03/08/2010 - 12:48
Brown Credits Ty for Win
by Devon Jeffreys

Prior to Friday's game with the Los Angeles Lakers, Charlotte Bobcats coach Larry Brown went as far as to rule Tyson Chandler out for his eighth straight game.

But somewhere between Brown's declaration to reporters pregame and the Cats taking the floor, TC did something to change Brown's mind and the veteran coach was glad he did.

Tyson made his return with six points, four rebounds and a block. But it was his defense which made the difference, which Brown said the Bobcats couldn’t have done without, in a 98-83 victory over the Lakers on Friday night, as reported by the Charlotte Observer:

"It helped a lot that center Tyson Chandler, playing just his fourth game since Christmas, was able to perform despite ongoing foot and ankle soreness.

Chandler's numbers weren't spectacular – six points, four rebounds and a block – but he offered an alternative to Theo Ratliff, matching up with the Lakers' massive front line.

"Theo got those two early fouls,'' coach Larry Brown recalled. "I don't think we win this game if Tyson doesn't play.''

TC couldn't help but smile when he was told of his coach's praise:

"That means a lot," Ty said. "I respect coach Brown a lot. For him to make that kind of comment, it makes me feel good."

Tyson said he gutted through on Friday because he knew he had to be there for his teammates. The Bobcats were without DeSagana Diop and Nazr Mohammed and the Lakers boast one of the tallest and deepest frontcourts in the league. So it was time to go:

"I knew it was going to be a tough game for my team with how big the Lakers are," No. 6 told Bobcats Break. "I wanted to be there for them. We had lost a couple of games in a row, which kind of knocked us out of playoff position for right now. So I just wanted to get out there and give us something tonight."

TC gave the Bobcats more than something. He was 2-2 from the field and 2-2 from the line, but more importantly, he helped limit Lakers big men Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol to just 25 points combined.

"I just wanted to give my team something, whenever it called for it, whether it was early or late. Coach did an excellent job of managing me out there and putting me out for matchups. The entire team really played well and that's why we were able to get the win."

The key for Charlotte came on that defensive end, limiting the high-powered LA offense to just 83 points, their third lowest total this season and their lowest total since mid November, as Brown told Bobcats Break:

"I thought our defense was great," said Bobcats Head Coach Larry Brown. "Having Tyson (Chandler) back was a huge lift, especially against size like that."

Tyson noted that he felt no ill effects from the foot and ankle injuries that have kept him out. He came back to play seven minutes, scored two points and grabbed four more rebounds on Saturday in a 101-90 Bobcats win over the Warriors.

"I felt good out there," Ty said. Obviously after the game, you're going to feel a little sore. That doesn’t matter though. As long as you feel good during it, things are firing. I felt like I was moving around pretty well out there."

NEXT UP
The Cats return to the floor on Tuesday to host their Southeast Division rivals the Miami Heat, who they trail by just one game in the standings.

Miami currently holds the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race and the Bobcats sit on the outside looking in.

"Tuesday is a really huge game for us," No. 6 said. "It's going to tell a lot about our season. For the rest of the season, we have to take every game as if it's a game that's going to knock us out of the playoffs because it is. It's going to be a dogfight."

Tip-off of the Southwest showdown is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST and the game can be seen on Fox Sports Carolinas.

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