Tyson Chandler News and Discussion

[bwgood77]

I didn't watch those clips before, but after watching them, I think his presence is going to make a huge impact.

[plonden]

Seth Partnow of Nylon Calculus created a metric for measuring rim protection that captures a more accurate picture than blocks per game can show. Partnow's post contains sortable charts divided among bigs, wings, and point guards. Here's a quick rundown of Partnow's methodology:

The basic analysis is on two levels. First, since we know the league average FG% for uncontested shots at or near the rim as well as the average allowed by each player per SportVU, the difference between points allowed and what would be expected on those same shots with no defense is sort of a “raw” points saved. Of course, basing the analysis on what would have happened should the player simply have been removed from the court, leaving the defense playing with 4 guys2 is unrealistic. So the second part of the examination is finding what a theoretical “average” defender would have saved and comparing the two.

According to the data, Len looks like a future defensive stud. Chandler also rated favorably. It's exciting to see how Chandler can help accelerate Len's development to become an even better defender. Here's a couple of interesting numbers (note that the ranks is among "bigs," not overall):

Alex Len:
Contest%: 53.8%, 11th overall
Points Saved/36 minutes: 1.84, 7th overall

Tyson Chandler:
Contest%: 53.7%, 12th overall
Points Saved/36 minutes: 0.82, 23rd overall

[Mulhollanddrive]

You can see what McDonough was hoping for Len, you look at Golbert, Bogut, Hibbert as 7 footers who love to protect the lane and their impact.

Miles Plumlee is 9th.

On Chandler, what I'm reading that is very underestimated is that he is one of the few inside bigs that actually helps spread the floor and open up the lanes, because he had over 150 dunks last season meaning on the pick and roll, you need to defend him and might even need help defence away from the wing shooter. Also helps Bledsoe by keeping the rim protector waiting on Chandler before being able to contest his shot.

Jon Leuer pointed that out, that you can't just play the driving or cutting player (helps Bledsoe, Goodwin, Warren) because Chandler is so good at diving to the rim if you go at the ball player.

[bwgood77]

Colin McGowan of RealGM wrote this piece which talks about Chandler.

http://basketball.realgm.com/analysis/243530/Thirty-Futures-Phoenix-Suns

[NTB]

http://arizonasports.com/story/862758/comeback-season-in-order-for-suns-tyson-chandler/

[bwgood77]

Thoughts on defense, mostly Tyson Chandler talking about how the coaching and emphasis this year helps his focus.

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[GMATCallahan]

Thoughts on defense, mostly Tyson Chandler talking about how the coaching and emphasis this year helps his focus.

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... tough to be a top-ten defensive team (in terms of Defensive Rating, or points allowed per possession, anyway) when Jared Dudley is your starting power forward and T.J. Warren is your starting small forward. Dudley is, of course, a dogged defender, but he gives away a lot of size at power forward without much athletic compensation. Defense has never been Warren's calling card, and Booker is still learning defensively as well—and, needless to say, so are Chriss and Bender.

Given the youth on this roster, being mediocre defensively—really, being mediocre in any major area of the game—would be a welcome development.

[bwgood77]

Thoughts on defense, mostly Tyson Chandler talking about how the coaching and emphasis this year helps his focus.

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... tough to be a top-ten defensive team (in terms of Defensive Rating, or points allowed per possession, anyway) when Jared Dudley is your starting power forward and T.J. Warren is your starting small forward. Dudley is, of course, a dogged defender, but he gives away a lot of size at power forward without much athletic compensation. Defense has never been Warren's calling card, and Booker is still learning defensively as well—and, needless to say, so are Chriss and Bender.

Given the youth on this roster, being mediocre defensively—really, being mediocre in any major area of the game—would be a welcome development.

Yes, the only way this team has a CHANCE of being even top 20 defensively is if Chandler and Len play much better than last year, and Tucker and Dudley both play quite a bit. I think Tucker probably can do a better job on 4s defensively than Dudley.

But this obviously is not going to be the lineup anyone wants to see, so I'll just accept us being subpar defensively as long as I see growth from the young guys this year.

[GMATCallahan]

... tough to be a top-ten defensive team (in terms of Defensive Rating, or points allowed per possession, anyway) when Jared Dudley is your starting power forward and T.J. Warren is your starting small forward. Dudley is, of course, a dogged defender, but he gives away a lot of size at power forward without much athletic compensation. Defense has never been Warren's calling card, and Booker is still learning defensively as well—and, needless to say, so are Chriss and Bender.

Given the youth on this roster, being mediocre defensively—really, being mediocre in any major area of the game—would be a welcome development.

Yes, the only way this team has a CHANCE of being even top 20 defensively is if Chandler and Len play much better than last year, and Tucker and Dudley both play quite a bit. I think Tucker probably can do a better job on 4s defensively than Dudley.

But this obviously is not going to be the lineup anyone wants to see, so I'll just accept us being subpar defensively as long as I see growth from the young guys this year.

