Pippen sees his game in Iguodala’s
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr often likens Andre Iguodala to Kerr’s old Chicago Bulls teammate, Scottie Pippen. That comparison received validation Friday from none other than Pippen.
Pippen attended Warriors practice in his part- time broadcasting role for ESPN. He chatted with Kerr and Iguodala, then met with reporters and naturally fielded a question about how Iguodala’s game compares with his own.
“I see that being true,” Pippen said. “I think we have a lot of similarities on the basketball court, the way we play the game, the skill level, our athleticism, the little things we do on the court — or I did on the court — that don’t show up on the stat sheet.
“Andre doesn’t always get the assist, but he makes the pass that leads to the assist. It’s all predicated on his ability to do multiple things on the court — rebound, come up with steals, lead the team in transition.”
Pippen sidestepped a question about the debate over whether LeBron James has surpassed Michael Jordan as the greatest player ever. Pippen insisted it’s an unfair comparison, because Jordan played a different position and wasn’t asked to do all the different things James does for the Cavaliers.
“In my eyes, Wilt Chamberlain is the greatest basketball player,” Pippen said.
Pippen is 52, but he looks younger. Kerr joked, “Scottie thinks he can still play, but he can’t.”
Paul healthy: Rockets guard Chris Paul returned to practice Friday and will practice Saturday in San Francisco with no lingering issues from the soreness he had in his left leg late in Wednesday’s Game 2.
“His foot was bothering him a little bit,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said. “It shouldn’t be a problem. Just normal. Nothing that would sideline him or anything. He’s good.”
The Rockets’ injury report Friday listed “none to report.” Paul played 33 ½ minutes Wednesday, almost matching his post- season average. He left the game at the same stage as he usually does in the fourth quarter, but with the Rockets leading by 28 when D’Antoni cleared his bench, Paul did not return.
“I’m all right,” Paul said. “I’ll be cool.”
Sante Fe shooting: Paul could not bring himself to discuss basketball issues he described as relatively “minor” until he spoke of the victims and families impacted by the school shooting Friday morning in Santa Fe, Texas.
“First and foremost, aside from the playoffs going on, which is minor compared to what is taking place down in Santa Fe,” Paul said. “Our prayers go out to the victims and the families having to deal with that situation.
“We have a lot of fan support there. Those people come out and support us night in, night out. This is minor compared to what those people are dealing with.”
Paul said he thought of his own school- age children and other parents and cited the need to address the problem.
“It’s tough, man,” Paul said. “It’s scary that’s becoming a norm here. We got to do something about it. Yeah, I can’t imagine something like that taking place with my kids.”