Tyson Chandler is one 7-footer who won't shoot 3-pointers

Tyson Chandler is the new darling of the Mavericks’
organization, and he admits he thought about this marriage a long time before
he actually joined the franchise this summer.
 
“I’ve watched this organization from afar and
watched the success,’’ Chandler said after this morning’s
shootaround. “I always felt if they had somebody to show that emotion and
kind of lock down the paint and (dominate) this area, I felt with the talent
this team has always had, the sky would be the limit.’’
 
Chandler is making all that possible. His recent hot streak
has pushed his numbers to over eight points and nearly nine rebounds per game.
 
It’s a far cry from centers of the past in Dallas, who
have often made a living out around the 3-point arc.
 
“They don’t want that from me,’’
Chandler joked. “Y’all would start writing a whole bunch of other
stuff if I start jacking up threes.’’
 
Interestingly, the Mavericks have been getting greater
3-point contributions from another 7-footer, Dirk Nowitzki.
 
Once one of the most feared 3-point gunners in the league,
the long ball had gone into moth balls for Nowitzki most of the last couple
seasons.
 
He averaged 1.8 3-point shots per game in the last two
seasons and in the first 10 games this season took only 11 shots from beyond
the arc.
 
He’s shot it 22 times from downtown in the last six
games.
 
That’s by design, coach Rick Carlisle said as the
Mavericks try to take advantage of what had been an untapped resource in recent
seasons.
 
“We’ve done a couple things to try to get him
more involved with the 3-point game, but he’s been aggressive,
too,’’ Carlisle said. “We’re spacing the floor a little
differently than we did last year, at times. But a lot of the threes he’s
getting are in transition and you don’t get those unless you get stops.
 
“We always like him getting good looks at threes, to
facilitate that, you got to set the floor a certain way when you’re in
the half court offense. And in transition, you got to look for
him.’’
 
Chandler said that, while he has no desire to make a living
outside the arc, he is continually impressed with how versatile
Nowitzki’s game is.
 
“He works on his shot, just like a two-guard in this
league,’’ Chandler said. “When he shoots it, I feel like
it’s going in, even if it’s off that one leg. I don’t mind
when shooters shoot, it gives me a chance to go get it.’’