PIPPEN Vs. RODMAN Who was the BEST defender in Bulls History?

[Mr.247]

PIPPEN Vs. RODMAN Who was the BEST DEFENDER in Bulls History?

Pippen was a fantastic All Around Defender. Guarding multiple positions when needed.

Rodman was the Best Phiysical that could guard guys almost twice his size including Shaq by himself
GIFSoup

Rodman was also the Best Psychological Defender...
GIFSoup

 

[CubbyBear2290]

Okay in all honesty as much as some may hate to hear it. Pippen is far and away the bulls' best defender in history. Rodman was a rebounder here and nothing more. HE was a guy to get under the skin, but as far as actual defense went, he really left that moniker and style of play after he left the "Bad Boys" Pistons team.

Just my take, but we in Chicago, love this guy soo much for his antics, when he was clearly just a rebounder and nothing more when he came to us.

 

[RamiTheBullsFan]

Anyone who says Rodman couldn't play defense is ignorant as hell. He wouldn't be anywhere near as effective as a defender in this post-hand-checking era, but the guy guarded Magic, Jordan, Larry, Malone, Ewing, Mourning, Shaq... he could pretty much guard anybody very well. Pippen couldn't guard all those giant centers the way Rodman could.

Pippen is easily the best defender in Bulls' history because nobody could shut down a man better than he could. And he was a better weak-side defensive player than Rodman to top that off- with blocked shots and steals (not that is the factor that tips the scale).

Rodman was better at defending the post while Pippen was better at defending the perimeter and could alter shots and passes better than Rodman could.

 

[RamiTheBullsFan]

Rebounding isn't a defensive stat at all so that shouldn't be counted in an argument for Rodman.

Look at a guy like Kevin Love, Al Jefferson, or Carlos Boozer. Three of the best rebounders in the game. But that doesn't mean that they are good defenders.

 

[CubbyBear2290]

No I think you are taking what I said the wrong way and out of context, in Chicago, he wasn't near the caliber of Defender he was in detroit when he won a couple of DPOY's. In Chicago (at least in my opinion) he was more of an attitude and soundbyte to take some attention of the 2 big stars of Jordan and Pippen. Too go along w/ absolute stellar rebounding.

So don't get me wrong, he was a Grade A defender at 1 point, just not w/ the Bulls.

 

[RamiTheBullsFan]

No I think you are taking what I said the wrong way and out of context, in Chicago, he wasn't near the caliber of Defender he was in detroit when he won a couple of DPOY's. In Chicago (at least in my opinion) he was more of an attitude and soundbyte to take some attention of the 2 big stars of Jordan and Pippen. Too go along w/ absolute stellar rebounding.

So don't get me wrong, he was a Grade A defender at 1 point, just not w/ the Bulls.

He was still a great defender with the Bulls. Everybody naturally slows down but nobody could guard the PFs of the league like Dennis could. Obviously, his Detroit days were his best. He couldn't guard a PG anymore by the time he was with the Bulls but he could do just about anything else. Age slows your reaction time and explosiveness but yeah. Even at his best, I'd take Pippen over Rodman when it comes to purely playing overall defense.

 

[CubbyBear2290]

Curious how old are you? (not trying to insult) I'm genuinely just curious as people younger than 21-22 only have stories of him and what he was. He was a serviceable-above average defender when here (not even the best on the team), but he wasn't even the best big man defender of all-time as you are trying to make him out to be, he maybe pound for the best defender of PFs because of height inadequacy........

I loved Rodman, but I remember him playing for the Bulls, and he honestly just wasn't the defender here that we really want to remember him as....we are all entitled to our opinions, but most who legitimately him playing here, know that he really was a shell of his former self when he got here.

 

[RamiTheBullsFan]

Curious how old are you? (not trying to insult) I'm genuinely just curious as people younger than 21-22 only have stories of him and what he was. He was a serviceable-above average defender when here (not even the best on the team), but he wasn't even the best big man defender of all-time as you are trying to make him out to be, he maybe pound for the best defender of PFs because of height inadequacy........

I loved Rodman, but I remember him playing for the Bulls, and he honestly just wasn't the defender here that we really want to remember him as....we are all entitled to our opinions, but most who legitimately him playing here, know that he really was a shell of his former self when he got here.

