Scottie Pippen and Pete Myers

The 1994 Eastern Conference Semi-Final series between the Bulls and the Knicks is best remembered for two things:

1. Scottie Pippen dunking on Patrick Ewing
2. Patrick Ewing leading the Knicks past the Bulls for the first time (despite some controversy)

NB: To a lesser extent, it is infamous for the Game 3 brawl right in front of then NBA Commissioner David Stern

Which (un)naturally leads us to Pete Myers.

The Pippen on Ewing incident was a classic "Austin %$*J@# beer truck!" moment where your brain effectively shuts down in response to an event that is beyond comprehension.

Hence you are forgiven for not noticing that Pete Myers, the Bulls starting shooting guard during the "Baseball Experiment", was the man responsible for the imperfectly perfect bounce pass to Scottie. 

Furthermore, it was Myers who was giving his former teammate an absolute earful while he lay compromised on that lonely baseline of the soon to be demolished Chicago Stadium.

Pete Myers telling Patrick Ewing about recent events

(May 20, 1994)

So in the very next game, Scottie returned the favour, finding a cutting Myers who finished emphatically over "Fine" Herb Williams.

Pete Myers dunks on Herb Williams

(May 22, 1994)

Scottie Pippen on Terry Dehere

Scottie Pippen on Terry Dehere

(December 2, 1995)

And that moment:

Robert Horry dunks on Scottie Pippen

Robert Horry is best remembered for being the Professor In Charge of Clutch Field Goals from 1992 through to 2008.

However, before he was knocking down heart breaking threes, he was a high flyer out of Alabama who spent much of his early years dunking on dudes or throwing their shots back.

And then there was the time he sort of dunked on Pippen.

Robert Horry on Scottie Pippen

(28 January, 1993)

Coulda been

Twenty years ago today, the dream ended.

Michael Jordan on Patrick Ewing

April 30, 1991

Jersey of the Week: Scottie Pippen Stefanel (1991)

The Stefanel Trieste jersey attained cult status after footage emerged of Michael Jordan sporting one while shattering a backboard in Italy during a tour in 1985.

His future Dream Team teammates, Pippen, Barkley and Robinson would show up in Ital' sei anni dopo for an exhibition game between Trieste and Verona.

The Trieste jersey worn by Pippen during that game is bland in comparison to the one Mike wore, and quite frankly, we prefer Barkley's canary yellow ensemble.

However, it is it's likeness to the shirt Gerald wore every single day on Hey Arnold that has rightfully earned it jersey of the week honors. 

It is on sale now here.

Complex - Best Dunks in NBA Playoff History

The good folk at Complex put together a nice list of the Best Dunks in NBA Playoff History.

Here's a few that could've been considered for the back end of that list:

1. Robert Pack going coast to coast and dunking on Kemp in '94.

2. Desmond Mason's late game 360 vs the Spurs in '02 (has there been another 360 in a Playoff game?)

 

3. Pippen on Ewing in 1991. A glimpse of what would come three years later.

If you have others, feel free to share.

GIF of the Week: Nike Air Flight Huarache

As worn by great players.

GIF of the Week: Scottie Pippen & Nike Air Flight Maestro II

The forthcoming All Star Weekend will mark the 20th Anniversary of Scottie Pippen's MVP performance in the True Red Nike Air Flight Maestro II. This was long before flamboyant new releases were a staple of the weekend's festivities.

1994 was Pippen's year. With Mike gone, he led the Bulls in pretty much every category that mattered including massive dunks on Patrick Ewing and requests for removal from the final moments of Playoff games.

Scottie took home All Star Game honours, finishing with 29 points, 11 rebounds and 4 steals.

About

Allow us to re-introduce ourselves.

 

Card of the Week: Tim Thomas ft. the Karl Malone "Special Delivery" Dunk

The other night against the Thunder, Quincy Miller broke out what we consider to be the most pedestrian signature dunk in NBA history, the Karl Malone "Special Delivery".

We re-visited a Ball Is Life mixtape to find that Quincy has been doing this for a while.

However, over the past twenty years there have been a few other players to have paid homage to this dunk, and we thank Quincy for providing the inspiration behind this edition of Card of the Week.

TIM THOMAS. While you shudder, the double-headband donning 6'10 forward was an explosive dunker when he felt like it, particularly during his younger days as a Sixer and Buck. His 1997-98 Flair Showcase card has him in full Special Delivery mode albeit with the palm of his left hand not quite cupping the rear of his cranium.

On the subject of Tim Thomas, special mention must go to The Grand Archives, who has shown our man a lot of love on his exceptionally curated basketball Tumblr.

Thomas aside, the greatest player to ever execute this dunk in an NBA game is none other than the King himself back on December 9, 2008:

The story does not end here though. At the height of his powers in the early 90s, Scottie Pippen pulled out the Special Delivery while Malone was actually still doing the dunk himself. We suspect this particular effort may not fall into the "imitation is the highest form of flattery" category.

But like all good Card of the Week entries, this is a cautionary tale. You best have a clear runway if you are going to attempt any form of fast break showboating. In our opinion, this is the greatest chase-down block by Hakeem Olajuwon during his stellar career. And he's had a few.

UPDATE

Since we ran this piece, a number of other examples have been submitted by numerous members of our extended family, including efforts by the Dank Brothers, Blake and DeAndre Griffin:

Even Shawn Kemp, the swaggiest dunker this side of Ricky Davis indulged in a little Mailman action for the enjoyment of Vincent Askew.

We can't let this go without featuring this incredible homage by none other than Eric Montross, in high school no less. 

If you know what film this screenshot is taken from we'll send you on an all expenses paid dinner with Eric. He is a good man.

EPILOGUE

Et tu, Lamar?