You can’t blame Sixers coach Doug Collins if he has nightmares whenever he sees 7-foot-1 center Tyson Chandler. During the Chandler draft in 2001, Collins coached the Wizards for Michael Jordan, had the No. 1 pick and selected — Kwame Brown.
So he wasn’t thrilled when he found out the Knicks acquired Chandler during free-agency last month, giving Philadelphia’s Atlantic Division rival the shot-blocking, defensive center they lack.
“We don’t have a Tyson Chandler back there,’’ Collins said before the Knicks beat the Sixers 85-79 in a defensive war last night at the Garden. “We have to be schematic.
“He’s in our division and conference but I’ve always been a big Tyson Chandler fan,’’ Collins said before Chandler anchored the Knicks defense with 13 rebounds. “When I was at Washington, I worked him out three times and we almost drafted him.
“To see where his career has gone, going to Dallas winning championships, it’s a real testament for young players to come in this league to work hard, grow and become a man.’’
“He gives them a shot blocker, rebounder, tenacity,’’ Collins said. “When they get Baron Davis healthy, they can be a real force.’’
* Coach Mike D’Antoni’s team plays in Memphis tonight but won’t see former Knick Zach Randolph, who has missed the last four games with a torn MCL in his knee and is out another few weeks.
The Grizzlies are off to a dismal 3-6 start after being a surprise playoff team last season. The Knicks won last season’s meeting in Memphis when Carmelo Anthony hit a jumper over Toney Allen with .5 seconds left — his first game-winner as a Knick.
* Jared Jeffries, who hasn’t played since opening night because of a calf injury, likely won’t return until Saturday in Oklahoma City.
* It has been a while since the Sixers and Knicks were legitimate contenders in the same season for the Atlantic Division crown.
“Last year, we would play them, they’d have as many Knicks fans in the building as Sixers,’’ Collins said. “We’re trying to get to where it’s hard for New Yorkers to get a ticket to our games.’’