You would have expected Tyson Chandler to be in a better mood than he was after collecting 20 rebounds for the third straight game to tie a Knicks record last achieved by Willis Reed.
But after a 99-85 victory over the Pistons at the Garden last night, Chandler was grumbling as he got dressed and put on a Ravens Super Bowl hat, his penance for losing a bet to Carmelo Anthony.
“This is not my team,” said Chandler, a California native. “This is Carmelo’s team. But they won, so congratulations to all their fans.”
Congratulations are in order for Chandler, too, after becoming the first Knick to collect 20 rebounds in three-straight games since Reed last did it December 1969.
“It hasn’t been done in a long time, since Willis Reed,” Chandler said. “Whenever you’re mentioned in the same breath and you’re able to accomplish a record that he has, it’s a tall task,” Chandler said.
Against the Pistons, Chandler had 11 boards at the half and began being serenaded by the chants of “Ty-son … Chand-ler” when he collected his 19th at 7:01 of the fourth quarter. His 20th was grabbed off a missed free throw by Will Bynum with 5:49 remaining.
“That’s just effort and a commitment of wanting to get every rebound that comes off the rim,” Woodson said. “He’s done it three straight games, so I’m expecting a fourth game.”
Much has been made of a talk Chandler had with Woodson before the Jan. 30 game against Orlando, during which the Knicks coach challenged his center “to play complete basketball.”
Chandler admitted “it lit a little fire under me.” Perhaps it’s no coincidence Chandler’s improved numbers under the glass have come in games where Amar’e Stoudemire has shown flashes of his young self. Stoudemire, who scored 20 points last night, has drawn the attention of opposing defenses that now must be leery of his presence.
It was once thought Stoudemire and Chandler wouldn’t be a good fit because they both did their best work close to the basket. But they’ve found a workable spacing and enough openings for shots and rebounds as the defense scrambles to defend both.
“He comes off the bench, scoring, rebounding and adding that extra pressure,” Chandler said. “Our bench is very deep, especially when Amar’e is in the lineup.”
Chandler’s offensive game is normally limited to transition layups, whatever he gets off the pick and roll, and a few garbage points on offensive rebounds. It was enough to score eight points last night. He’ll occasionally have a night like he did on Jan. 30, when he scored 21 points against the Magic after his talk with Woodson. But his averages for the season have been a steady 11.8 points and 11 rebounds per game.
“He’s making himself available,” is how Woodson summed up Chandler’s recent performances. “He’s moving offensively, defensively, he’s just active and that’s how he’s got to play.”
Chandler says there is no secret to his impact under the glass.
“It’s just about being aggressive and getting more lively on the boards,” he said. “I’m not taking a possession off.”
His dominance has helped the Knicks win five straight games. The Knicks are on pace to fulfill Woodson’s goal of winning at least nine of the last 11 games before the All-Star Game break. The have four games remaining. What Woodson likes most about his team is the way they’ve accepted and performed their roles. Chandler makes his presence felt in the middle; Stoudemire is becoming a slasher off the bench.
“We are team and everyone has to buy in,” Woodson said. “That’s the only way it can be if we’re talking about trying to win at a high level and trying to win a title.”
Chandler has been playing at a very high level lately.