The similarities end at the name. And even that’s stretching it a bit.
Scott Burrell is not Scottie Pippen.
“Pippen is one of the best ever to play the game,” Burrell said. “Don’t look for me to do that. I’ll go out there and play hard, but I can never do the things he did or he can do. I know that. I just have to go out there and play my game and stay within myself.”
On Saturday, Burrell showed flashes of what he can do in a pinch while the Bulls are waiting for Pippen’s surgically repaired left foot to heal. He gave an eye-opening performance and was clearly one of the bright spots as the Bulls beat the Seattle SuperSonics 101-92 at Allen Fieldhouse to pull to 1-1 for the exhibition season.
Michael Jordan led the Bulls with 23 points on 10-of-19 shooting. Vin Baker and James Cotton scored 16 each for the Sonics (1-1).
Burrell, who had 13 points in 17 minutes, showed what he can do defensively when, after a smooth finish off a Randy Brown pass, he sprinted back up court just in time to block David Wingate’s shot in the first quarter. His most solid stretch of the exhibition season came when his layup with 3 minutes 1 second left in the third quarter gave the Bulls a 71-55 lead. They remained safely ahead from that point on.
On Friday, Burrell was just trying to get his feet wet with the Bulls. On Saturday, he tried to jump in the pool.
“He’s really an aggressive player,” Bulls coach Phil Jackson said. “I think he feels comfortable with the kind of defense we’re trying to do. He’s a good help guy and he’s a willing team player. He moves the ball ahead but he doesn’t force the action. When he’s got the open shot, he takes it. But right now, he’s still perplexed a bit with our offense.”
Burrell sees better days ahead.
“You just try to build off it and improve,” he said. “I’m getting in a little bit better shape. Game-shape is the big key for me, along with learning the offense. My legs are active again and I’m recognizing how it feels to play five-on-five basketball again.”
Jud Buechler got the start at small forward but said he didn’t feel comfortable on the floor with the first unit. He ended up going scoreless in 24 minutes.
