11/04/2009 - 14:59
Ty Getting Back Into It
by Devon Jeffreys

Four games into his first season in Charlotte, Tyson Chandler continues to work hard to adjust.

TC posted his best game of the season Monday night, throwing down eight points and grabbing eight rebounds as the Charlotte Bobcats claimed their second win of the season 79-68 over the New Jersey Nets.

Tyson played a season high 35 minutes on Monday night, but remains rusty as he recovers from six months on the sidelines after ankle surgery this summer.

Coach Larry Brown knows the season is a marathon, not a sprint and it will take time for No. 6 to round back into shape, as quoted in the Charlotte Observer.

“This is his exhibition season,” Bobcats coach Larry Brown said of understanding Chandler’s struggles. “I’m comfortable with him. We just need to figure out ways to use him. And he can’t be so hard on himself.”

Tyson’s competitive side can be a double-edged sword because although it drives the Big Cat to get better on a night-by-night basis, it also makes him his worst critic, as quoted by the Charlotte Observer.

“The timing is bad. We’re still trying to get used to each other,” Ty said after the Bobcats dropped a 90-79 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers last Saturday. “We’ve got to address it. We’ve got to get better fast.’‘

No. 6 had eight points and seven rebounds against the Cavs and did an impressive job containing LeBron James on drives to the bucket. James finished with only 14 points, by far his lowest output of the young season. James hasn’t scored less than 20 in any of the Cavs’ other four games.

Bobcats coach Larry Brown believes Tyson is feeling pressure to replace the man he was traded for Emeka Okafor, as quoted in the Observer:

“He cares. He’s replacing a player who was a really huge part of our team,” Brown described. “I’m not exactly sure what his role was with New Orleans, but he rebounded, defended, blocked shots and made layups. (Chris) Paul did such a great job of getting him the ball where he didn’t have to do much (to score).

Brown, though, feels that there is so much more that Tyson can do offensively than just throw down the lob for an alley-opp dunk. The Bobcats just need to give the big man the opportunity:

“He’s a young kid; I want him to expand his game: Get out on the floor and shoot it and dribble-drive a little bit. Be a low-post threat and not as an afterthought.

NEXT UP
The Bobcats are in the midst of a rare stretch with three straight days off. They return to action on Friday night when they host the Atlanta Hawks. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST.

RELATED STORIES
LeBron, Mo drop sloppy Bobcats to 1-2 (Charlotte Observer, November 1, 2009)
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/bobcats/story/1031202.html
Observations: Chandler plenty rusty (Charlotte Observer, October 31, 2009)
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/bobcats/story/1031367.html