03/03/2009 - 06:06
Offensive on the Glass
by Devon Jeffreys

As returns go, it doesn't get much better than Ty's first five games back from injury.

The Big Easy scored nine points and pulled down nine boards, including six more on the offensive end, to help spur the Hornets to a 98-91 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night in Philly. New Orleans is now 5-0 since Tyson's return and their five-game winning streak is a season-best.

Since rejoining the Hornets, Ty is averaging 5.2 offensive boards per game, easily the best ratio in the league over that stretch.

In a piece for NBA.com, John Schuhmann quoted Hornets' coach Byron Scott on Ty's desire:

“He's just got so much heart,” Scott said. “He doesn't back down to anybody. He'll give away 40 or 50 pounds, but he will battle all night long.”

For much of the season, Tyson's struggles with injuries have made fighting in the paint an uphill battle. But reinvigorated after missing 16 games and nearly winding up in a different city, No. 6 has been a force for New Orleans ever since.

In fact, if Ty had enough games played to qualify for the NBA's league leaders, he would currently be tied for third in the NBA in offensive rebounding this season with 3.7 boards per game.

And with his recent surge, he's climbing closer to Dwight Howard's league leading 4.4

WHAT A CONNECTION
Tyson didn't slouch off on the scoreboard Monday night either.

The Big Easy hooked up twice more with Chris Paul for the infamous Crescent City Connection for four of his nine points in the game. After a slow start, seven of TC's nine points came in the second half to help New Orleans extend their edge.

Since coming back, No. 6 is averaging 11 points per game and has upped his average to 9.1 ppg for the season. Ty talked about his new mindset on NBA.com:

“I've always been a guy to come out and give 100 percent,” he said. “I've changed my approach as far as not allowing things to get in the way, where before I was favoring certain things and because of my injuries, thinking about it out there.”

NOT ALWAYS IN THE STAT SHEET
While Tyson has increased his production on the scoreboard and in the box score, coach Byron Scott believes that his center's biggest value isn't something you'll notice by reading the newspaper, as quoted on NBA.com:

“A lot of his stuff probably goes unnoticed,” Scott said. “We all look at the points, rebounds, blocked shots and things like that, but his presence on the offensive end gets us open shots. He's our best screener when we run our pick-and-roll and he rolls the hardest. He puts a lot of pressure on the defense to pick and choose what they're going to do.”

Chandler has taken a negative of being traded and turned it into a positive, playing with a chip on his shoulder. “This situation that happened is not going to change anything, except light a little fire under us,” he said Monday.

“It's probably going to be something that's going to help us in the long run,” Scott added.”

To read the full article which describes the new life Ty's return has given the Bees, click here.

DEBUNKING MYTHS
As many of Tyson's fans know, The Big Easy was diagnosed with asthma a few years ago. Now Tyson is working to get the word out to kids that even with asthma they can have a happy, healthy and active life, just like No. 6 does. For his latest piece for ESPN.com, J.A. Adande talked with Ty about the cause.

“You probably didn't know Tyson Chandler had been overcoming a physical ailment all this time. The now-infamous toe? That's a recent development, still not one he considers that serious. Five years ago Chandler was diagnosed with asthma. You'd think that difficulty with something as essential as breathing would hinder a professional athlete. Not Chandler.

“It didn't affect me in any kind of way,” said Chandler, who is promoting a Web site called www.ASTHMyths.com. “I got with the doctor, came up with the game plan; I haven't had any problems since. That's one of the things I want to get out to kids. They can perform at a high level with asthma.”

Tyson goes on to talk to Adande about the trade, and how it has revitalized the Hornets.

“It's one of those cases where something good happens out of something bad,” he said.”

To read the whole piece with quotes from Ty and Hornets GM Jeff Bower, click here.

BUS IS LEAVING!
Moments before Tyson was set to get on the bus from East Rutherford, NJ to Philadelphia on Sunday night, the Big Easy joined Marc Fein and Eric Snow via satellite on NBA TV's Arena link.

Tyson talked about the trade one more time and went on to talk about becoming more aggressive on the boards:

“I have to get more aggressive on both ends. When I catch the ball and they dump it down to me, I need to be more aggressive. On the defensive end I need to do what I do. And I'm going to try to get more offensive rebounds and give my team some second shots.”

Before Tyson could answer another question, the bus started honking and Tyson had to jet. To see the video click here.

NEXT UP
The Hornets get a back-to-back days off as they head back home to host the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night. That game tips off at 5 p.m. PST and all of the action can be seen live on TNT.

RELATED STORIES
Analysis: Chandler's return brings new life to Hornets (NBA.com, March 2, 2009)
http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/john_schuhmann/03/02/schuhmann1/
Chandler is happy to be a Hornet (ESPN.com, March 3, 2009)
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=adande_ja&page=Cha...
Hornets.com postgame: Hornets 98, 76ers 91 (Big Easy Buzz Blog, March 2, 2009)
http://neworleanshornetsblog.blogspot.com/2009/03/hornetscom-postgame-ho...
David West leads New Orleans Hornets to season-best fifth win a row (Times-Picayune, March 3, 2009)
http://blog.nola.com/hornetsbeat/2009/03/david_west_leads_new_orleans_h....
Hornets at Sixers Play by Play (NBA.com, March 2, 2009)
http://www.nba.com/games/20090302/NOHPHI/playbyplay.html