ESPN

Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler were named to the All-NBA third team, announced by the NBA on Thursday. The All-NBA teams were chosen by a panel of 120 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Joining Anthony and Chandler were Dwyane Wade, Rajon Rondo and Dirk Nowitzki.

The first team features LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul, and the second team is headlined by Kevin Love, Blake Griffin, Andrew Bynum, Tony Parker and Russell Westbrook.

Anthony garnered one first-team vote, while Chandler had none.

You can follow Jared Zwerling on Twitter.

Tyson Chandler was named Defensive Player of the Year this season.

But he wasn't good enough to make the NBA's all-defensive first team.

The NBA announced on Wednesday that Chandler was voted to the all-defensive second team.

Oklahoma City's Serge Ibaka was the forward on the first team. Dwight Howard was the center.

Some felt Ibaka, based on his outsized statistics (3.65 blocks per game) deserved to win Defensive Player of the Year.

But Chandler won the award, based largely on his impact this year on the defensively-challenged Knicks.

In 2010-2011, the Knicks finished 21st in defensive efficiency, a measure of opponents' points scored per 100 possessions. This season, in Chandler's first with the team, New York finished fifth in defensive efficiency.

But why would Chandler win Defensive Player of the Year and not be named to the first team all-defense?

A select group of media votes on the Defensive Player of the Year. The NBA's all-defensive teams are voted on by NBA coaches.

Chandler wasn't the first Defensive Player of the Year to be named to the second all-defensive team.

Alvin Robertson (1986) and Dikembe Mutombo (1995) were also defensive players of the year on the second all-defensive team.

SHUMP GETS VOTES: Knicks guard Iman Shumpert established himself as one of the league's top perimeter defenders in his rookie season.

Along the way, he apparently impressed a few NBA head coaches.

Shumpert garnered four first-team votes and five second-team votes, for a total of 13 points. He was four points, or two first-place votes, shy of making the second team all-defense.

You can follow Ian Begley on Twitter.

Information from ESPNNewYork's Jared Zwerling was used in this report.

Looking at the Knicks' top lineups from this past season (based on plus-minus), the top three don't include the Big Three of Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler (source: ESPN Stats & Info):

1. Baron Davis, Iman Shumpert, Landry Fields, Anthony and Chandler -- plus-44
2. Jeremy Lin, Shumpert, Fields, Steve Novak and Chandler -- plus-23
3. Lin, J.R. Smith, Novak, Jared Jeffries and Chandler -- plus-21
4. Lin, Fields, Anthony, Stoudemire and Chandler -- plus-20

The best lineup is further proof that the Knicks played better when Anthony operated as the power forward, Stoudemire was on the bench and Chandler became more of a rebounder and inside scorer (areas in which he's more effective than Stoudemire, based on averages and percentages). But the team needs the trio to be on the same page. How can that happen?

Combining insights from ESPN New York's Jared Zwerling and a couple of NBA scouts, below are three different offensive sets that the Knicks should run to play to the strengths of Anthony, Stoudemire and Chandler. They are intended to show how spacing is key and how the plays can be initiated catering to the Big Three's strengths (keeping in mind numerous options can be implemented afterward):

1. The Jeremy Lin-Chandler pick-and-roll. In this situation, Anthony would be on the weakside wing, Stoudemire on the weakside block or short corner and Steve Novak, for example, on the ball-side wing.

If Lin doesn't score, he can pass to Chandler rolling, which will force an extra man to leave Anthony or Stoudemire to double Chandler, making the defense switch and rotate. Then the Knicks will have the advantage to pick apart the defense by finding Novak from three, Stoudemire inside (after his defender leaves him) or kicking out to Anthony for the jumper.

What's key is that the Knicks are smart about their passing and find the open man quickly to keep the defense on its toes.

The four most important aspects of running a P&R are: 1.) a crafty point guard who can score; 2.) 3-point shooters; 3.) players who can finish; and 4.) a standout wing scorer. The Knicks have all four.

2. The Melo point-forward play. Melo would have the ball on the wing, Lin would be at the top of the key, Stoudemire on the ball-side block, Chandler on the weakside baseline corner and Novak on the weakside wing.

Stoudemire could set a screen for Anthony, or Melo could quickly dump it down to Stoudemire and he could go to work in the post. Anthony could always look to attack the middle of the lane right away. If so, he'll have Novak on the weak side; if Novak receives the pass and can't shoot it, he could find Stoudemire popping out for the jump shot after setting his screen on Anthony.

From there, Melo could set a back screen for Stoudemire and get him a look dropping to the basket. Chandler would be inside insurance when the shot goes up. If the ball is returned to Lin, Chandler could become a pick-and-roller.

