12/03/2009 - 08:42
Twitter, Charlotte, and Making My Way
by Tyson Chandler

First, I want to tell all my fans and all the NBA lovers that I have a lot of respect for the game. So I want to share with all the fans as well as everybody who is involved with the NBA that I have too much respect for the game to tweet during a game or do anything that would take my focus off the game.

I never have and I never will. Obviously, as other people are now finding out, the message didn't come from me. It came from the news section of my web site, and was an automated update through Twitterfeed that posted late. I would never disrespect the game by sending out tweets or anything like that during a game.

"I would never disrespect the game by sending out tweets or anything like that during a game" (Getty Images).

It's important to me to make that known because I have gotten a lot of feedback from various stations and during a couple of games reporters were talking about it. I just want to get the record clear that it was not me that sent the tweet. I've never tweeted that close to game, during a game, or even that close after a game. I have way too much respect for the game of basketball to do something like that.

WHERE WE STAND
The chemistry within the team is a lot better. I feel like we're moving the ball more. We went on a four game win streak and we definitely have an understanding of what it takes for us to win and how we need to play.

A loss like Tuesday night's loss to Boston helps us better understand what we need to accomplish. I really believe we're ready to go on another winning streak, because we're going to learn from that loss and we're a prideful group.

At the same time, Boston is the best team in our conference right now and that's where we need to get to if we want to compete at a high level. They've shown us twice now where we're at and where we stand.

I think we only face them one more time and that next time we face them is very important, but not only that game, every game from here on out is very important. What's especially important is the ability to bounce back after a loss like that for our next opponent, New Jersey.

JAX FITS IN AND GERALD STEPS UP
Playing with this mix of guys has been great. Stephen Jackson has been a solid addition to our team.

Stephen understands the game. He plays well off the ball and he plays well with the ball. He knows how to pass and he's always a threat to shoot. He also plays with a toughness that this team needed. It has definitely increased our ball movement, having him, because he always poses a threat and he passes the ball so well. You can just play a two-man game with him.

Gerald Wallace brings it every night. He plays tough and he plays gritty. He's they type of player who is going to go reckless night-in and night-out. He's been great for us. We just need a couple more players, like myself, to bring that same grit every night and it's going to help us move along a lot better.

DON'T THINK TOO MUCH
I still haven't completely made my way on this team yet. I have glimpses of it out there where I feel good and I feel like I'm in a rhythm. But I'm still standing back too much and trying to wait for things to happen instead of making things happen. Yesterday in practice I just kind of let loose and played my style of basketball, playing aggressively. It felt good and the team benefited from that.

Coming back from my back spasms, I had a great game. It felt good to get out there and kind of cause some havoc defensively. I felt like I was moving around well out there. We had great timing and the reason why I was able to get six blocks was because my teammates were coming over and helping me, giving me the confidence to leave my man and go up for it. That's just another part of jelling and chemistry.

I just need to understand that I need to come out and play my style of basketball every night. I can't come out and be shy or timid or try not to make mistakes. When I try not to make a mistake, I make a mistake. I just need to get out there and play hard and focus.

The changes to the playbook and coach bringing down the number of plays we run does play a part because if you're not comfortable and you don't know the plays 100 percent, you're thinking out there. As a basketball player you can't think and perform.

Basketball is a game of reactions and if you're out there thinking about where you're supposed to be, then if the defense counters or the defense plays to the situation, you can't react to it. You're not 100 percent sure where you're supposed to be at that particular time.

It's just a matter of us getting accustomed to each other and playing with one another and understanding our plays, knowing what we're trying to accomplish out there 100 percent at all times.

CAUSING TROUBLE AND MAKING FRIENDS
My son is getting big so fast and all he does is walk around the house causing havoc. I wanted him to walk so bad and now that's he's walking I almost wish that he was crawling again. He's getting into everything. He reaches stuff and grabs stuff. He can't see the top of the counters so he just wants to reach up there and knock everything off the counter to see what's up there.

We basically have to push everything back and keep everything out of his way because he will reach up there and knock it down to see what's up there. We're childproofing everything.

He's so much different than my daughter was. My daughter just played dainty with her little toys and her little Barbie's. She'll be building a castle with Lego's and be so proud of it that she'll run to tell me and as soon as she leaves it he'll walk over there and just kick it down. He's always doing stuff like that.

My daughter loves Charlotte. She goes to school every days and it's really good for her because she's starting to meet other kids her age. Now she's able to get out there and understand what it is to have a friend and playmates. It's exciting. It was tough at first because she's really shy and timid, but she's opening up a lot more and it's good for me to see her growing up as a little person.

GETTING TO KNOW CHARLOTTE
Now that we're settled down a bit, when I'm not playing or practicing, I've finally gotten the chance to explore Charlotte a little further.

Charlotte is a surprising city. You really don't expect as much as you get out of it. I just expected kind of a small, country town and it has a country feel, but you have a city lifestyle. It's very accommodating. There are so many malls, shopping centers and activities for all ages. It's a very surprising place. It catches you off guard. I love this city.