How the NBA RUINED Scottie Pippen's Championship Run 

What would have happened to Pippen and Jordan's legacies if the Bulls won in 1994? CORRECTION: In the beginning of the vid, I said Bill Russell in the 80s, but I obviously meant 60s.... Imagine THAT longevity. lol

People forget the Bulls picked up a lot of big men that year (arguably their biggest weakness). Along with Kukoc, Kerr filled in for a fading Paxson, while still having Pip, Grant and BJ. That was a super strong team!

I have a hard time believing a Pippen led Bulls could have stood a chance against Hakeems Rockets. Hakeem was just on a different level in 94 and 95. It would have been a toss up WITH Jordan and I am being honest as an OG Bulls fan

So here’s the thing, this was a second round match up not the conference finals and the pacers were just as tough as the Knicks so there’s no guarantee that they beat them if they advance past the knicks. People act like that series against the Knicks was the conference finals, but it wasn’t.

Horace Grant really is underrated. Scottie Pippen gets a lot of credit for the 94 season (most of it is justified). i feel Horace Grant played an important role in keeping them competitive with the absence of Michael Jordan. but when he left for the Magic, Pippen couldn’t do it on his own and needed MJ back. idk maybe it’s a bad read on my part

Just wanna help the video

I remember watching that series as a kid and I can tell you that without a doubt there was no contact. I literally jumped out of my seat screaming bullshit and couldn't believe the Bulls got robbed and lost all the momentum with that call.

This team was extremely talented and had a nice influx of young players to go along with the core of the 93 championship team, minus Jordan. Bulls basically lost Jordan and a couple role players and added what would become their future 6th man, starting center and the most accurate 3 point shooter ever. That team mixed nicely. Yes kukoc was deadly in the clutch that year and definitely wasn't afraid of the moment on taking game winning shots.

It would have been a tough test for them to go against the Pacers and prime Reggie Miller in the ECF before even facing the Rockets.

I am glad you brought up the reason he retired. People seem to forget that Jordan had emotional things happening that led to him needing to step away. People think he just stepped away for no reason.

Even if that call doesn't get made, we don't know that it wouldn't have been the Knicks that bounced back. Even if the Bulls had won that series, they still had to get through the eastern Finals where they would have gone up against Miller's Pacers that took then Knicks 7 and also gave Jordan's Bulls some epic fights. *And then* the Bulls would have had to beat Hakeem's Rockets, that had a winning *regular season* record against the Bulls even with Jordan at that time. That's all possible, but I honestly don't think they'd have done it regardless. I don't believe the Bulls without Jordan would have had a real shot at stopping Hakeem's Rockets, if they even could have beaten the Pacers.

As a Bulls fan, I still don't know if we beat the Rockets in the finals without MJ

Jonny Arnett the MJ of NBA RU-vid

I was at game 7 at MSG and was 12 years old. Ive never heard a louder crowd. We got off the Amtrak train under the Garden and they were already chanting "D FENCE!" The joy on all the fans when the Bulls finally were bounced was amazing

That year, Horace Grant and BJ Armstrong made the All-Star team for their first and only time, plus an up and coming Kukoc. Pippen had plenty of help!

Youre taking me back. This whole season, the very game with the Phantom Call. I remember all of it.

Also, we could also make a video about how JoJo English started that fight on purpose to get Harper ejected from the game, which literally EVERYONE at the time thought was the case.

I'm Glad somebody finally said it. 55 wins 27 losses Scottie and two other teammates made the all-star team, Scottie Led the team in damn near every major category. I couldn't believe the refs called a foul for Hubert Davis It was as if the league didn't want the Scottie led bulls to Continue on in those playoffs

Scottie sitting out after not giving the chance to take the last shot still haunts him to the day

Thank you for saying this. And no no to diminish Jordan's greatness, but to recognize what Scottie didn't, and what should have happened

Hakeem was too good that year. Bulls werent beating Houston

The video is saying 159k likes right now 3 mins after being dropped.