3. The Melo post play. While Melo is setting up in the low or mid-post, Lin would be on the wing (delivering him the ball), Stoudemire would be on the weakside high post (foul-line area for his midrange jump shot), Chandler on the weakside block and Novak on the weakside baseline corner. The formation of the Big Three would resemble the Triangle offense. Anthony could score himself, but if he's doubled, he can find Stoudemire or Novak for open shots. Stoudemire could also set a down screen for Chandler, who could then curl inside and a pass from Melo would result in an easy two.

" " "

Chandler called the past season "crazy and difficult," based on the lockout, coaching change and all of the injuries, but he's looking forward to training camp where he'll have more time to refine his game, while learning how to blend in with Anthony, Stoudemire and the rest of his teammates.

"It's very important because that's where you kind of get your identify, defensively and offensively," he said after his exit interview at the Knicks' training facility on May 10. "I thought we did a great job of just becoming a good defensive team throughout the season without any of that. When you have a full training camp and say, 'This is going to be our system, this is how we're going to attack people,' it makes it a lot easier."

How the Big Three work together is the most critical component to the Knicks' success next season and for the next three years -- if, of course, they remain intact as a unit.

For Part 1 on ways Anthony, Stoudemire and Chandler can improve, click here.

You can follow Jared Zwerling on Twitter.

Let's face it: The hefty contracts of Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler -- which equal $53 million next season and give the Knicks little salary-cap room -- wouldn't get as much attention if the Big Three played better together.

When all three were on the court, their collective plus-minus was minus-9, and the team's field goal and 3-point percentages were only 45.1 and 26.8. The spacing on the court was sometimes jammed -- mostly based on Chandler and Stoudemire occupying similar space -- which slowed down ball movement and limited good shots from downtown.

Combining insights from ESPN New York's Jared Zwerling and a couple of NBA scouts, here are five ways the Knicks' Big Three can improve in Season 2 together:

1. Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire need to become more willing passers. When they catch the ball in an isolation situation, they tend to put their blinders on and make their focus the basket. They don't demonstrate enough floor vision when they attack.

Anthony became a better passer in his first full season in New York, acting as more of a point-forward, but they both need to learn how to find each other and their teammates. If I'm Mike Woodson, I'm stressing penetration and passing as a combined action they both need to work on this summer. Overall, the Knicks' ball rotation has to improve, and it starts with Anthony and Stoudemire.

2. Anthony and Stoudemire need to get better at moving without the ball. Too many times when one of them catches the rock, the other stands around, watches and hopes for the kick-out pass from penetration. In fact, that sometimes goes for all the Knicks.

Overall, they both need to be more active in halfcourt sets and utilize their teammates to get open off down screens and backdoor cuts. The same movement Woodson demands on defense, he needs to demand on offense.

3. Tyson Chandler needs to be the main pick-and-roller. Earlier this season, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra told ESPN New York: "Offensively, he's one of the very best pick-and-roll guys to the rim, where he collapses your defense if you don't put bodies in front of him, and he has those lob dunks."

Many around the league agree with Spoelstra's assessment, especially because Chandler is a bigger presence than Stoudemire. Though STAT can pick-and-roll, his versatile scoring skills need to be utilized more in isolation and catch-and-shoot situations.

When Jeremy Lin and Chandler develop their pick-and-roll game, that should routinely open up looks for Stoudemire. Overall, with more pick-and-rolls, that will limit the Knicks' isolation and stagnant play, and with more defined roles for Chandler and Stoudemire, that will give the team better spacing and scoring opportunities.

Stoudemire crowded the court and limited ball flow, which made it difficult for Anthony, who shot better up to 29 feet when STAT was out of the game vs. on the court (45 percent to 40.9). When Stoudemire was on the bench and Chandler was playing with Anthony, the Knicks scored more than 100 points per 100 possessions (less than 100 with Stoudemire).

4. Chandler and Stoudemire need to both own the paint. Memphis' Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph showed how it's done during the first round of the playoffs.

While the Grizzles averaged 45.1 points in the paint during the regular season (fifth-best in the NBA), the Knicks averaged 40.5 (16th-best). With a Anthony-Stoudemire-Chandler frontline, that has to improve.

While Chandler was always a lock to score in the paint and grab double-digit rebounds, including a couple of putbacks and tapbacks per game, Stoudemire was occasionally an onlooker. Anthony sometimes had more of an inside presence than Stoudemire, who said during the regular season that added muscle from last summer limited the pep in his step.

5. Anthony and Stoudemire need to play consistent defense, like Chandler does.

Scouts agree that Anthony can play D, but he takes plays off to exert himself more on the offensive end, and Stoudemire sometimes looks like a space cadet on the court, appearing not to know his position and then getting burned by his defender.

