Chandler's knee 'really sore' after collision
Tyson Chandler of the New York Knicks sits on the bench with an ice pack on his knee during the second half against the Miami Heat. (April 15, 2012) Credit: Jim McIsaac
Tyson Chandler's knee is connected to the Knicks' heart. If the third-quarter collision Chandler had with Miami's Joel Anthony, which noticeably restricted Chandler's movement, turns into a lingering injury, it will be yet another obstacle for a playoff run.
"I should be fine,'' Chandler said, though he had difficulty dressing after Sunday's 93-85 loss to the Heat. "It's hard to judge anything right now, fresh off the game. It's just really sore right now, but I think I'll be OK.''
The Knicks must hope so. They were able to win when Carmelo Anthony missed 10 games with ankle, groin, wrist and thumb injuries. They have survived pretty well without Amar'e Stoudemire (back) and Jeremy Lin (knee).
But when the 7-1 Chandler, who has so impacted the Knicks' defensive culture since being signed away from 2011 NBA champion Dallas, missed two games earlier this down-and-up season, the Knicks lost both. He leads them in rebounding, field-goal percentage and minutes. He has been a central character in the plot line that has the Knicks moving up dramatically in virtually every defensive category.
With Miami symbolically planting the flag at the Garden, establishing that it would be formidable as a possible first-round opponent, Chandler contributed two major plays in the Knicks' strong second-quarter revival from repeated 11-point deficits.
His consecutive layups in the final 3½ minutes of the half appeared to steady them in a game that had too many mood swings to count. But just as Miami was regaining its swagger late in the third, Chandler crashed into Anthony on a drive, missed his free throws and was unable to function properly the rest of the game.
"I banged knees on the drive with Joel,'' Chandler said. "I really couldn't move. I didn't have too much strength in it. Moving laterally and trying to get up on the ball screens was difficult.''
He had five rebounds, more than five under his average, and nine points. What halo effect Carmelo Anthony was providing with his 42-point game disappeared in the last eight minutes, when Anthony missed five of his last six shots and the Knicks committed three turnovers. All that after having taken their largest lead, at 79-75, with 8:08 to go.
"I feel like we'll be OK,'' Chandler said. "It's one game. Luckily, this is not the playoffs, or you'd be behind the eight-ball now. We're still jockeying for position, but we also can use this as learning to be moving forward.''
But it clearly will be an easier lesson if Chandler has his full health.
