Tyson Chandler not concerned with whom the Knicks play in the Playoffs first round – NBA Update
Tyson Chandler is a very valuable asset for the New York Knicks, now that they have made it to the playoffs. The center was a key member of the Dallas Mavericks team that won the NBA Championship last season. He was also very critical
in Dallas’ win over the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals and hence, holds a great deal of experience of the playoffs and pressure games.
Chandler and the Knicks do not know yet who will they be facing in the 1st round of the playoffs. The #1 seed in the Eastern Conference has not been locked up yet. Chicago is at the top presently, but Miami is only 2
wins behind. At the same time, the Knicks could also move up or down in the rankings. They are currently two wins behind 6th place Orlando, and need to win their remaining two games and at the same time, hope that Orlando loses its last two games.
That will put the Knicks at the #6 spot and will have them playing the #3 seed Indiana in the first round. Alternately, the Knicks currently have the same record as the Sixers and are holding the tie breaker over them, putting them ahead of the Sixers in the
East. They could easily drop down to 8th place, which would have them facing either Chicago or Miami.
But Chandler does not feel it’s important who they play in the 1st round.
“You should want to play the best. Whether it’s Chicago or Miami, we’ll have to go through one of those teams. If it’s Miami, we feel like we were in every game and we left so much on the table against them. We made so many mistakes
and we didn’t capitalize on them being aggressive” said Chandler after the win against Atlanta.
With the current standings, the Knicks will face the Miami Heat in the first round. The Heat have won all three games against the Knicks this season. Tyson, having played against the Heat in last year’s NBA Finals, knows that
the Heat will be a tough team to beat but also has an idea of how to contain them.
“We have to understand what is at stake, because you have to completely turn it up. I just went through it last year and I understand what it’s going to take. I’ve got to do my job in preparing my teammates for what’s going to
be ahead of them” said Chandler.
In the last match-up between the two teams, Miami came from behind to hand the Knicks a demoralizing 93-85 defeat. But Amare Stoudemire was not playing in that game and his return to the Knicks line-up will mean that they now
have two scorers in Carmelo Anthony and Stoudamire. That will help them match up with the fast paced high scoring style of basketball that Miami plays.
Chandler is having a special meeting with his team mates on Friday in which he will try to get them ready for the playoffs by sharing his experience of the playoffs in general and the Miami Heat in particular from last year.
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