Stoudemire is the bigger liability. When he was on the court with Anthony or Chandler, the Knicks allowed opponents more than 100 points per 100 possessions, but Anthony and Chandler (with Stoudemire on the bench) kept them below 100 points. With Woodson likely back, his demand for accountability should continue to motivate Stoudemire.

Stay tuned for Part 2, which examines three different offensive sets that could benefit the Big Three and the team.

You can follow Jared Zwerling on Twitter.

Addressing the media for the final time of the season on Thursday, Tyson Chandler said there's not a big gap between the Knicks and the Heat and Bulls. He called his team "explosive," but said they just need some fine-tuning to compete with the beasts in the East.

That fine-tuning includes Chandler wanting to return stronger and become more of an offensive threat next season.

"I want to come back in better condition and I want to be more of a force on the block," he said. "I want to be able to pass better out of pick-and-rolls. I just want to become more of a threat. Myself and Amare, we really have to become a threat on the block. I mean, we have the pieces here and we have to get better. ... I've got to come back a better player next year."

Looking at Chandler's scoring numbers from this past regular season, he only scored 22 of his 699 total points (0.03 percent) on the block in post-up situations, and only nine points in isolation (0.01 percent). He did most of his damage in pick-and-rolls and cuts to the basket, scoring 231 points (33 percent) and 208 points (30 percent). Here's the full breakdown:

Chandler By Play Type During Regular Season

Points | Points per play | Percentage of scoring

Pick-and-rolls -- 231 points | 1.229 | 33
Cuts to the basket -- 208 | 1.518 | 30
Putbacks off offensive rebounds -- 103 | 1.096 | 15
Transition -- 83 | 1.482 | 12
Post-up -- 22 | 1.000 | .03
Isolation -- 9 | 1.000 | .01
Other -- 41

Source: ESPN Stats & Info

Chandler called the season "crazy and difficult" based on the coaching change and all of the injuries, but he's looking forward to training camp where he'll have more time to refine his game, while learning how to blend in with Stoudemire and the rest of his teammates.

"It's very important because that's where you kind of get your identify, defensively and offensively," he said. "I thought we did a great job of just becoming a good defensive team throughout the season without any of that. When you have a full training camp and say, 'This is going to be our system, this is how we're going to attack people,' it makes it a lot easier."

It will obviously be a lot easier on the team if Chandler, Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony can all learn how to co-exist. When they were together on the court this past season, their plus-minus was a poor -9, and the team's field goal and 3-point field goal percentages were only 45.1 and 26.8, respectively. The spacing on the court was sometimes jammed -- mostly based on Chandler and Stoudemire occupying similar space -- which slowed down ball movement, and limited good shots and open looks from downtown.

In fact, if you look at the Knicks' top-four five-man lineups from this past season (based on plus-minus), the top three don't include the Big Three. Here's the full breakdown:

1. Baron Davis, Iman Shumpert, Landry Fields, Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler -- +44
2. Jeremy Lin, Iman Shumpert, Landry Fields, Steve Novak and Tyson Chandler -- +23
3. Jeremy Lin, J.R. Smith, Steve Novak, Jared Jeffries and Tyson Chandler -- +21
4. Jeremy Lin, Landry Fields, Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler -- +20

Source: ESPN Stats & Info

The best lineup is further proof that the Knicks played better when Anthony operated as the power forward, Stoudemire was sitting on the bench and Chandler became more of a rebounder and inside scorer (areas in which he's been more effective than Stoudemire, based on averages and percentages). But the team needs the trio to be on the same page so their success can be maximized.

If Chandler becomes a better low-post player, as he discussed (along with Stoudemire), that will enable the Knicks to engineer a more balanced offense. The Big Three would be able to have more defined roles, instead of stepping on each other's toes too much.

For example, in one situation, Chandler could be on the block, Melo on the wing, Stoudemire popping out off a down screen for the midrange jumpshot and the team's shooters (most likely Steve Novak and J.R. Smith) rotating on the perimeter for the three. Melo could also play the post with Chandler and Stoudemire setting screens for each other to get open, especially cutting to the basket. In fact, all those elements have the makings of a Triangle-looking offense, especially if Melo can become a more willing passer and Jeremy Lin can improve his 3-point shot (he's already an aggressive attacker). Mix in occasional pick-and-rolls, and the Knicks will have the full arsenal.

In the end, how Chandler and Stoudemire work together is arguably the most critical component to the success of the starting five's offense. They can't do too much of the same thing. Developing new skills, as Chandler pointed out, is essential for them to play off each other better, while allowing Melo to still be, well, Melo.

You can follow Jared Zwerling on Twitter.

Amare Stoudemire says the Knicks' "Big 3" of Tyson Chandler, Carmelo Anthony and himself ranks "right there at the top" with the Lakers trio of Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant, the Heat's Big Three and Oklahoma City's duo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westrbook.