Compared to the Bulls' 61 wins in '91 and 67 wins in '92, the '92-93 season was the worst regular season of the Bulls'1st three-peat, largely due to the '92 Olympics. Especially when you have a team like Chicago that sent two players to the Olympics, you're going to have a disruption because they didn't get enough rest during the offseason. Like Chicago, Utah, which also sent Malone and Stockton, went from 55 wins in three straight seasons to 47wins. Add to that Jordan became unmotivated about basketball after 2nd championship and Phil Jackson forced him to sit out in an attempt to get him re-motivated while Chicago's losses increased.(Bulls made 1-3 when Jordan absent the game in 9293 season) Of course, even with all of that in mind, the 57 wins and second-round playoff appearance centered around the Pippen were more than expected. But sometimes people make comparisons to the 9394 Chicago Bulls(when MJ retired) and the 1011 Cleveland Cavaliers(when Lebron left the team), but we have to realize that there are significant differences between those two teams. 1. Team Power Ranking before Jordan & Lebron left the team : Chicago was a team that had won three straight championships. Cleveland? Could not won a Single championship, only one Finals appearance. 2. Roster: Chicago lost only Jordan. and most of Chicago's players were in the prime of their careers and there were no injuries. The Cavaliers lost Lebron, Shaq, and had injuries and some players didn`t play their best. 3. Player reinforcement: Chicago had reinforcements such as Tony Kukoc while Cleveland was in tanking mode due to the owner's decision to get 1st pick.

Happy to see someone giving flowers to Scottie. He was a big part on Bulls success. No ref would call foul that contest shot if there was Jordan instead of Pippen. And Pippen didn't even touch Davis

I think the Pacers could've beaten them in five, they would've had a really good shot of stealing a game in Chicago and from there I think they could've won games 3 and 4 before closing the Bulls out on Reggie's 25 point fourth quarter. That Pacers team had been playing insanely well since the All-Star Break.

I’m a Knicks fan- unfortunately. To me, that call was makeup for some of those nonsense Jordan superstar calls from the past. Did the Knicks win the series from 1 call? Maybe. I’ll take it. But, with no Jordan in the league, nobody was gonna beat the Rockets in 94 so it didn’t really matter who won or lost this series.

I never knew Scottie had a chance at clinching the game before Tony why is that never brought up.

yo jonny im 22 and i love your videos, keep em coming all ages can benefit from your content!!

Man, great video, but I dont think the Bulls could have beat the Pacers or the Rockets, at best, a 7 games series agaisnt the Pacers and a 6 games series agaisnt Houston, with Hakeem dominating. Also, you should make a video about Horace Grant legacy. At least Pippen is considered the best robin or one of the most underrated/overrated players, but Grant doesnt even get the recognition that Rodman has for playing for the Bulls.

0:08 That mj ball fake making dude stumble then hitting the fade over A Mason a hell of a defender is so beautiful to watch.

The Bulls might just have a realistic shot because the team in the west that always gave the rockets most trouble are the SuperSonics, highlighting not a single defensive big but rather versatile big wings that can perform double teams and recovers effectively. The bulls might just have the personnel to do the same.

Hard to say. In real time I think most would have made that call but as well as the Bulls and Pippen played it goes to show how much MJ was needed and how much he truly elevated everyone else to perform the way they did even though he wasn’t on the team.

The only way Houston was getting beat was if MJ was still in the league and even then still tough to say Hakeem at that point was just on fire

They actually helped Scottie in a way by shortening the 3point line right after Jordan retired

Jordan and Pippen's relationship has deteriorated now, but Jordan once praised Pippen, saying, ``The Bulls' three consecutive championships would never have been possible without Scotty.''

Love these nba vids.

How the hell do you pump out so much content?

I have no idea who would have won in the finals if the Bulls made it there. But what I remember is that it was way more exciting basketball to watch without Jordan dominating everything. Pippen, Kukoc and Jackson's coaching are the things I remember really stepping up in the playoffs. Wow!

Pippen has fallen so far. It’s actually sad

Goat basketball RU-vidr rn

On 04/20/96, in the penultimate regular season game for both teams, the Pacers became the only team to beat the Bulls twice out of four games that season. The win came from a controversial shooting foul also called by Hue Hollins when the game was tied at 5 seconds left and MJ made contact w/ Eddie Johnson's hand, which the Bulls argued is part of the ball. If it weren't for that loss, the Bulls would've become the 2nd team to go 40-1 at home and the 1st team to go 73-9 in a season.

