Phil Jackson defends Tyson Chandler trade to Mavericks on Twitter

Phil Jackson's mellowness, which has been put through the ringer in recent weeks, got tested just a little more on Thursday when the Knicks president responded to three separate reply tweets to a link about a story suggesting that he “got hornswoggled in his first big move” in trading Tyson Chandler to Dallas in June.

“Negative, I'm okay with the Dallas deal. Tyson fits there and our 3 players, Jose (Calderon), Sam (Dalembert), and Shane (Larkin) are on the court,” the Zen Master tweeted at @sheridanhoops from his @PhilJackson11 account on Thursday afternoon. 

@sheridanhoops negative, I'm okay with the Dallas deal. Tyson fits there and our 3 players, Jose, Sam, and Shane are on the court.
— Phil Jackson (@PhilJackson11) December 18, 2014

“Our season got off to a rocky start-injuries-Tyson could not have changed the outcome. Trades are judged in 4-5 year terms," he responded in a second Tweet.

@sheridanhoops our season got off to a rocky start-injuries-Tyson could not have changed the outcome. Trades are judged in 4-5 year terms.
— Phil Jackson (@PhilJackson11) December 18, 2014

“Remember how Pop (San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich) et al complained about the Pau (Gasol) trade (to the Lakers)? How does that trade look now? Just relax...and be patient” Jackson added in a third and final tweet.

@sheridanhoops remember how Pop et al complained about the Pau trade? How does that trade look now? Just relax...and be patient.
— Phil Jackson (@PhilJackson11) December 18, 2014

Later, that philosophy sounded like gibberish after the short-handed Knicks fell to the Bulls, 103-97,  for New York's third straight loss and 13 of 14.

Tyson Chandler gets double-double and a blocked shoe in loss (VIDEO)

Tyson Chandler picked up a double-double (11 points, 12 rebounds) and a size EEE in the Mavericks' 105-98 loss to the white-hot Warrior Saturday night. And it was the center's bizarre defensive play on the shoe that got the greatest cheer from the crowd at the American Airlines Center.

Golden State forward Marreese Speights lost his sneaker in the third quarter on Saturday, and as Stephen Curry tried to toss it back to him, Chandler purposely swatted the shoe out of bounds near the sideline. 

“You can’t run with a sock on,” explained Chandler. of his strategy. “I was hoping that we could exploit them at the other end until they either had to call timeout or he had to foul. But we didn’t take advantage of it.”

It was Chandler's only "block" of the game.

Tyson Chandler ejected for roughing up Marreese Speights (VIDEO)

The bad news for Tyson Chandler Friday? The Knicks center got ejected letting Marreese Speights get under his skin.

The good news? He wasn't on the court for the final minutes of the Warriors' 126-103 rout.

Tyson Chandler blocks own dunk with head (GIF)

In what must be the defining moment of the New York Knicks disastrous season, Tyson Chandler nullified his own reverse dunk by blocking it inside the basket with his head. 

During one of those rare games where neither bottom-dwelling team deserved to win the 58-minute long contest, it was Chandler's comical goof inside Amway Center Friday night that got the most cheers.

And to add insult to the epic fail, Chandler was called for an infraction on the play.

The play-by-play on NBA.com described it as "Chandler Turnover: Offensive Goaltending (1 TO).

The Magic rallied from a 14-point second-half deficit to defeat the Knicks, 129-121, in double overtime.

Tyson Chandler shows Lance Stephenson who's the boss in the paint

Indiana Pacers guard Lance Stephenson tried to get high and mighty with New York Knicks center Tyson Chandler late in the second quarter of their Game 5 Madison Square Garden playoff battle and found out the hard way why Chandler is one of the top defensive big men in the NBA.

As Stephenson dribbled into the paint, Chandler prevented him from "climbing the ladder" with a hard foul that left the Pacer sprawled on the floor seeing more stars than the ones sitting on MSG's Celebrity Row.

Better luck next time.

J.R. Smith questions Knicks' hearts not their knees

The New York Knicks are dealing with knee problems to three of their key players, but J.R. Smith is more concerned about another part of the body as the team continues to stumble towards the back end of a five-game road-to-ruin swing.

"We got to checkout our heart right now," said the Knicks guard. "We either got to compete or pack up and go home. It's just that simple."

