Award makes Chandler a done deal

VALENCIA (Jeff Taylor's London Calling) - All signs are pointing to London for New York Knicks star Tyson Chandler.

Orlando's Dwight Howard, the starting center on the team that won the Beijing Games, has been ruled out of the American squad following a back operation.

A hip injury cut short LaMarcus Aldridge's season with the Portland Trail Blazers and versatile big man Lamar Odom is out of contention after being deactivated by the Dallas Mavericks.

Injuries have also knocked out point guards Chauncey Billups and Derrick Rose, reducing the number of 20 finalists named in January to just 15.

Chandler can rest on his own laurels, though.

Forget the names Howard, Odom and Aldridge.

Chandler, 29, won a gold medal at the 2010 FIBA World Championship with the USA and an NBA title with the Dallas Mavericks last year.

On Wednesday, Chandler was named the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year.

The Knicks lost their first three games to the Miami Heat in their Eastern Conference first-round play-off series, but the whole body of work says Chandler is headed to London.

His NBA coach, interim New York boss Mike Woodson, says teams with championship aspirations need big men like Chandler.

"It starts in the middle," Woodson said.

"He's the perfect fit in terms of what I look for in a defensive center.

"I'm just hoping that I'm around long enough to continue to coach him."

In his acceptance speech, Chandler talked as if he hadn’t expected the award.

"It's been a career-long dream," Chandler said.

"I've only wanted to be considered one of the top defensive players in the league.

"To be considered the best defensive player in the league this year is just the ultimate for me."

When looking at the players he beat out for the award, the honor looks even more impressive.

Chandler received 311 points, 45 of them first-place votes from a panel of 121 media members.

Oklahoma City's shot-blocking machine, Spain international Serge Ibaka, finished with 41 first-place votes and 294 points.

Orlando Magic center Howard, the Defensive Player of the Year in 2009, '10 and '11, was third.

Chandler only averaged 1.44 blocks and 1.33 steals.

Ibaka was number one in the NBA in blocks at 3.65 and Howard was third at 2.15, while Chandler ranked 24th.

In the steals department, Chandler was 28th overall.

Statistics can’t measure the total impact of a player, though.

"I'm not in the top in blocks and I'm not in the top in steals and yet still I win the award simply because I'm able to get a lot out of my teammates and I'm able to play a team game," Chandler said.

The players and coaches of the Dallas Mavericks, and team owner Mark Cuban, must be applauding Chandler but also scratching their heads.

Why, in their infinite wisdom, did they allow Chandler to leave Texas after he’d been such an integral part of their success?

Look back at what Dirk Nowitzki said of Chandler in May 2011 when the Mavs were in the play-off wars.

"Tyson, he's added a lot of toughness to this team in the paint," Nowitzki said.

"He's the most athletic center I've ever played with.

“He covers a lot of ground out there and he's a tough guy.

“He gets in a lot of people's faces, which is great.

“He's a vocal leader in the locker room and the huddles.

“He's brought a lot to this team. His positive energy has been great.”

Chandler won't know for sure, at least publically, that he's made the American Olympic team until after he links up with the United States and begins preparing for the London Games.

The American coach is defensive-minded Mike Krzyzewski, and Chandler has been saying all the right things when it comes to making the national team.

“I’m definitely ready to represent my country," he said recently.

“I’m very excited.

“Just to be able to be considered for the USA team is a blessing and something I’m very proud of."

Jeff Taylor

FIBA

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