« Reply #33 on: June 14, 2018, 10:22:59 PM »
Career averages for Pierce:
ppg: 20.7
Ts%: .568
3pt%: .368
FT%: .806%
Career averages for Pippen:
ppg: 16.1
ts%: .536
3pt%: .326
FT%: .704
Pierce was definitely the better offensive player. Pippen realized early that he was playing with the greatest player who ever lived and carved out a defensive niche for himself. As a highly athletic player, he had the ability to score. But he had nowhere near the offensive arsenal, efficiency, shooting touch, or foot work that Pierce had. Substitute Pierce for Pippen and the Bulls do not win any less than 6 titles still.
You're conveniently ignoring that Pippen blows Pierce out of the water defensively, as well as playmaking. Pippen also had the edge rebounding the ball
And that Pippen was a low-usage second option, and Pierce was a high-usage first option.
Under those circumstances, 4 points per game is nothing. It's especially nothing when you consider pace. For his career, Pierce averaged 20.7 points per 100 possessions (21.4 in Boston). Pippen averaged 24.0 points per 100 possessions (25.7 in Chicago).
Not close.
For his career Pierce averaged 30.0 pts per game per 100 possessions. Pierce was, without a doubt, the better offensive player.
Yeah, there's no question Pierce was the better offensive player. The year Jordan was gone, Pippen had the keys to the car, no one else he really had to share the ball with, he was in his prime and he topped out at 22 ppg. The season after, just about the same. Pierce had 6 seasons scoring more than Pippen's career high and he was much more versatile.
This is a real debate, but I think what should be settled is that Pippen was the superior defender and Pierce was the superior scorer.
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