Coming off a season in which he averaged a career-best 11.8 ppg along with a solid 11.7 rpg, Tyson Chandler looked like he was primed to finally break out and show just why he was worth the second pick in the draft back in 2002.
His troubles with Coach Scott Skiles in Chicago were a distant memory. His Hornets were coming off a successful season, in which they took the defending champion Spurs to seven games in the Western Conference Semi-Finals. He was an alternate on the US Olympic team.
Life was good for Tyson Chandler. The sky was the limit. Here we sit though, roughly 40 percent of the season complete, and Tyson Chandler has yet to make an appearance on the court.
Sure, we see a guy who looks like him, wearing his familiar No. 6 jersey suiting up for New Orleans. Occasionally, we'll check the box score and see a familiar Chandleresque stat line of double-figure rebounds and points with a block or two thrown in,
But when we watch the game, the man in the middle for the Hornets is not the same player we have grown accustomed to seeing out there.
The fire seems to be gone. The passion and the energy that made him a fan favorite in The Big Easy is lost, and people are starting to take notice.
Chandler's name has been tossed around recently in trade rumors, something that would have seemed absurd at this time last year.
Once considered one of the league's premiere rebounders, Chandler is averaging a rather pedestrian eight boards a game this season.
The question this begs is why? How could a guy who was one of the best at what he does, all of the sudden look so mediocre? The answer seems to be a mystery.
Fans on various blogs and message boards all have their various theories, ranging from nagging injuries, to a simple lack of trying. I don't think there is a simple answer.
I would, however, like to offer what I think is the reason behind Tyson Chandler's sudden drop off in production. It all starts with Tyson himself.
If you have followed Chandler's career for as long as I have you would know that Tyson as a person is a very emotional guy. He wears his heart on his sleeve.
When things are going well in his life, that emotion translates to him being a beast on the court. When life get a little tough, well, down goes his production.
This was first really noticeable in the 05/06 season. His final year playing in Chicago. Things had deteriorated so badly between Chandler and then-Bulls coach Scott Skiles that he had lost all confidence in his game, and appeared unfocused on the court.
This would often result in Chandler finding himself in either foul trouble, or on the Bulls bench, in Skiles' doghouse.
His play was so bad that season that the Bulls shipped him off to New Orleans for practically nothing, and wasted $15 million a year on the aging Ben Wallace.
For Chandler though, it was just what the doctor ordered. A change in scenery and a coach who believed in him quickly pulled Chandler from his depressed state, and he ended up as the defensive center piece for the young and talented Hornet team.
His production continued to increase, and his team emerged as a championship contender in a loaded Western Conference. Fast forward to today, and the question still remains: What changed?
3 comments Last one added 5 months ago — Leave a Comment
Perry Dodd 5 months ago
Chandler's neck injury hampered him somewhat, but I think the real reason is that teams are negating his main way of scoring: Chris Paul penetration/lob to him for the alley hoop. I don't know why his rebounds are down several or so a game.
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Jack Frost 5 months ago
Well, this is the guy we remember in Chicago. First he looks like a world -beater, then he disappears. Maybe somebody puts something in his breakfast cereal? Nobody here could ever quite figure it out. Still, when he is good, he's pretty amazing.
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John Lorge 5 months ago
Nothing changed. Chandler was soft, is soft and will always be soft. His O-game is built around catching lobs from CP3. Teams realized that was ALL he does and are doing a better job of defending it this year. Chandlers boards will always be around 10 fluctuating with his mins. Most dissapointing thing about Chandler? For his size and athletic ability hes a terrible shot blocker. No love from me.
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