Pippen Shows His Leadership Aggressively

Mike Dunleavy may officially be the Portland Trail Blazers’ coach but their coach on the floor is do-it-all veteran Scottie Pippen.

Before the Western Conference finals began, Pippen was not shy in expressing his feelings on how Portland would beat the Lakers. But after the Lakers’ blowout victory in Game 1, Pippen’s words seemed as off as one of Shaquille O’Neal’s free throws.

However, Pippen turned out to be a prophet Monday night when he took charge early and showed the Trail Blazers how to be aggressive and smart, leading them to an impressive 29-point victory at Staples Center.

“I realized that in Game 1, I shot too many outside shots so the bottom line going into [Monday]’s game was for me to continue to attack the basket,” said Pippen, who played 39 minutes and finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds. “I wanted to take the ball to the basket and try and establish that we weren’t going to be a jump-shooting team tonight.”

Pippen exploited Glen Rice’s defense early and often as he blew past him for an early dunk and then added a layup. But more importantly, Pippen made sure his teammates followed his lead.

“I thought it was more his offense than his defense,” Laker Coach Phil Jackson said about Pippen. “He pressured their team into playing aggressively, taking the ball to the basket, and created a foul situation on our team in the first half particularly.”

Jackson’s right. The Lakers had 18 fouls over the first quarter with O’Neal leading the way with three. Every Laker starter along with sixth-man Robert Horry had at least two fouls at halftime.

Thanks to Pippen’s 17 points and Rasheed Wallace’s 12, the Trail Blazers held a modest three-point lead at halftime. But instead of being happy about their advantage, Portland wanted to be even more aggressive in the second half and that’s what they got once Greg Anthony entered the game 15 seconds into the third quarter.

One concern for the Lakers before the series began was the quickness and scoring ability of Trail Blazer point guard Damon Stoudamire. But when he picked up two quick fouls in the third quarter and had to leave the game with four, Anthony stepped in with calm steady veteran leadership.

Anthony didn’t do much scoring, finishing with only six points, but he did the little things that make a team win. He helped direct Portland’s offense and made sure spacing was there whenever a post player kicked the ball back to a perimeter player.

“We did a good job of shooting the ball . . . when guys got the ball and the opportunities were there, they shot the ball,” Pippen said. “Rasheed and Steve [Smith] did a good job of spacing and really knocking their shots down from the three-point line.”

Pippen and Anthony shared duties controlling the ball on offense but it was their defense which helped Portland shut down the Lakers during the 28-8 third quarter.

“Shots weren’t dropping tonight like they did before,” Horry said. “We didn’t take advantage of going to the hole. We didn’t go to the rack.”

Now it is up to the Lakers to make adjustments.

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Getting It Going

Though the Trail Blazers led by three points at halftime, Scottie Pippen helped set the tone for the blowout victory with his aggressive play in the first half:

13--drives to the basket

2--dunks made

3--layups made

2--layups missed

5--fouls drawn, which he converted into seven free throws made in 10 attempts

1--turnover

Pippen took only one jump shot, missing an 11-footer.