The Knicks have dropped the first three games of their west coast tour by an average of 22 points and the prognosis doesn't look any better without Carmelo Anthony, Tyson Chandler and Amar'e Stoudemire in the mix together for at least a while.

Smith held up his end of the deal against the Trailblazers — pouring in 33 points.  But it wasn't enough.

"I don't mind losing," Smith said . "But if we just go out there and get demolished , that's a problem, especially when you're supposed to be considered one of the best teams in you division and your conference. It's just not a good look for us."

The Knicks' Atlantic division lead over the Nets is down to one game and dwindling. They close out the west coast tour with games against the Clippers and Jazz.

James Johnson's buzzer beater foils Knicks 27-point comeback

The New York Knicks nearly pulled off the biggest comeback in the orange and blue's history but — after beating the Phoenix Suns with J.R. Smith's buzzer beater on Wednesday— got a taste of their own Kool Aid Friday night.

Sacramento Kings James Johnson buried a three-point shot from the top of the arc as time expired, turning the Knicks rally from a 27-point first-half deficit from historic to just plain history.

Live by the sword, die by the sword.



Johnson's trey didn't  exactly look like a play drawn up on the sidelines but it was enough to break the Knicks hearts after leading 105-103 inside Sacramento's Sleep Train Arena.

The Knicks had trailed 68-41 in the second quarter.

Isaiah Thomas made two free throws to narrow the Knick's lead to two with 33 seconds on the clock. On the ensuing drive, Jason Kidd's alley-oop to Tyson Chandler was deflected and stolen with 15 seconds left.  Thomas missed a bank shot and the Kings (10-19) got the offensive rebound and passed it around.

The game-winner didn't come on a set play but Johnson — who was 0-for-11 from 3-point range on the season — heaved up the shot just as the buzzer sounded after the frantic final seconds.

The Knicks (21-9) were without leading scorer Carmelo Anthony for the second straight game because of the hyper-extended left knee he suffered Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Lakers.

In the 20 years that the record has been kept, the  Knicks biggest comeback ever was a 26-point deficit against the Milwaukee Bucks in 2004.

"We buried ourselves in the first two quarters and then decided to defend," said Knicks head coach Mike Woodson.  "It's a game of inches.  They made the big shot at the end."

The simple lesson learned by the suddenly struggling Knicks — comebacks only count if you win.

Tyson Chandler takes issue with Shaq's NBA center rankings

Dwight Howard isn't the only player who disagrees with Shaquille O'Neal's ranking of NBA centers.  New York Knicks big man Tyson Chandler took issue with the TNT analyst's assessment that the two best centers in the NBA right now are "Robin" Lopez and Andrew Bynum.

The slighted Howard called Shaq's rankings "comical," reports The New York Post.

"I was watching 'SportsCenter' this morning, eating breakfast in the team lounge, and I was laughing at the whole thing," Chandler said.  "I honestly think it's comical.  I don't care about rankings.

"That's one individual's point of view.  I know where I'm at.  I know what my value is.  And I know better I have to continue to get better."

Maybe Chandler's tough skin comes from years of being underrated.  Chandler, last season's NBA Defensive Player of the Year and U.S. Olympic team member, is used to getting such congratulatory snubs.

During the London Games, Chandler told The Post it was "ridiculous" that the coaches voted him second-team All Defense after he won the won the Defensive Player of the Year award.  Try and figure that one out.

Shaq may have ruffled Chandler's feathers with the Bynum and Robin Lopez — we're sure he meant twin-brother Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez —  comment, but the Knicks center might have Shaq eating crow.  The Knicks enter the season with high hopes and a improved — if not older— roster.

Who knows.  With Howard out in Los Angeles, Chandler has a good shot of making his first All-Star team.  That is if any Lopez brother or Bynum doesn't get in the way.

Kobe's wife couldn't be married to a man 'that can't win championships'

Vanessa Bryant, wife of five-time championship winning Los Angeles guard Kobe Bryant, in an article in New York Magazine said, "I love basketball.  And I know what goes on behind the scenes, so I have a different perspective on things, but still, I certainly would not want to be married to somebody that can't win championships."

