Pacers' Roy Hibbert outplays Tyson Chandler
Roy Hibbert was the biggest player on the floor and played like that in Game 1 against the Knicks.
Hibbert frustrated Tyson Chandler and Carmelo Anthony, blocked five shots and changed numerous others in Indiana's 102-95 win in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series Sunday.
Chandler fouled out, finishing with twice as many personals as rebounds (three), and then was challenged by coach Mike Woodson.
"I thought Hibbert played better,'' Woodson said. "I've got to get Tyson playing better than Hibbert.''
Chandler was a first-time All-Star this season but hasn't had a good playoffs. He missed nearly a month before the postseason with a bulging disc in his neck, and it's taken him some time to get his conditioning back. He played well at the end of the Celtics series, but not Sunday, and he agreed with Woodson.
"I got to get involved in the game somehow,'' Chandler said. "I got to try and get some looks, get myself involved.''
Lineup change?The Pacers' size wreaked havoc on the Knicks. It could lead Woodson to make a change to the starting lineup and put Anthony back at his natural small forward spot.
"Melo has to wrestle and tussle with David West,'' Kenyon Martin said. "I don't think he should have to do that from the beginning of the game. We've got size we can use to our advantage. I'll leave that to Woody to make that decision. If he decides to go that way, great. If not, we've got to do what we've got to do.''
Melo third in MVPAnthony didn't win the MVP award, but he received one first-place vote, preventing LeBron James from winning unanimously, which would have been an NBA first. James got 120 of 121 first-place votes.
"That's the furthest thing from my mind at this point in time,'' Anthony said. "I'll take that vote.''
Anthony (475 points) finished third in the voting behind James (1,207 points) and Kevin Durant (765). Members of the media vote for the MVP.
Around the rimSteve Novak (back spasms) said he's feeling better and isn't ruling out playing Game 2 Tuesday night, but it's more likely that he'll return for Game 3 Saturday night in Indiana . . . Indiana shooting guard Lance Stephenson's 13 rebounds in 38:51 were seven more than Chandler and Martin grabbed in a combined 52:58.