Tyson Chandler: The Heart, Soul, and Wild Card of the New York Knicks

Even with the recent resurgence in the play of Carmelo Anthony, there is no doubt that Tyson Chandler has been the MVP of the Knicks this season.

He has played banged up most of the year, battling through injuries to his groin and both wrists, and continues to suit up and man the paint on the defensive side of the ball. He has only missed two games all season, and both games resulted in losses for the Knicks.

With Chandler in the lineup, the Knicks' defense has allowed just 94.5 points per game, 11th best in the league. In the two games without him, the Knicks gave up an average of 118.5 points per game.

His leadership and aggression may be the best qualities about his game. His personality traits have been contagious, and he has been able to demand the same defensive effort from his teammates that he puts forth every night.

Not only that, but Chandler has been a surprising plus for the offense.

He has been brilliant in pick-and-roll situations and has done a great job at positioning himself for high percentage shots around the rim. The evidence for his contribution shows on the stat sheet, as he is leading the league in field goal percentage, shooting at a 67.6 percent clip.

Chandler is also nearing a career-high average in points per game, scoring about 11 points a night, while also pulling down 10 rebounds and blocking 1.5 shots per game.

There is no question that Tyson Chandler is the heart and soul of this Knicks team. Along with the constant ball pressure from rookie Iman Shumpert, the two have set a great tone on the defensive end that everyone on the roster is now becoming a part of.

However, that same aggression and tenacity that Chandler brings the Knicks is the exact reason why he has become a real wild card for New York.

Late in the first quarter of yesterday's game against the Bulls, Chandler picked up his 11th technical foul of the season for slapping the ball out of Carlos Boozer's hands after the whistle. Chandler is third in the league for most technical fouls, trailing only DeMarcus Cousins (12) and Kendrick Perkins (14).

Once a player gets his 13th technical of the season, he has an automatic one-game suspension. With ten crucial games remaining for the Knicks, Chandler cannot afford a suspension.

ABC commentators Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy commented on Chandler's loose temper when he picked up the technical foul in yesterday's game.

They mention that the reason Chandler is so successful as a defensive player has a lot to do with his passion for the game, and how he needs to act the way he does in order to have his presence felt. While I can agree with their perspectives to some degree, Chandler does make a lot of stupid decisions on the court that warrant a technical foul.

For instance, there is no real reason to slap the ball out of Boozer's hands after the play is dead. It was an aggressive, unnecessary play and while Chandler may have been trying to send a message, he needs to be more conservative in the decisions he makes.

Nonetheless, while that may have been a boneheaded play, Chandler deserves a lot of the credit in the Knicks' win yesterday. He was a monster in the paint, pulling down 16 rebounds for the game and blocking three shots. His determination and hustle was unquestioned, and he fought for every possession throughout the game.

Late in the third quarter, the Knicks were given four possessions because of Chandler's ruthless pursuit of the basketball, battling defenders and diving on the floor to keep the possession for the Knicks. While Carmelo Anthony would deliver the go-ahead shot late in overtime, let's not forget that the play could not have happened if not for Chandler's tip off a missed shot to keep the ball with the Knicks.

These last few games are going to be very tough for New York, but the Atlantic division crown is still within reach, as they trail the Boston Celtics by just three games in the standings. Chandler cannot afford any more technicals and risk being suspended for any of the final games.

Chandler is building an excellent case for Defensive Player of the Year. The Knicks need him on the court more than ever as the season inches toward the playoffs.