Knicks' Chandler gets his groove back
Knicks forward Wilson Chandler (21) takes a jump shot over Wizards point guard Mustafa Shakur (22) during the first half. (Jan. 24, 2011) Credit: Christopher Pasatieri
It is rare for Wilson Chandler to show any sign of emotion, so when he does it's usually noticeable. During his hot streak in December, Chandler's face was lit up with a smile the way he lit up the scoreboard and opposing defenses. And during his recent slump, his head hung low, his eyes were downcast and he shrunk deeper and deeper inward until he was nearly inside out.
A slump happens and is an accepted frustration of the long basketball season. But self-pity? That can't be tolerated, regardless of trade rumors or agent issues or boos. And so as Chandler missed his first four shots in Monday's game against the Wizards, which included two air balls, and the Garden crowd moaned, the 24-year-old trudged to the bench and sank into a chair. And what he got at that point, from coaches and teammates, was hardly the kid gloves approach he'd been receiving for the last two weeks. Instead, it was an earful of blunt encouragement.
Stop feeling sorry for yourself, stop focusing on Carmelo Anthony and the decision you made to fire your agent, and start playing basketball.
Chandler re-entered the game, took a three-pointer from the foul line extended and the ball sank through the basket. He looked skyward as if to say, "Thank you!" The cheers that followed echoed his sentiments.
"I just needed to see a few go in," Chandler said.
The few became many. Nine out of his final 16 attempts, including 4 of 8 from downtown. His 25-point performance in the 115-106 win over Washington, which snapped the Knicks' six-game losing streak, was a return to the Chandler of December, when he averaged 19 points per game and shot a sizzling 52.2 percent from the field and 43.1 percent from three-point range. With the Heat up next at the Garden Thursday, the Knicks needed Chandler to get his groove back.
And, yes, it does help the Knicks in their talks with the Denver Nuggets about Anthony if Chandler is on top of his game. He would be a key piece to a deal if one can be made. It's an obvious distraction for a player worried about his future. Chandler is heading into restricted free agency under a new collective-bargaining agreement and after severing ties with his first agent, Chris Luchey, he's looking to sign with new representation. Though Chandler says the loss of his mojo wasn't related to trade rumors - "Nah, just not making [shots]," he said, "wasn't having good games" - it's impossible to avoid the talk.
And Chandler should also be aware that while most of the league believes Anthony going to the Knicks is inevitable, the trade talks are still at a preliminary stage. The Nuggets have yet to seriously engage the Knicks' overtures and there are indications that it will be a very difficult process to come to an agreement by the Feb. 24 trade deadline. Donnie Walsh clearly prefers to sign Anthony, who can opt-out of his contract after this season, as a free agent to avoid giving up too much of the young talent on the roster.
But until the deadline comes, the rumors will persist. Chandler will have to play though the noise. Signing with a new agent, which he is expected to do by next week, should help settle his nerves.
"If you're going to be in New York, this goes on all year," Walsh said of the trade rumors, "so players have to be able to not let that affect them."
Knicks to face two of Big Three. The Heat's Dwyane Wade has been dealing with migraine headaches recently, but he is probable to play against the Knicks. But Chris Bosh, who has been out since Jan. 15 with a high ankle sprain, is not expected to play.
The Dolan family owns controlling interests in the Knicks, MSG and Cablevision. Cablevision owns Newsday.
