, who has youth on his side and all the attributes that youth carries with it -- extra elevation, quickness, creativity in the air and staying power. If he's healthy, McGrady will play more minutes than Pippen and should be more effective.
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