Good thing for Ms. Bryant— and the mister as well—  her husband plays on the Lakers and are primed to make a serious run at another title with the additions of point guard Steve Nash and center Dwight Howard.

In the article— featuring basketball wives including Knicks center Tyson Chandler's wife Kimberly— Bryant touches on everything from her ice queen image, rumors of a near fight with Khloe Kardashian and the post game kiss she gives Kobe on the way to the locker room.

"If you notice, I am the only one allowed in that tunnel," she boasts.

But it seems to be all about winning that keeps everything real in the Bryant home.

"If you're sacrificing time away from my family and myself for the benefit of winning championships," she said. "Then winning a championship should happen every single year."

The couple, who have been married 10 years, have seen their share of hard times off the court.

In 2003, three days after he was charged with sexual assault, she received an "apology gift"— a $4 million, eight-carat purple diamond ring.  Last December, she filed for divorce after rumors of infidelity surfaced.  They later reconciled their differences and the split is off for now.

The couple were seen out and about together in London at the Olympic Games where Kobe helped lead the U.S. basketball team to a second straight gold medal.  That should keep her happy for a while.

Diamonds and gold.  I'm seeing a winning pattern here.

Defensive Player of the Year Tyson Chandler only makes All-Defensive Second Team

Was Tyson Chandler slighted with his All-Defensive Second Team selection? For the New York Knicks center, the second straight  Second Team pick is nice— if not a bit perplexing— especially since he was already named the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year.

Since that award is voted on by the media, the All-defensive Team honor comes from all 30 NBA coaches with one important rule— coaches can't vote for their own players.

Dwight Howard— who had won three DPOY awards prior to this season— was nominated to the first team in Chandler's place.  He was joined by LeBron James and shot-blocking phenom Serge Ibaka and guards Chris Paul and Tony Allen.

Chandler was joined on the second team by Kevin Garnett, Luol Deng, Rajon Rondo and Kobe Bryant.

Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin was confused by the slight and even questioned the logic behind Chandler's snub via Twitter.

Lin tweeted: "im no genius or anything but someone explain how @tysonchandler is defensive player of the year but not make the nba all-defensive team."

He did go to Harvard.

Chandler did have more points (36 overall and 13 first-team votes) than both Allen and Paul, but since only one center can be nominated per team, the honor went to Howard (16 first-place and 41 overall points).

If it was any consolation to Chandler, his teammate rookie Iman Shumpert received honorable mention after getting one first-place vote and 13 overall.

Howard's team, the Orlando Magic actually regressed from one of the top-three defensive teams to No. 13 last season while Chandler helped turn the Knicks into defensive force.

Tyson Chandler hung up in art gallery

New York Knicks star Tyson Chandler is a defensive artist on the court and now the 7-foot-1 center is the the subject of another artist.  Chandler— the NBA Defensive Player of the Year— was the center of attention at photographer Ari Marcopoulos'  opening of his series of portraits, "Wherever You Go," at the Marlborough Chelsea gallery in Manhattan over the weekend.

Chandler attended the opening and stood next to the black-and-white photographs he posed for.  The grainy photos showed off Chandler's tattooed body.

Marcopoulos, the filmmaker/photographer/artist, has been photographing Chandler since he was with the Dallas Mavericks.

Besides Chandler's images are photos of body forms of other subjects shot by the renowned photographer.

Knicks fans' poll: We like Amar'e Stoudemire's fire extinguisher

The New York Daily News is conducting a "Knicks' Keep 'Em/Dump 'Em" web poll and after the first day of returns, it is clear who the fan favorites are— and aren't.   In a tight race, the fire extinguisher that Amar'e Stoudemire tried to take out in Miami's AmericanAirlines Arena got 51% on the "keep" side.

That's funny because only 56% of the responses want Stoudemire (the actual player)— who missed a playoff game because of the boneheaded injury— back next year.

The newspaper is giving fans a chance to act as general manager for the New York Knicks after the team's first-round fizzle against the Miami Heat.

More than 75,000 votes were received during the opening day of voting. Tyson Chandler and Iman Shumpert were the most popular players with a 95% approval rating each.  Other players the fans have been overwhelmingly voting to stay in Madison Square Garden are Jeremy Lin and Steve Novak (both with an 85% approval rating) along with head coach Mike Woodson (74%).

It was no surprise that owner Jim Dolan (79% said take a hike) would be shipped off faster than Spike Lee at a Brooklyn Nets game if the fans had the power.

Other players the fans would like to see extinguished are J.R. Smith (53% dump), Baron Davis (83% said bye-bye) and Mike Bibby (76% had no use for him).

Surprisingly, only 69% of the respondents want to keep Carmelo Anthony; which makes him as popular as that other offensive powerhouse Josh (who?) Harrellson.

Linsanity looks like it has passed Landry Fields by.  Lin's best bud is barely hanging on with a 51% approval rating— a number that would probably be bumped up a few points if Lin was still crashing on his living room couch.

The bad news for Knicks fans is that there is no way the team will ever unload Stoudemire— their $100 million forward— and, even worse news, the fire extinguisher has been re-signed in Miami.

LeBron does his best soccer flop in Heat win over Knicks

The New York Knicks were called for 21 fouls in the first half of a 100-67 demolition at the hands of the Miami Heat in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series on Saturday.

The most absurd call had to be the flagrant foul called on the Knicks' Tyson Chandler against LeBron James.  Everyone knew the game would be physical but LeBron really sells this flop better an Italian soccer player.

At halftime with a 23 point Heat advantage, James told a TV reporter, "Tyson got me pretty good.  Got a little whiplash in my neck but I'm OK.  I mean it's playoff basketball."

The refs originally called it a flagrant-2 against Chandler— which would have meant an automatic ejection— but downgraded it to a flagrant-1 after review.

It wouldn't have mattered.

The Heat ran off a 32-2 stretch at one point to put the game totally out of reach after the Knicks Carmelo Anthony missed his first seven shots.  Talk about flopping.

To add injury to insult— literally— a couple of Knicks players carted Iman Shumpert off the court after the point guard collapsed and grabbed his knee while dribbling the ball up court in the third quarter.  Shumpert went down on the same spot where the Chandler-James collision took place.

That wasn't a flop.

Tyson Chandler on London Olympics: I'd represent

The loss of big men Dwight Howard and LaMarcus Aldridge for the London Olympics after surgeries have created a huge hole in the middle of the USA basketball team but not if Tyson Chandler can help it.

The New York Knicks center is ready to put his own red, white and blue Superman get-up and fly to the rescue after the Knicks playoff run is through.

After the injuries to the two centers and Andrew Bynum saying he wasn't interested in joining the squad, Chandler may now even get to start for the U.S. Olympic team.

Chandler, who was not selected for the 2008 Olympic gold-medal team but was a member of  Team USA in the 2010 World Championships says he wants in. He was already named one of the 20 finalists for 2012 in London in January.

"I'm definitely ready to represent my country," Chandler told The New York Post.  "I'm very excited.  Just  to be able to be considered for the USA team is a blessing and something I'm very proud of.  I committed myself when I joined in 2007.  I still feel that way."

Although Chandler didn't play at this year's 2012 All-Star game, he's had a remarkable season and is a strong candidate for Defensive Player of the Year.  His 'D' on the court is outstanding.  In the three games he's missed, the Knicks allowed an average of 116.3 points— far above their average in the Mike Woodson Era.

Texter gets hit in face by ball at Nets game

A guy was sitting in the front row at Newark's Prudential Center— watching the New Jersey Nets host the New York Knicks while texting someone and without paying attention to the game— when an outlet pass from  Knicks center Tyson Chandler sailed by Steve Novak and bopped the guy in the face.

While the woman sitting next to the texter had the awareness to shield her face, this guy was so into his texting he didn't even see the play unfold from his front row seat and went back to texting after the ball bounced off his head.

The pissed off man's text probably went something like this: "Sitting courtside next to the Nets bench.  Chillin'. Watching Carmelo Anthony light up the Pru... ouch! WTF!... Oh...  just got hit in the face by Tyson Chandler's pass. Awesome."

If the texter was a Nets fan, his night was already pretty bad. The evening started out with the hometown Nets getting booed while their cross-river rivals, the Knicks, got rousing cheers during the introductions.

Anthony finished the night with 33 points in 34 minutes— 21 of them coming in the first quarter— and the Nets ended up on the short end of a 104-95 loss.