Solid content like always! I can't believe I'd never heard of this call, but I don't think they'd beat Hakeem in the Finals.

I think that's a questionable call by the ref, but it's more if a call then a no call, and even if it didn't happen, I don't see the bulls winning against Hakeem in the finals.

Great points, Jonny! Based on the video, it is a close call, but I don't think contact was made. Definitely an iffy foul call. I don't think the Bulls would've beaten the Rockets. It would be close, but I would give the Rockets the edge. Hope you have a great week :)

No, the Bulls wouldn't have won in 94 even if Hugh doesn't make the call. No guarantee they win the ECF much less beat Dream's Rockets.

I remember watching that entire series live and I couldn’t agree more with your take. That was clearly a fixed call in game 5 bc the ball already was in the air before Pippen closed in and the ref blew his whistle clearly only after the shot did not go in. Knowing what we know today about the NBA refs, it’s clear as day to me that either the ref had money on the game or received one of those “internal” emails.

"The first 3peat since the Bill Russel Celtics in the 80s"

Part of the reason while Pippen is so mad at Jordan and how he was portrayed in "The Last Dance". I don't blame him neither. If you gonna tell the story, tell the whole story. Don't just make me look bad to boost yourself up.

This is a good video but i dont agree that the nba ruined Pippen's chance of winning that series they had 2 other games to win 2 and could only get 1 . Im a huge Bulls fan but i try to be as unbiased as i can and try to look at it from all side's #1 it was a bad call no doubt about it but everyone gets them so you got to learn to deal with it. I believe we got away with a no call against that very team in the playoffs that Okley was fouled and did not get the call so it happens. 2 Pippen had the last 4 possessions before Tony hit that game winner and he went 3 missed FG and that 1 TO you showed, Phil had no choice but to give it to Tony who had hit multiple game winners that yr. And it was the right call .3 they had another chance to win that series in NY and they failed badly. 4 even if they did beat NY theirs no way they would have won against the Rockets thats just my opinion.

I think this video is the most fair to Scottie Pippen. Winning or losing a series with a bad call is part of the game, even now. But to give a fair look at the series is to look at it by a basketball analysis rather than an individual's abnormal behavior at that moment.

Scottie needed to be led. He may have talked to his team better but under his leadership he went as far as he could 55 games.

Just want to thank you for this well documented video of the Bulls 94 season and Playoffs (without Jordan) So many people have no club The Bulls was supposed to be in the NBA Finals that year w/o Jordan. Had it not been for the league office and that bad call. Thank you for this video bro

Another great video. I believe Jeff Van Gundy was commentating on that game and said upon the first replay it was indeed a foul. With that said, many calls or non-calls have been made in those situations. I was rooting for the Bulls, mostly because I was a Magic Johnson fan and was still holding out that Magic should be ranked higher than Jordan on the all-time list. In my head it would prove something. Looking back, I'm not sure what LOL. It's hard to believe that Bulls team goes on to beat the Rockets however. It would have been difficult even with Jordan, as Olajuwon was on a mission. And let's be honest, the Pacers were no joke, although I think the Bulls beat them, but not the Rockets.

Even if we agree that the ref made the wrong call they need to win the conference finals and then beat Hakeem in the finals which there is no shot that they do

Bulls would've had a hard enough time with the Rockets WITH Jordan. They gettin mopped without him. Hakeem eatin Cartwright and Perdue for lunch easy. But that Pacers series in the ECF would've been an interesting one too

THANK YOU. I swear, the amount of therapy I feel I need just as a bystander to the chances Pippen lost explains why he's actually gone off the deep end. I remember yelling at the TV when Hue Hollins made that call, and my mom running into the living room because she thought I had hurt myself. I also remember literally fracturing my finger on the table when I smacked it after the Blazers lost to the Lakers in the 200p WCF Sure, it wasn't all on outside factors, as the Knicks roughed him up and he shot terribly for the series, but damn he should have had at least one without MJ.