To possess a shot at defensive respectability, the Suns would probably need to use that "Twin Tower" lineup with Chandler and Len playing simultaneously again. However, that combination proved poor offensively and would not be in Phoenix's long-term interests.

A lineup of Blesdoe-Tucker-Dudley-Len-Chandler might be good defensively, but as you noted, hardly anyone—including Phoenix's management—is going to want to see it. I might want to see it occasionally just for the heck of it; you would have a lot of clunky offense, but this offense is going to be uneven anyway, especially in half-court situations. Virtually no one is going to play harder, or get after it on defense, more than Tucker and Dudley, though.

Of course, the Suns' main goal this season is going to be developing young players and seeing who figures to fit for the future and who does not.

[bwgood77]

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[LukasBMW]

Chandler has been our defensive anchor. He grabs rebounds when we need it. He also run the pick and roll lob quite well.

My concern is his hamstring. Is it still bugging him?

I know hamstring injuries can find a way to keep coming back, but I hope our training staff isn't losing it. Remember when KJ actually had a sports hernia that we missed and thought it was a hamstring issue? Our trainers missed it for an entire year.

It could also be piriformis syndrome. I know because I just went through it.

Piriformis syndrome is when your piriformis muscle becomes tight and ends up compressing the sciatic nerve. The first symptom is usually pain in the back of the hamstring. Piriformis syndrome is common in people who run a lot and people who sit a lot at desk jobs.

Given all the running (games and practice) plus extended sitting (flights and bus trips) and his age, it could be an issue for him.

[Damkac]

Before the season I though Chandler is Suns worst contract and may be unmovable without adding some assets or only for other bad contract. It's good he plays so well. I'm sure many teams would want him now. Sadly with Len playing so bad I'm not sure if I want Chandler traded anymore.

[NTB]

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2016/11/04/phoenix-suns-tyson-chandler-handle-rebound-challenge/93315602/

Chandler, in his 16th season, ranks third in the NBA with 13.5 rebounds per game after posting his third 18-rebound performance Friday night in the sixth game of the season. He also tops the NBA in rebounding rate (22.6 rebounds per 48 minutes).

“With spreading the floor and putting Dudley at the four, I told myself, ‘You’re really going to have to command the paint this year,’" Chandler said. “It’s fun, though. As an athlete and competitor, you live for those moments where you can be an anchor and a key to something.”

Chandler already has posted 18-rebound games three times after grabbing 18 or more boards in three games last season.

“I think it’s key that the five (center) dominates the boards,” Watson said. “He keys our offensive break. The rebounds and the quick outlets for us have been very helpful. That’s how our pace has been able to be there.”

[jcsunsfan]

Love the play of Chandler this year. He is doing exactly what the Suns need him to do. Rebound the ball and anchor the D. He scores on good opportunities. That is a huge role for the Suns. It looks like Len is starting watch. His game resembled Chandler's some last night. 10 rebounds in 15 minutes of pt.

[Big NBA Fan]

Chandler looks great; he is who the Suns needed during the Nash/MDA era; ultimately, Nash has said the lack of an elite rim protector cost them those years.

They got killed by Duncan in 2005/2007 and it's not a coincidence that the Suns were a good defensive team with KT anchoring the defense.

The way Watson has used Chandler and the way MDA/Gentry used Shaq is the way Terry Porter should have have used Shaq in 2009 instead of making him the focal point for that particular roster.

Shaq was a great rebounder under MDA and the offense was great and the team looked better with him under MDA because Porter over-used him on offense when he just should have concentrated on rebounding like he did under MDA.

Ultimately, Porter building the whole team around his oldest player was dumb, and treating a veteran team like a bunch of 2nd graders was even dumber.

Still can't believe Kerr hired that guy.

Also, when the Suns had Lopez- another elite rim-protector- they came the closest to winning the whole thing during the SSOL era.

That's what was missing when Marion was on the team.

[OGBAH]

Interesting Chandler had opportunities for trades this summer but wanted to stay.

Read it on Bleacher Report no details yet

[Barkley_34]

Interesting Chandler had opportunities for trades this summer but wanted to stay.

Read it on Bleacher Report no details yet

Link Please

[bwgood77]

Interesting Chandler had opportunities for trades this summer but wanted to stay.

Read it on Bleacher Report no details yet

Link Please

Just came across this, and it is kind of tough to read, so there is probably something somewhere else..

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[bigfoot]

Per Coro
http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2016/11/09/suns-center-tyson-chandlers-mother-passes/93572738/

Watson also revealed just how close Chandler is to his team by noting that Chandler turned down opportunities to be traded this summer, which followed his 15th season -- a 23-59 Suns campaign. Watson said he traveled to Santa Monica, Calif., because Chandler wanted to talk but not about basketball. "He just wanted to know that what was changing was for the better and it involved a lot of love, compassion and a vision," Watson said of a talk that went late into the night. "When we got done with the meeting, his words were clear and simple. He was like, 'Man, I love you. I love the vision. I love the young guys. I don't want to go anywhere.' And he's come out and he's damn sure played like he doesn't want to be anywhere (else)."

[NTB]

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