July 20, 2010

Tyson Touches Down in Dallas

There's a secret to success in the NBA that the elite teams have caught onto. Size does matter.

And in Dallas, Texas, where everything is bigger, center Tyson Chandler feels he's the right piece at the right time for the Dallas Mavericks.

"We obviously watched the Lakers celebrate (the championship), and it showed that size still wins," Tyson said. "I think that's obviously what the Mavs are thinking about bringing in a lot of size."

TC talks with media for his new team, the Dallas Mavericks (Gettty Images).

The Mavericks introduced Tyson at a press conference late last week and, after joining a team that will give him a legitimate chance at a deep playoff run, Ty was understandably enthused.

"I'm very excited about it," TC told the Dallas Morning News. "When I heard about the trade, I was excited -- working out and jumping around. I'm definitely excited about being here. I had a great welcome and I'm ready to get to work."

The Dallas Mavericks were one of the top stories in the NBA last season. At one point they reeled off a 13-game winning streak, after making a series of trade deadline moves to improve and finished as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.

But things came unraveled for Dallas in the postseason where they ran into the No. 7 seed San Antonio Spurs in the first round and succumbed in six games. But Tyson believes the Mavericks are ready to rise to the top in the West.

"I've always felt like this is a great team. Now, to be on this team in this moment right now -- with the group of guys that they brought in last year, in addition to the guys that were already here -- I think it's a great combination."

What Tyson brings to that combo will be a healthy big man who has shown he can make a postseason impact.

"This is the first summer in awhile that I've been healthy," Ty told Pegasus News. "I've been able to train -- I've been training since two weeks after the season and getting better and better. I'm healthy now, feeling great ... I feel like I can definitely speed the pace up for us, as well as be an anchor defensively for us."

The last time TC felt as healthy as he does now, he and the New Orleans Hornets knocked the Mavericks out of the playoffs during the 2007-2008 season.

"One of the first things I was thinking about when I heard about the trade was the playoffs and kind of the bad blood that was created," Ty told the Dallas Morning News. "But I think once you change over and you say you're part of an organization, that stuff goes out the window.

"I've always had respect for these guys on this team and the talent that they have here. Now, I'm just excited to be part of it. And I hope the (fans) are going to be excited that I'm on this side going up and down and dunking."

NO BEEF WITH BRENDAN
In their quest to add size, Tyson is the second center the Mavericks have landed this offseason.

The team also retained Brendan Haywood, whom they traded for from Washington at last year's deadline. Tyson will likely spend much of his time spelling Haywood off the bench, but the Mavericks could also employ a big lineup with both TC and Haywood on the floor at times.

"I think we all have the same goal in mind, so I'm good with it," No. 6 told the Dallas Morning News of being Haywood's backup. "If you come in and work hard every day and you're a good player, the coach is going to find a place for you.

"Whatever my role is, that's what I'm willing to do,"

TC and Haywood also have a well documented history, as Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas noted this week. But Tyson said their feud was all part of being rivals, nothing personal.

"I’ve respected Brendan’s game for a long time. I competed against him a lot," Tyson told Chuck Cooperstein of ESPN 103.3 in Dallas. "We got in a couple fights," Chandler said with a laugh. "But it’s passion. I’m very passionate about the game. It’s all about winning ballgames. However coach sees that fit, whatever minutes it is, I’m sure I’m going to find my way on the floor."

POINT TAKEN
Among the things that have excited Tyson most about his move to Dallas has been his ability to pair with another elite point guard in Jason Kidd.

TC enjoyed the best years of his career playing alongside Chris Paul in New Orleans and Ty was one of the first to make the connection between Paul and Kidd. Now Tyson is hopeful he'll be on the receiving end of plenty of Kidd lobs this season.

"I'm really excited about that," he said. "I know he loves to reward his big (guys). I was joking with my cousin that all I'm going to do is rebound, give him (Kidd) the ball and run as fast as I can."

But Brian Smith of Fox Sports Southwest believes Ty and Kidd won't be the only ones who benefit from the presence of No. 6 in the post.

It stands to reason that Mavericks backup point guard Rodrigue Beaubois will be a major beneficiary as well, as Smith notes in a column about Tyson's arrival in Big D.

"With Chandler’s relatively young age and offensive game, Roddy Beaubois finally has a capable center to find underneath the basket. In the 2007-08 season, Chandler shot 62-percent from the field, ranking second in the NBA in that category. Teamed with Chris Paul, he served as a legitimate threat within four feet of the basket. Every team the Hornets played knew that a Paul-to-Chandler alley-oop was coming, but almost nobody was able to stop it. Chandler finished the regular season with 192 dunks, more than anyone not named Amare Stoudemire and Dwight Howard. Pair him with a dynamic playmaker at the point and Tyson Chandler can play.

With Rodrigue Beaubois learning to play the point this summer and throughout the season, what better player to compliment him than a dunking machine who knows his role and won’t venture more than three feet away from the basket? Jason Kidd will also benefit, but Roddy B is quick enough to penetrate and squirmy enough to squeeze through tight spots in the paint to make Chandler effective. As an added bonus, on a perimeter-oriented team like the Mavericks, Chandler can also serve as an outstanding offensive rebounder. In the same season he ruled the rim for the Hornets, Chandler also gobbled up the glass, leading the league in total number of offensive rebounds for two straight seasons."

WORLD VIEW
After being introduced in Dallas and passing his physical, Tyson was quickly on the move again, jetsetting to Las Vegas where he joined Team USA in training camp for the 2010 World Championships.

TC is one of three true centers on the 23-man invite list that also includes New Jersey Nets center Brook Lopez and Washington Wizards center JaVale McGee. The 23-man roster will be cut down to 12 before the Worlds and though his spot is not guaranteed, Ty has a strong chance to make the team as a big and is grateful for the opportunity.

"It'll be good to get some competition," Tyson told Pegasus News. "A couple of years ago when I did it, it was one of the most exciting moments of my career -- just to be out there with those guys and compete everyday in practice. It will be good because it will be the best of the best out there. It's an incredible opportunity. Whenever you can explain to your kids that you played for the USA team, it's a wonderful achievement."

Whatever happens for him this summer, Tyson will use the time to refine his game as he prepares for the next step in his career, one he hopes will give him a chance at a much coveted ring.

"I try to focus just on what I have in front of me," he said. "And what's in front of me is a great opportunity to try to take this team to the next level. I'm looking forward to a great year."

RELATED STORIES
Tyson Chandler brings many benefits to Mavericks table (Fox Sports Southwest, July 13, 2010)
http://www.foxsportssouthwest.com/07/13/10/Tyson-Chandler-brings-many-be...
Summer moves slightly improve Mavs' title chances (Dallas Morning News, July 16, 2010)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/071610dnsposherr...
New Mavericks Tyson Chandler embracing reserve role (Dallas Morning News, July 16, 2010)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/basketball/mavs/stories/...
New Mavericks center Chandler now one of the good guys (Dallas Morning News, July 17, 2010)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/071710dnsposefko...
Dallas Mavericks' Tyson Chandler lands in Big D (Pegasus News, July 15, 2010)
http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2010/jul/15/dallas-mavericks-tyson-chand...
Chandler: No beef backing up Haywood (ESPN Dallas, July 16, 2010)
http://espn.go.com/blog/dallasmavericks/post/_/id/4670190/chandler-has-n...
Chandler, Haywood have heated history (ESPN Dallas, July 14, 2010)
http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/mavericks/post/_/id/4670171/haywood-chand...