9:36 this edit was toooo nice Definitely one of the most controversial calls and “what’s ifs” from one of the 90’s most brutally classic series between the Knicks and Bulls. Ultimately I think Hollins made a terrible call from a Davis oversell. The home team won every game so it’s rational to think the Bulls could have closed game 6 if that whistle isn’t blown. However, I don’t think they were gonna get past those ‘94 Rockets. They had way too many weapons inside/outside and Dream in the middle (of Ramadan, mind you) ready for anything coming towards the hoop. It was their year with MJ away. Fantastic post, JA.

Bulls picked up Kerr Wennington Mayers Kukoc and Longley that year. It's not like mike left and the Bulls did nothing.

If i knew where Hue Hollins lived, i would pay some kids to toilet paper his house.... I can STILL hear Neil Funk's voice saying "I dont think there was any contact!"

Scottie needs more respect on his name

I love how no one actually gives Ewing and the Knicks credit for beating the Bulls. Pippen choked against the Knicks and Ewing outplayed him. The Knicks defense was all-time great.

Chicago Bulls were a very good team even without Jordan. Apart from bad referee call, they couldn't advance because Jordan, and his clutch plays, was missing. I know, it's obvious. I wanna add something: Chicago was a strong team beacuse it was still a well balanced team. '94 Bulls, without Jordan, was a better team than '95 one.

Foul or not (I don't think it was a foul) is Impressive how Scottie moved so fast from where he was to contest that shot. To me this guy is the best defensive SF of all time.

You could tell Pippen was frustrated the play before, with time was running out Toni was in the corner and didn't clear out when Pippen had the ball. Pip was already mad at Toni, but then when Phil called the play for Toni, it completely pissed Pip off. Now this play for Toni is a play they used a number of times during the reg season with Pip in-bounding to a 6'10 guy who is going to get a clear shot. Toni was a great player but at the same time he had a habit of just standing around which doesn't work with the triangle offense.

The Hugh hollins call is one at the most reaching referee bring ups in NBA history, Scottie slipped on D ( pause lol) and in that second round Scottie quit on his team and tge Bulls lost a game 7 by double digits over a team they had owned with MJ, its very generous to give Pippen 2 rounds which is why I say he's become one of the most overrated players in NBA history

Jordan scored 666 total points in the 93 play-offs just before 33 days before they killed his dad. The family didn't report him missing for 21 days. 😢

Grreat video sir.

Good old physical 80's and 90's NBA basketball. Great video Jonny....by the way, Chicago wouldn't have faired well against the Rockets, even if they made it to the Finals.

Hakeem would of taken pippens lunch money. Bulls were not winning in 94 . Regardless. Knicks took the rockets to 7 because they had a big. The bulls didnt

I mean even if the bulls win that series they have the veteran Hakeem led rockets to face off against and no one on the bulls was going to slow the Dream down that series. As for the call this is why replay and being able to overturn a bad call at the end of games is a good thing. I am also interested on your take the next season of the bulls because they went of this 55 win team to struggling around .500 until Jordan came back. I know they lost Horace Grant that year. Do you think that was enough to make them struggle as much as they did. I always feel like Horace doesn't get the respect he deserves for the first 3peat like Dennis Rodman does in the second one. My hot take is that I actually feel the first 3peat bulls were better than the second 3peat bulls. Mostly because Horace gave them both a defensive and offensive presence which let them be more a more versatile team plus MJ and Scottie were in their primes having both youth and experience

Scottie showing up in the 4th of game 7 would have helped! Without the Derek Harper suspension they propably get swept. 🤷🏻‍♂️

My personal thought: the nba couldn't have Scottie win without Jordan. So they ended it before any sort of hype could begin.

Scottie Pippen is a legend who's incredibly overrated. We have to sit here and make excuses all of these years later for his failed performances.

Oof, tough one. But the way Scottie brings his arm down on the close-out wasnt the best idea.

For a sec, I thought you were gonna talk about Scottie's 2000 playoffs with the blazers

Pippin really could have brought the Bulls to the finals, which is very impressive, but winning it all against the Rockets? Nah

I’m a simple man I see a new Johnny video I click and then click like😊

This is one of the best of your even handed takes.

