Pippen, Jackson Enjoy Reunion

Scottie Pippen, would-be Laker and new Portland Trail Blazer, shared a warm reunion with Laker Coach Phil Jackson during the two teams’ shoot-around time Monday.

“It was great to see him,” Pippen said before the Lakers’ exhibition game in Albuquerque against Portland. “We spent a lot of time together [in Chicago]. . . . We had some big smiles about all the hoopla that was going on during this summer.”

Speaking of that trade rumor hoopla, Pippen said he never was sure how close the Lakers came to acquiring him.

“I didn’t really focus on it one way or the other,” Pippen said. “It never came to fruition between me and the Lakers. It never was a thing that I thought was going to happen, because it never got that close.”

Jackson said he understood why the Lakers didn’t want to pick up Pippen’s huge contract. But he was not happy that Portland got him.

“Yeah, that was disappointing,” Jackson said. “Obviously, our competitors beat us to the punch--our prime competitor in the conference. That hurts a lot.”

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Looking sluggish and passing poorly, the Lakers turned in their ugliest game of the exhibition season at the Pit in Albuquerque, losing, 92-78, to Portland, led by Pippen’s 20 points.

The Lakers finish this grueling five-games-in-six-days schedule tonight in Las Vegas, but after Monday’s game, Jackson gave his players no quarter.

“It’s four games in five nights, and it’s [at] altitude,” Jackson said. “You could use a lot of excuses.

“But I thought they punked out tonight a little bit on us.”

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Though Jackson continues to keep the door cracked for the possible Laker return of Dennis Rodman, Pippen offered his own clear-cut opinion about his former Bull teammate.

“I think Dennis left a pretty bad taste in the organization’s mouth and right now I’m sure that’s not the direction they’re looking to go,” Pippen said. “You have to wonder if he’s the right fit for that team. You don’t want to make the same mistake again.”