Nets vs. Knicks: Breaking down the matchups

Deron Williams, Carmelo Anthony
Expect another dogfight. (AP)

Brook Lopez vs. Tyson Chandler

DEVIN KHARPERTIAN

Brook Lopez, Tyson Chandler
Brook Lopez & Tyson Chandler are two unique, opposite forces. Always a fun matchup. (AP)

Tyson Chandler & Brook Lopez may be my favorite center matchup in the league. They’re two highly effective players, with such starkly contrasted styles. Lopez is a back-to-the-basket and face-up big man who scores in a variety of ways incomparable in the NBA today. Chandler has made ten shots outside of the restricted area all season, and leads the league in field goal percentage mostly because of this minimalistic approach. The quick, svelte Chandler is perhaps the best help defender in the NBA, while the lumbering Lopez has made just enough strides to pass for a passable, uninspiring rim protector.

In essence, Lopez thrives as the focal point of a team’s game plan, Chandler thrives in the background.

Yet the numbers this season don’t entirely back up Chandler’s once-stellar defensive reputation. With Chandler on the court, the Knicks allow 104 points per 100 possessions — worse than their season average (102.9), and worse than what the Nets allow with Brook Lopez on the floor (101.7 points per 100 possessions). He more than makes up the difference offensively — with the simplified “dunk, screen, tap out offensive rebounds” mantra as his guiding offensive philosophy, the Knicks improve by leaps and bounds when Chandler’s on the floor.

Despite his frustrating trash-talk and pseudo-machismo posturing that often comes about when Chandler plays Brooklyn — or perhaps because of it — Chandler is one of my favorite players. In ESPN’s unofficial MVP rankings last season, I put Chandler 5th on my ballot. He completely changed the Knicks’ defense overnight. But there’s no denying that that defense hasn’t been the same this season.

It’s hard to say who has the edge in this matchup because, frankly, both players are likely to dominate the other’s weakness. Chandler can dominate Lopez in the pick-and-roll, Lopez can dominate Chandler in the post. Chandler can fly for offensive rebounds and tap-outs, Lopez can block shots and dominate the ball on offense without turning it over.

But when push comes to shove in a dead heat, I’ll take the player who’s fourth in the NBA in PER, who makes his team a full 9.9 points per 100 possessions better when he’s on the floor even with one of the best backup centers in the league spelling him, whose team is better defensively with him on the court, and who should make his first All-Star Game this season.

Advantage: Brooklyn

Next: Bench Mob vs. Knicks Bench

Deron Williams vs. Jason Kidd | Joe Johnson vs. Iman Shumpert | Gerald Wallace vs. Carmelo Anthony | Reggie Evans vs. Amar’e Stoudemire | Brook Lopez vs. Tyson Chandler | Bench Mob vs. Knicks Bench | P.J. Carlesimo vs. Mike Woodson