Woulda been cool to see rockets vs bulls no mj but hakeem was on a different timing in 94 and 95. However a 97 finals of hakeem Drexler and Barkley vs MJ Pippen and Rodman woulda been ultimate 90s basketball

Bad call, shooter was halfway down before Scottie even jumped lol. Classic trick. And NY took the rockets to 7. Just saying. Watching that team was something special without MJ even if they lacked the supernova fame.

I felt the same way then, and feel the same way now, that Bulls got robbed in that series. I take solace in feeling they probably wouldn't have been able to beat Indiana and then Houston. Too bad they didn't get the opportunity.

No Hue Hollins who Scottie Pippen had his most tech from. Made horrible call it was after the release. As Darret Garrison mention that call shouldnt had been called. It was after the release & shot actually deflect it + Hubert Davis sold the foul as well

It's a tough call in Game 5 vs the Knicks, but it was the right call. I'm a Bulls fan but I can't deny that Pippen's hand hit Hubert Davis's arm.

Jordan get so offended when you try to tell them how close the 1994 Bulls were to winning it all.

THANK YOU FOR THIS VIDEO!!!! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 I have BEEN SAYING THAT SHIT WAS FIXED!!!

That was the second round 😂. Even "if" they had beaten the Knicks, they would have to beat the Pacers, and then the Rockets. That Bulls team was no where good enough.

Celtics didnt 3peat in the 80's, but I knew what you were wanting to say

i swear everybody pretends this season never happened

Still hurts to watch this years later

Definitely a horrible call that made no sense. If the Bulls make the finals that year, getting past the Rockets was a tough task. They literally had no one to put on Hakeem that would have been able to do much.

That call was game 5. It went to 7 games. What happened in game 7 when the series was on the line.

The phantom foul calls in today’s game are far worse. Look up, “Dreadful foul call for Jimmy Butler almost swung Game 5 of NBA Finals”. A Nuggets player fouled Jimmy Butler’s foot with his nuts, and Butler got 3 free throws which cut the Nuggets lead to only 1 point with 4 minutes left in the game.

Bulls win that series they still would of had to played the Pacers to get to the NBA finals.The pacers were tough that year.

I was not watching that game. I was however listening to the radio and was jumping up and down since the Bulls had won the game. Only then for Hubert Davis to get those free throws.

0:30 "Bill Russell's Celtics in the the 1980s" ... Bill was in his 40s.

I hate when defenders get punished for trying to play good defense by hustling to contest shots, it’s almost discouraging them from trying to play good defense

If Derek Harper doesn’t get suspended for games 4 and 5, the bulls don’t even tie the series. The Knicks literally lost game 5 to the pacers in the next series and still ended up winning in 7. So it was no guarantee the Bulls would have won even if they won game 5. Would have been tied doing back to the garden if Harper isn’t suspended in the first place.

on this video, the only hypothetical conclusion we can go to is, Chicago goes to the Finals. That was the missed opportunity. Now, as to whether they can win against a strong Orlando team without Jordan, that is another story. Would Chicago made a better 1994 series against the Rockets if they did go the Finals? Would they have won or lost? Could they do better than the Knicks without being swept?

Another great video. Scottie has become a bit of a jester post retirement. But he was an incredible complete player in his prime. With a little more help they could have won that fourth

There is absolutely no what-if in this scenario. The Bulls were, only, a highly functioning team with a championship pedigree only when they held the trump card (MJ). They were actually closer to being swept in that series than they were challenging for any championship. If they hadn't been bailed out by Kukoc in that game, allowing the series to drag out longer than it should have, there would be no Hugh Hollins call or 7th Game to speak of. The only possible what-if would be what would Pippen's legacy be if Kukoc hadn't made that shot. Pippen actually gets more of a pass and the Bulls w/out Jordan get way more credit than they deserve simply because they were able to win 55 games and stretch the series to 7 games. Well, the '69 76ers also won 55 games after trading Wilt Chamberlin to the Lakers, who only won the same number of games but when the playoffs rolled around they were out in the first round. The Lakers did reach the finals but choked as we all know. Revisionist history makes it seem as though that one thing cost them a championship they were never going to win. Scottie may have been an MVP candidate but the right person won and then led his team to the title. It really wasn't as close as many of us seem to have either forgotten or, love to pretend it was.