NYKMentality wrote:Tyson Chandler went head to head with Dwight Howard tonight. Competed against Dwight Howard blow for blow (as always). Dwight Howard: 38 minutes. 20 points off 8/11 shooting, 7 boards, 1 block, 1 assist and 2 turnovers.
Tyson Chandler: 36 minutes. 18 points off 5/5 shooting, 4 boards, 1 block, 2 assists and 1 turnover.
Dwight Howard gets all the hype as the best Center around due to his ability to score with volume numbers and/or rebound off the boards like a machine, but Tyson Chandler is a more efficient scorer, doesn't kill his team at the free throw line, a much better leader when compared to Dwight Howard, impacts on the defensive end just as much (if not more) when compared to Howard and last but not least, has something in which Dwight Howard doesn't; which is an NBA Championship after helping to eliminate the Miami Heat as the Mavericks starting Center.
There are some really good Center's in todays NBA such as Marc Gasol (very impressive), Andrew Bynum (when healthy), DeMarcus Cousins (on a losing team) and Dwight Howard, but as of today's NBA? I couldn't ask for a more productive Center when compared to Tyson Chandler. He's a natural leader. A true defensive force. A championship winning Center. Cleans up anything and everything near the proximity of the rim. Excellent finisher down low. Amazing I.Q in regards to the Center position and/or what it takes to win down low. He's a true 7'1 Center. Can compete with anyone off the boards (currently ranked 14th with 9.6 boards per game). He also includes a good 2-4 tip-out's per game in which doesn't get credited as a rebound for whatever reason that may be. So, his season average of 9.6 boards per game is deceiving in an underrated way.
But is DHoward healthy?
And Tyson was hardly the centerpiece of the Mavericks.
Don't get me wrong, I am much happier having Tyson on this team then I would be with DHoward. Tyson is fierce, he's focused, he seems to be a perfect fit for Woody, and comes with little to no drama.
Howard, when at the top of his game, which I just don't see him being right now, is a frightening player. He deserves the hype. And the criticism. He's a centerpiece player, so to speak.
Tyson is what he is, which for this Knicks team, is perfect. But he's not someone you'd build a franchise around.