Playoffs 2000:Blazers playbook: Scottie Pippen

Blazers playbook: Scottie Pippen
Coach's Edge

During the 1990s, the Bulls were like a family. Some of the members changed, but the nuclear family unit of Scottie Pippen, Michael Jordan, and coach Phil Jackson remained the same. Jackson and Pippen have a little family reunion in the conference finals now. Coach Jackson knows what makes Pippen tick -- but he also knows what makes him struggle.

ANIMATE THIS PLAY DIAGRAM WITH SHOCKWAVE

(A) Scottie Pippen (33) is the playoff veteran on a very talented Blazers team. Damon Stoudamire (3) initiates the action opposite Pippen as Steve Smith (8) cuts baseline off of Arvydas Sabonis (11).

(B) Against Utah, Pippen (33) and Smith (8) had a size advantage. But against Kobe Bryant (8) and Glen Rice (41), it's a wash. Pippen and Smith are going to have to run the Lakers off good screens like this one here, to get open their jumpers.