It doesn't matter how old I am, and I saw Rodman in nearly every game he played for the Bulls. You seem quick to dismiss those tactics Rodman used as nothing more than just a side-show, but that was apart of playing excellent man-to-man defense against post-up scorers. Dennis Rodman was in Malone's head for that entire 1997 series and he played poorly as a result. Rodman's work ethic in Chicago was nothing short of legendary and he was able to go toe-to-toe with Malone physically to root him out of good position to score in the paint. He was far more than just a serviceable defender that was only brought in for rebounding. And Rodman was not very undersized at all. He was about the height of Scottie Pippen (who was a solid 6'7''). Rodman didn't have the lift and explosiveness that he had in his Detroit days but his job consisted of three main things:

-guard the opposing team's best low-post scorer (and he did a hell of a job at that)
-rebounding
-move the ball from the key in the triangle

Jordan, Pippen, Harper, and Rodman all were the main reasons that the Bulls defense was able to turn into maybe the greatest in NBA history. If you take just one of them out then that defense isn't anywhere near as good as it ended up being.

 

[clonetrooper264]

Jordan, Pippen, Harper, and Rodman all were the main reasons that the Bulls defense was able to turn into maybe the greatest in NBA history. If you take just one of them out then that defense isn't anywhere near as good as it ended up being.

Totally agree. That 2nd threepeat team had great defenders at 4 out of the 5 positions (well maybe Harper wasn't necessarily "great" but he did his job very well) with a decent enough defender at the center position. Pippen was the best defender ever to wear a Bulls uniform. I would agree that Rodman doesn't get that title because when he was a Bull, he was older and lost a lot of what allowed him to get DPOY in Detroit, but he was still a heck of a defender to say the least. Saying that Rodman wasn't a key defender for us would be wrong.

 

[Glide2keva]

If it's only between these two when they with the Bulls, I'm going with Pippen.

 

[Glide2keva]

Totally agree. That 2nd threepeat team had great defenders at 4 out of the 5 positions (well maybe Harper wasn't necessarily "great" but he did his job very well) with a decent enough defender at the center position. Pippen was the best defender ever to wear a Bulls uniform. I would agree that Rodman doesn't get that title because when he was a Bull, he was older and lost a lot of what allowed him to get DPOY in Detroit, but he was still a heck of a defender to say the least. Saying that Rodman wasn't a key defender for us would be wrong.

Yeah, he usually did a great job of guarding Shaq and never wanted a double team.

 

[CODE_BLUE56]

LOL rodman was a great defender...maybe not as good with bulls but still fantastic..i think rebounding is definitely an aspect of defense because a defensive rebound takes away another scoring opportunity for the opposition and thats important

rodman's type were put to good use in that time where bigs were dominant..rodman had the ability to make it harder to center the offense inside..

that said, i give the edge to scottie because he was in his peak with the bulls and frankly he was just overall the better defender

 

[Crystallas]

Pippen was a much better defender than Rodman, in a Bulls uni. Especially 1991-1992 and of course 93-94. Rodman could defend all 5 positions, but he couldn't defend elite wings anywhere near as good as Pip. Pippen also could defend all 5 positions, and incredibly so, 6'7" guy matched up on Ewing with a decent amount of effectiveness is nothing to brush off.

In this case, it works against Rodman to not have played for Chicago in his prime.

 

[Crystallas]

I also put Jordan above Rodman, in a Bulls uniform, as a defender. Jordan's role changed, as Pippen became confidant at the NBA level, but before that, he was a lockdown defender with absolutely perfect footwork while guarding. 1987-90 Jordan D was legendary, IMO, best for a SG ever.

 

[CODE_BLUE56]

ya i was about to say..i think jordan was a better defender than scottie

 

[CubbyBear2290]

Pippen was a much better defender than Rodman, in a Bulls uni. Especially 1991-1992 and of course 93-94. Rodman could defend all 5 positions, but he couldn't defend elite wings anywhere near as good as Pip. Pippen also could defend all 5 positions, and incredibly so, 6'7" guy matched up on Ewing with a decent amount of effectiveness is nothing to brush off.

In this case, it works against Rodman to not have played for Chicago in his prime.

This is all I was saying, but I get obliterated for having an opinion on why Rodman may not have been as great w/ the bulls as he was with the pistons.

 

[BigP50]

Pippen, but Rodman was probably the best rebounder. I liked when they were on the same team lol

 

[Glide2keva]

ya i was about to say..i think jordan was a better defender than scottie

That's because he was.

The choice was only between Rodman and Scottie, otherwise I would pick Jordan.

 

[Glide2keva]

This is all I was saying, but I get obliterated for having an opinion on why Rodman may not have been as great w/ the bulls as he was with the pistons.

Welcome to life on CCS.

It happens a lot around here.

 

[Crystallas]

This is all I was saying, but I get obliterated for having an opinion on why Rodman may not have been as great w/ the bulls as he was with the pistons.

Hey, it's just opinions. Usually the older you get, the more mature, and you also get this understanding that everyone is allowed their opinion, but somehow that doesn't apply in sports!!! LOL!!!