An Article originally posted by a moderator on a different site whose name just happens to also be Andrew.

Pippen not only Bull who should exit
Sam Smith of Chicago Tribune
April 15, 2004

Scottie Pippen may have been the symbol for the Bulls' season.

It may have been the only thing he stood for since he came back to the Bulls.

Like Pippen, the Bulls once had success, and there was hope for this season. But the results, soon evident, were disappointment, frustration, a muddy future and, in the end, apathy and indifference.

To use more familiar terms, there should be 1.8 seconds left in the careers of Pippen and this Bulls team.

It's a sad way for Pippen to end a wonderful NBA career, and an equally gloomy end for a Bulls franchise that seems to have lost its way.

When the Bulls played their final game of the 2003-04 season in Indianapolis Wednesday night, Pippen chose not to join his teammates. It, perhaps, was appropriate because he never really was a part of this team.

From the beginning, despite the hope of management, the young players disregarded Pippen because he couldn't practice and rarely played. It, perhaps, was an indictment of them because they didn't feel they could learn from one of the great winners in NBA history.

Mock Pippen all you would like, lessen his accomplishments because of Michael Jordan and his own often-selfish, condescending attitude. But he was one of the great players of his era, one of the major reasons the Bulls won six titles. He eventually should be in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Like so many, however, he just stayed too long, becoming a caricature. He was simply another one of those guys with stories and history.

Pippen won't play again in the NBA, which may be the first value he gives to the current Bulls regime.

Pippen, even though he cannot play, finally becomes valuable because he has a year left on his contract. Teams want expiring contracts, so maybe the Bulls can trade him in for a workable piece.

That's the issue for this team, which has quit on itself as badly as any Bulls team. Almost half the team didn't even show up Wednesday night in Indianapolis. Tyson Chandler opted for elective minor eye surgery before the season ended and various players missed with questionable injuries.

After compiling a 27-14 home record last season, the Bulls' only turnaround was 14-27 this season at home with two miserable defeats to close against lottery partners Atlanta and Orlando.

All one could conclude was this team gave up.

The question is whether it's time to give up on this team.

The answer is yes, especially if you're going to keep the coach.

Scott Skiles seems to have had little effect on the team. They still shoot poorly, defend weakly and get blown out regularly. But, to be fair, he hasn't had a full season yet. And two of the most respected assistants in the NBA, Johnny Bach and Ron Adams, say he's one of the best coaches with whom they ever have worked. I'll defer to them for now.

Skiles, however, clearly can hold a grudge, which was his reputation before he came here. Players like Eddie Robinson and Corie Blount openly expressed that, although one hopes their credibility exceeds their abilities. Skiles doesn't have a doghouse. He has a kennel with a wing for a pound. But perhaps that's the best way to treat players who often played more like mutts.

But it's time to stop firing coaches and general manager John Paxson deserves the coach with whom he works best. He says that's Skiles.

So do the Bulls then fire the players?

The question is, can they?

Jamal Crawford can score, but is he ever going to get over a screen and go to the basket? He has one of the poorest percentages in the NBA of free throws to three-point attempts, meaning he's firing up jumpers from long range most of the time. Kirk Hinrich does that too much as well, but no team can afford both guards doing that. So Crawford must go.

Now it's coming to Year Four for Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry. What is this magical summer they're supposed to have? You're either a hard worker and dedicated or you're not. No, they're not Shaq and Garnett. They never seemed that upset about this season. Why would anyone expect them to be any different next season?

Jerome Williams and Antonio Davis appear to be broken down. Both had among the worst seasons of their careers. They're both into their 30s. The hope is they'll return with some pride and try to be good bench players. Skiles already has pretty much said he won't play Robinson. I still don't know which one is Linton Johnson and which one is Ronald Dupree.

It's not a pretty picture but not hopeless. The reality is the competition isn't that strong. One still would take the Bulls' roster over Utah's. Miami was the Bulls last season until a couple of draft picks clicked and they got lucky with free agent Lamar Odom, whom no one else wanted.

One still would hesitate before taking Milwaukee's talent over the Bulls'. This team could compete for the playoffs next season with less tweaking than one would think.

The reality is Curry is a sloth. But his 16 points before he gives up do count. Consider him a fourth option for the future, perhaps even a good sixth man. Chandler's time is done here. He remains arrogant and smug with little in his portfolio. Get what you can. Same with Crawford. He's not Skiles' kind of player.

Paxson doesn't have a lifetime contract. He has to do it his way, which is to get players who will play the game his and Skiles' way—unyielding, intense and disciplined.

He will have to take lesser talent and perhaps look bad if Chandler recovers from being told here that he's the next Kevin Garnett and instead accepts being the next Marcus Camby.

Paxson needs to put his mark on the team now and forget what everyone thinks. He needs to take some chances and bring back some hope.

He needs to open next season with six new faces on the roster and two from among Curry, Chandler and Crawford gone. He needs to put his team on the floor and get rid of this team.

We've seen enough of it and Pippen.