Jordan said Scottie Pippen was a huge reason for his performance
There wasn’t any doubt after Game 5 that Jordan was going to be the Finals MVP. That performance had cemented it. Which is really unfortunate because so many people never fully appreciated how brilliant Scottie Pippen was. Not only in that game but in the entire series. The New York Times touched on it after the Bulls clinched the championship in Game 6, quoting Jordan, Phil Jackson and others on how Pippen was being overlooked.
”You’re my m.v.p.,” Jordan told Pippen after the Chicago Bulls beat the Utah Jazz, 90-86, for the National Basketball Association championship last night at the United Center.
”A lot of people watch who score and that’s wonderful,” said Bulls Coach Phil Jackson. ”But Scottie Pippen’s defense is a one-man wrecking crew. He plays 48 feet at every position, both sides of court.”
”Scottie Pippen,” added the noble John Stockton, ”was in the way a lot.”
Jackson later said in his book that Scottie played the “point forward” position during Game 5 and called one of the most masterful games he’d ever seen. Pippen was able to mask Jordan for much of the game so he wouldn’t have to exert much energy on defense and often setting him up for easy baskets. That includes the dagger 3-pointer that put Chicago ahead for good.