Stoudemire thinks the Knicks' trio needs a full 82-game season together before they can be truly judged.

Here's Stoudemire's explanation:

"I think as players with Carmelo, myself and Tyson as a foundation trio -- you can't ask for a better lineup than that in the NBA," he said. "You have LeBron (James), Dwyane (Wade) and Chris Bosh (in Miami), you have Westbrook and Durant and you have Kobe, Bynum and Gasol. But I mean, we're right there at the top of the bunch with (our) trio. I think it's a matter of time for us to really figure it out and have a consistent year.

"When you have players with such confidence and such personality, it's hard when you have a coaching change midseason and it's also hard when you have a trade midseason for us to co-exist and really figure out how we could play together. ... (Next season is) going to a great indication on how well we can play together, how we can do something special."

Do you agree? Are the Knicks on par with OKC, Miami, Los Angeles? Can they show it next season?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

You can follow Ian Begley on Twitter.

Reflecting on the Miami Heat series, Tyson Chandler said the Knicks definitely missed Jeremy Lin's presence on the court. Carmelo Anthony averaged 27.8 points in five games, shooting 41.9 percent, but the team couldn't generate enough secondary scoring.

One of the main reasons was because the Knicks lacked a consistent pick-and-roll playmaker (Lin) who could set up Chandler and Amare Stoudemire off screens and find J.R. Smith and Steve Novak spotting up from 3-point territory.

In fact, Novak was only 4-for-7 from beyond the arc in the series. The older and hobbled Baron Davis and Mike Bibby couldn't weave through the Heat's defense enough and Smith, who occasionally ran point, settled for too many jump shots. But Lin, at 100 percent, would've been able to put more pressure on the Heat with his quickness, ballhandling and passing.

"He's a very explosive guard," Chandler said. "I think leading up to him getting hurt, I felt like he was losing a step because he had injuries that a lot of us didn't know about. And so, that explosiveness and attack-first, getting to the cup, we could've used that for sure."

To read the full news story, regarding Lin's status for next season, click here.

You can follow Jared Zwerling on Twitter.

Carmelo Anthony may think that the Knicks are a top four team in the East ready to compete with the Heat.

But not all of his teammates agree.

"We’re not there yet," Steve Novak said after the Knicks' Game 5 loss on Wednesday. "Miami is a team that I think went through the playoffs last year, had their ups and had their downs, and they’ve been through a lot together. And I wouldn’t say this core has been through as much."

Tyson Chandler said the Knicks have the pieces to compete with Miami. But the former NBA Champ seemed to agreed with the idea that there is a significant gap between the Knicks and Heat.

"They're more polished than us now," Chandler said, "Executing, setting picks, hard cuts, getting out on transition, defensive assignments; they were just much more polished than us."

Chandler said each Knick needs to take it upon himself to improve over the summer.

"Myself, Amare (Stoudemire), Carmelo, we have to come back better, be better leaders next year," Chandler said. "The entire team, everybody has to take a step forward."

When pressed about his assertion that the Knicks need better leaders, Chandler said, "we have to elevate our teammates. I think we have to do a a better job of getting everybody involved, getting everybody playing at a high level, and get everybody focused on what we trying to accomplish."

"It has to be a team effort. It can't be individuals, because when you play as individuals you don’t get very far."

You can follow Ian Begley on Twitter.

Amare Stoudemire, the Knicks' wounded superstar, walked slowly off the floor after picking up his sixth and final foul on Wednesday night.

It was the bitter end of a brutal night for Stoudemire.

In foul trouble all night, the Knicks power forward finished 14 points and just four rebounds -- or two fewer than Mike Bibby -- in 31 minutes.

Afterward, he was asked if his injured left hand -- the hand he lacerated by hitting the glass encasing of a fire extinguisher at American Airlines Arena ten days ago -- was bothering him.

"I felt OK. I got hit a few times, but I'm all right," he said.

He couldn't say the same about his team though.

The Knicks enter the offseason with more questions than answers after their second straight first-round exit.

And figuring out what to do with an injured and less-than-effective Amare Stoudemire is just one of them.

There's also the matter of hiring a head coach. It seems like a mere formality that Mike Woodson will be back next year, but nothing's set in stone until Woodson signs on the dotted line.

And then there's the issue of Carmelo Anthony and Stoudemire playing together.

The Knicks' two stars played well in Game 4, but by and large, Anthony and Stoudemire have gotten in each other's way for the past year and a half.

Just look at the numbers: New York fell is 32-41 when Anthony and Stoudemire share the floor, including 1-7 in the postseason.

In general, Anthony seems to shoot better when Stoudemire's out of the game because he has more room to create. