Tyson Chandler looks back at his learning experience with the Bulls
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Aug 17, 2011 10:20 PM CDT
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PrintI was listening to Bill Simmons' podcast interview with former Bull and current world champion Tyson Chandler from last week, and near the end Chandler's asked about the start of his career. Here's his take on his time with the Bulls, faithfully paraphrased by yours truly:
From top to bottom we were terrible. When you're picked high you go to the worst team. I was around a bunch of young players...wasn't a good thing. Nobody to look to, there would be 1 or 2 vets (Charles Oakley, Antonio Davis) but the rest of the guys were young. That experience made me treasure this experience [winning the title with the Mavs]. Makes you understand how far the line is from winning and losing.
The league is tough enough as it is, the pressure to succeed [from everywhere], it can either make or break you. I wanted to accomplish my goals when I came into this league.
I was very impatient because I had so much success so young. The difference was that some rookies came into situations where the organizations nurtured them, helped them grow. I came into a situation with no teaching, I almost had to teach myself, and take my lumps. I wanted everything now, I was the #2 pick and thought I should dominate, and that's not how it goes. You have to put your time and work in, and eventually it starts clicking. Because I was impatient, I'd get frustrated. I'd put in the work and wonder why it wasn't paying off. But it's not just one summer of work, or a few times staying late after practices...it's a lifestyle that you have to create in order to be successful.
Some of Tyson's words are an indictment of himself as a relatively immature player coming into the league (though he clearly handled himself better than draft-mate Eddy Curry, who he talks about later in this interview), but also a poor reflection of Bulls coaching and management at the time.
Like Chandler, the Bulls have come a long way since 2001: No longer rebuilding by stockpiling young players, and one of Tom Thibodeau's most heralded traits is his dedication towards teaching the game. As an organization their reputation of cultivating projects still isn't very good (James Johnson being the latest example, though a bit of a flimsy one), but it's nice that they don't exactly have to worry about such things anymore.
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Re: cultivating projects
It’s borderline, but would Omer Asik fit into this category? If so, he has a chance to single-handedly “fix” the Bulls reputation in cultivating projects.
"You can't be afraid to play somebody because they've got 3 really good players. How are you going to win if you're afraid to play? We're not going to be afraid to play - we're going to fight, we're going to attack, we're going to throw it out there and see what happens." - Carlos Boozer
yeah, I'd say he does fit and is so far a success
though maybe he’s easier to do so with because even while ‘raw’, he came in with a baseline of good defensive skills that will keep him productive regardless. He certainly could use some refinement so it’ll be interesting to see if that ’s done.
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by your friendly BullsBlogger on Aug 17, 2011 10:47 PM CDT up reply actions
I'd argue Asik is in a better position to learn as well
1) He plays and learns against other teams back-ups (its hard to learn, while being pitted against the best players in the league and getting the snot beat out of you [I’m not a big fan of the sink or swim theory])
2) He has more talent around him (seriously, I think the odds of last year’s bench beating the starters of the 2001-2002 season at about 40%)
3) He has better coaching
4) His role is well-defined and parallels his skill set well (and I can’t stress this enough, his role is both limited to what he does well, and reflects his pre-existing skill set)
I support the NBA player's union.
Asik also is devoted workout freak
Last Summer he came to Chicago to work with the Bulls training staff for a whole month before going back to the Turkish National team. When he’s building his body for the NBA before he’s participated in one practice you know you have something special.
I can predict the future using Norm Van Lier's crystal balls.
"Sam has a tendency to denigrate reports coming from any reporter who didn’t also cover the day Naismith first put up the peach baskets." - snley
by NBA Observer on Aug 18, 2011 8:20 AM CDT up reply actions
Another thing is
Asik played professional ball over seas, that helps in marturity and development
by Dennis Hopson2 on Aug 18, 2011 3:03 PM CDT up reply actions
There's plenty of truth to what he's saying.
Bottom line is, Scott Skiles is a horrible coach. He has a Napolean complex that’s out of this world.
Well that's certainly the first time I've seen someone accuse a person who's over 6 feet tall of having a Napoleon complex.
Pat Riley is the devil.
Which would make sense
if he was not a successful professional basketball player for many years.
Q: Who is playing you in the movie about the ESPN book? I think it should be Adam Sandler — you both peaked 12 years ago.
— Timmy, Winchester, MA
- Simmons Mailbag, 8/5/11
by Dr. Handsome, D.D.S. on Aug 20, 2011 7:39 PM CDT up reply actions
Tyson was friggin great with the Bulls
Just so happens that the team wasn’t.
Put the Tyson from the Bulls years on last years Mavs team, they’d likely be better
by Option27 on Aug 18, 2011 4:25 PM CDT reply actions 3 recs
I remember announcers constantly praising Skiles for having invented the role of a closer
when he’d sub Tyson in for the fourth quarter and have him completely shut down defenses. Man was it fun to have that Gordon-Chandler combo going into the fourth and seeing if BG could get hot and shoot his way into a win.
Anyone remember this game? Chandler later blocked Nazr Mohammed’s shot on the Knicks’ final possession.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyJoMZ3j4z0
There are the guys who get you the need baskets," says Bulls reserve forward Brian Scalabrine, referring to the vital hoops that stop runs and close out games. "I have a different word for killers. I call them mother-------. And right now, Derrick Rose is the baddest mother------ in the league by far. He is the reason we win.
by slowmotion on Aug 18, 2011 9:55 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
I was a big fan of Chandler when he was a Bull and didn't like when he was traded
But I wouldn’t say he was great with the Bulls. I always saw him in the potential side. He was very inconsistent and was often injured.
by JustAnotherFan on Aug 19, 2011 1:39 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Couldn't disagree more
Look at the last 2 seasons he was in Chicago
He played in 80 and 79 games. He averaged close to 10 rebounds and over a block a game in about 27 mpg.
Skiles was just not into it and decided to do things he own way which is probably what Tyson is really talking about
5 points and 9 rebounds is friggin great??
Even his Per 36 mins in that scenario aren’t that impressive, 7 points and 12 rebounds?
Also, 3.77 fouls in 27 minutes? That’s terrible.
From adv stats view point, Chandlers 2010-11 offensive game was
incredible
He led the league in TS% (.697) and ORTG (131)
- His Free Throw percentage improved dramatically.
- I imagine he doesn’t take any shots outside of his well-rehearsed repertoire, knowing he doesn’t need too.
- He played with a top-5 greatest PG of all time.
- Is his offensive rating a Dirk Effect? Yes, until you realize Dirk’s ORtg was 15th (118) and they are the only two Mavs in the top 20.
Tyson Chandler is clearly a player doing the right things on offense in a way I don’t think Noah can yet appreciate. Running in the P’n’R is a big one where Noah can’t top Tyson. Knowing how to get his shots in the flow of the offense is another.
The rebounding is still there for Tyson, and his role was clearly the defensive leader for the Mavs.
There is no way a 23 year old Tyson Chandler could have helped the Mavs more than the 29 yo version.
by JockstrapNoah on Aug 20, 2011 5:05 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
yeah, he should have never been traded merely because of that crap pile wallace.
what even was that trade. i know it was bad.
by obnoxious american on Aug 26, 2011 10:28 AM CDT up reply actions
We complained about Paxson's lack of hiring a good big man coach during thoses years.. Still lacking?
I remember always referring to hiring the “Dream” Hakeem Olajuwon to teach the young Bigs (Chandler, Curry and Tyrus Thomas) the “Dream Shake” because none of them had basketball big man footwork coming into the league. Still lacking!
I often thought …why would Paxson teasingly hire guys like Mike Brown for small periods, and Mike Brown never exhibited quality big man footwork… How was he going to teach it?
During those years I can’t remember having a veteran as skilled as we had this year with Kurt Thomas. (He really is a pro) and was teaching guys like Omer and Noah the best he could.
Yet still, Noah is raw and needs more polish and the organization still needs to step up in this area , although Thibs is a very good coach. Special players have special gifts and the “Dream” has been consistently consulted for his special talent. Just anybody does not fit the bill, for example Patrick Ewing was a very good pro, and his footwork was good, but not outstanding. Yet his coaching and mentoring isn’t notable. (D.Howard is getting better, but I don’t see Ewing as the major reason)
Ok, Pax/Gar it aint to late to call the “Dream” up and hire him immediately for Omer/Noah especially with Kurt Thomas probable gone!
"Maybe Paxson influenced has been a bit silenced :-) , although his carnage of the development of the team still persist"
Awesome write up.
www.online-basketball-drills.com
by CoachPatAnderson on Aug 22, 2011 11:30 AM CDT reply actions
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