Tyson Chandler's forgiven but not forgotten Knicks' comments
The idea that Tyson Chandler was the problem in New York last year remains a point of contention as Knicks and Mavericks get set to square off Wednesday.
The Mavericks take on the Knicks in Dallas Wednesday night, and Tyson Chandler should be pretty hungry. When the Knicks traded Chandler back to Dallas along with Raymond Felton, it was thought of as a simple move because Chandler doesn't fit the Triangle and the team needed to ditch Raymond Felton like he was that trash bag that's got a hole in the bottom and is leaking as you try and get it to the trashcan.
But instead, a weird narrative emerged in which St. Zen, Phil Jackson, pretty much threw Chandler under the bus without naming names. That was supported as multiple outlets reported "whisperings" of how Chandler effectively "pointed the finger too much" during last season's debacle. Because really, what the Knicks needed in the Carmelo Anthony/J.R. Smith era was "less accountability."
So as the two meet in Dallas Wednesday, Tyson Chandler's totally moving past it. From the New York Post:
“I don’t know why they did that,’’ Chandler said of Jackson’s remark about needing to change the chemistry with the Chandler-Felton trade in late June. “Only they can answer that question. I’ve since then moved on and don’t pay it any much attention. I know a lot of the media will be returning and me going against my former team. But in all honesty I’ve kind of swept it behind. It’s in the past and under the rug and I’m moving on with my future here.’’
Oh, well, that's nice. Tyson's not going to get involved in it, and wouldn't even answer questions about what the problem... was... oh, wait.
Chandler still felt the culture was off his whole time.
“We were never consistent,’’ he said. “When you don’t approach things consistently on a day-to-day basis, it’s just a matter of time before things start falling apart and your bad habits are exposed.’’
via Tyson Chandler diagnoses his failed Knicks era | New York Post.
There it is! (To be fair, Chandler was asked a question and answered it, which is just an example of a player being fair with the media.) Chandler could be talking about anyone in that Knicks locker room here. (Cue the large neon light flashing over J.R. Smith.) He could be talking about the team as a whole. (But seriously, J.R. Smith.) There's really no way to single one person out as being the iconic source of the struggles. (In big letters, over the marquee of the "not giving professional effort to the details necessary to win a championship" Theater, 'J.R. Smith appearing nightly!')
Chandler definitely hasn't forgotten, and was pretty upset about the whole thing a few months ago.
For his part, Smith wants Chandler to bring it. Again, from the Post:
Knowing Chandler’s tenacity, there will be theatrics Wednesday.
“I hope so,’’ Smith said. “I don’t want to play him when he’s not fired up. I don’t want to hear no excuses for him. I think he will be [fired up].Tyson’s a fiery guy anyway. I don’t think he’ll take it personally against the team, but it’s the type of player he is.’
That should be fun.
There is, though, something that should probably be mentioned. As much fun as it is to point out that the Mavericks are one of the best teams in the West so far, and that the Knicks are a traveshamockery of a team that is wasting a year of really everyone involved's lives, this stat does stick out. Via NBA.com's Player Tracking data, a look at how both teams defend at the rim (field goal percentage allowed at the rim):
New York Knicks: 49.2 percent, second best in the league
Dallas Mavericks: 52.8 percent, 17th best in the league
Now, that could be because of a better system (under Derek Fisher?) and Chandler might have the Knicks even better if he were still there. But Samuel Dalembert is actually fourth in the league among players having played at least five games and defended at least four shots per game at the rim, while Chandler is significantly behind. Much of this is about communication and the defense of the wings in containing teams, plus the Knicks play in the Eastern Conference so all they have to do is stand there and over half the teams will miss. But it is an interesting little sidebar to this whole element.
But I'm going to bet these numbers may look a lot different by the end of the year as the Mavericks get more and more on the same page under Rick Carlisle vs. the Knicks' numbers, which may absolutely implode if Carmelo Anthony misses significant time.
