02/26/2009 - 12:56
A Welcome Sight
by Devon Jeffreys

In his first game at New Orleans Arena in 37 days, Tyson was in vintage form Wednesday night, and his work on the glass played a huge role in another Hornets victory.

The Big Easy grabbed 17 rebounds and chipped in 10 points as the Hornets survived a bruising battle with the Detroit Pistons for a 90-87 victory, as described by Jimmy Smith of the Times-Picayune:

“Hornets center Tyson Chandler took time out of his post-game dissection to show off a couple of fresh wounds--parallel claw marks stretched across his left shoulder."

“I’ve got scratches and bruises and bleeding; it was a tough win,” Chandler said. “Any time you play against the Detroit Pistons, you know what kind of game it’s going to be.”

Tyson returns, Hornets win (Getty Images).

But TC will take the flesh wounds if it means he’ll win the battle in the paint and that’s exactly what No. 6 was able to do against Detroit.

According to coach Byron Scott, it’s also exactly what Ty and the Hornets have been missing, as quoted on the Big Easy Buzz Blog:

“One of the things we’ve been lacking without TC is offensive rebounds, because he’s one of the best in the game,” Byron Scott said of Chandler, who had seven offensive boards. “He’s been able to come back and for two games, his return has been unbelievable. We just have to hope he can continue to do what he’s doing."

“We’re a better defensive team and a better rebounding team with him in there. He’s our best communicator, one of our best help defenders and our best post defender. So yeah, when he’s out, we miss a lot.”

Tyson’s hard work inside was a necessity in a closely contested game. TC said afterward that he wasn’t surprised the game was so close despite the Pistons being on a long losing streak.

As quoted on the Big Easy Buzz Blog:

“I actually thought this was going to be a close game. When we got the lead in the first quarter, I knew if we didn’t push to sustain that lead that they would stay around. They have a lot of pride in them; they came to fight tonight…They have got a great defense. They came in and played hard. (Jason) Maxiell did a great job of coming in and getting second opportunities and just scrambling down low.”

STANDING O
Tyson returned to a rousing ovation from the fans, as noted by Hornets blogger hldomingue At the Hive:

“Tyson’s return to the Hive almost prompted the fans to register on the Richter Scale during the player intros.”

And Ty soaked in the reception. As No. 6 has noted several times on his blog, one of his biggest driving factors is the fans and the support they give he and his teammates. It’s safe to say the Big Easy appreciated the ovation:

“It was really good to get in my home building and play in front of the fans...While I was hurt, I was able to watch and make my own assessment of what we needed. A lot of times you can make good out of bad. My time (out) has motivated me and mentally prepared me for what we need to do for the rest of the season.”

BACK TO WHAT WORKS
As Tyson returns from injury, the emphasis from coach Scott has been for the Big Easy to go back to the things that worked so well for him last season. In that respect, he’s delivered, as noted by John DeShazier in the Times-Picyune:

While sitting, watching and waiting, Chandler said, he concentrated on the areas where the Hornets were lacking. It’s not that he didn’t realize he needed to rebound and defend in his previous games, because he did. But earlier, in hopes of becoming a more complete player, he spent more time thinking about what he could be doing instead of doing what had made him so valuable.

“We talked a few times about it, even before he got hurt, about some of the things that make him who he is, ” Coach Byron Scott said.

Don’t ever accuse Chandler of not being a good listener.

On Detroit’s first offensive possession, a missed jumper, Chandler rebounded. On the Hornets’ first offensive possession, a missed jumper, he scored on a putback. And that, in a nutshell, is what he does for the Hornets, in addition to challenging shots and running opposing centers into the ground as a constant threat on the fastbreak, secondary break and pick-and-roll.

Coach Scott is more than pleased with Tyson’s contributions since his return, as quoted on the Big Easy Buzz Blog:

“He gives us the opportunity to get second chance points; all the little things we have been missing since he has been out. It wasn’t his time to leave and we thank God that it wasn’t.”

LOOSE TY-ES
No. 6 got the Hornets off on the right foot with a tip in for the game’s opening points…The Crescent City Connection got fans on their feet in the second quarter when TC and CP connected twice…Tyson and David West combined for 27 of the Hornets 51 rebounds…The Times-Picayune reports that the Big Easy “slightly tweaked” his left ankle during Monday’s win over Sacramento, but he’s playing through it: “It got a little sore, and I’ll see over these next couple of games how it reacts,” he said…The Hornets are 2-0 since Tyson’s return and 27-13 in games he’s played this season.

NEXT UP
The Hornets will look to finish the week strong when they welcome the Milwaukee Buck to the Hive Friday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. PST and all the action can be seen live, in New Orleans, on CST.

RELATED STORIES
Tyson Chandler gives reason to celebrate return (Times-Picayune, February 26, 2009)
http://blog.nola.com/johndeshazier/2009/02/new_orleans_hornets_tyson_cha...
Hornets take Detroit Pistons’ best shot, survive (Times-Picayune, February 26, 2009)
http://blog.nola.com/hornetsbeat/2009/02/battered_bruised_new_orleans_h....
Tyson Chandler is back in a big way (Times-Picayune, February 26, 2009)
http://blog.nola.com/hornetsbeat/2009/02/new_orleans_hornets_tyson_chan_...
Hornets.com postgame: Hornets 90, Pistons 87 (Big Easy Buzz Blog, February 25, 2009)
http://neworleanshornetsblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/hornetscom-postgame-ho...
Game 56: Hive Live (At the Hive, February 26, 2009)
http://www.atthehive.com/2009/2/25/772466/hive-live-game-55
Pistons at Hornets Play by Play (NBA.com, February 25, 2009)
http://www.nba.com/games/20090225/DETNOH/playbyplay.html
Pistons at Hornets Box Score (NBA.com, February 25, 2009)
http://www.nba.com/games/20090225/DETNOH/boxscore.html