LONDON — Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski fashioned a gold-medal-winning rotation during the Olympics, with Tyson Chandler starting at center and Carmelo Anthony replacing him at the five-minute mark of the first and third quarters.
Having Anthony in an odd role, often at the 5, was good for the gold in London but it did the Knicks no favors. Anthony and Chandler were almost never on the court together. Ironically, the two Knicks talked during July’s Las Vegas training camp that being on the Olympic team will further develop their oncourt chemistry. So much for that.
Another goal that seems likely not to happen is the 7-foot Chandler developing a traditional post game this season. After the disappointing first-round exit to Miami, Chandler was emphatic that he wanted to be a more dangerous offensive threat in 2012-13.
But after Sunday’s tight gold-medal win over Spain, Chandler said his stated plans to work with low-post guru Hakeem Olajuwon are off. Olajuwon has set up his base in Houston and Chandler, after being on the road with the Olympic team since July 5, is not willing to travel.
“I need to be still for a while,’’ Chandler said.
Chandler’s stance is in contrast to Amar’e Stoudemire, in Houston, posting videos of his Olajuwon workouts, raving about the amount of post moves he never knew existed. (Stoudemire said after the season no coach had bothered to make him a low-post player because of his explosiveness facing the bucket.)
Meanwhile, the reason for Chandler’s spotty minutes — he averaged just 11.3 per game as the only center on Team USA — remain mysterious. Chandler had a dislocated finger in Las Vegas, but that mostly healed and he led the team in shooting percentage (14 of 20, mostly on lobs).
But unlike Anthony, who had multiple roles, Chandler was unfortunately underutilized. Krzyzewski danced around questions regarding Chandler’s minimized role, saying teams went small and the matchups weren’t right. But against Spain, with the big Gasol brothers and Serge Ibaka, Chandler’s size was desperately needed, but Coach K turned to Kevin Love because he’s a better perimeter shooter, better defensive rebounder and less prone to fouls.
“It’s tough to play [international rules],’’ Chandler said. “I’m so glad to go back to the NBA and our rules.”
Chandler played just 8:42 Sunday, sitting out most of the tense second half. He had a feeling it was coming. Coach K was honest with Chandler about his international philosophy, that small-ball forces opponents to match up with them.
“I’m not used to being out of the game at the end, so it was killing me,’’ Chandler said of the nerve-wracking nature of the final minutes.
* With Coach K reiterating after the win he has coached his last Olympics, assistant Mike D’Antoni, who is tight with CEO Jerry Colangelo, is expected to be considered if he is still coaching in the NBA, insiders say.
Come October, D’Antoni will enter his first season out of basketball since he began his playing career. He has chosen to sit out the season to watch his son, Michael, play his senior year in Westchester.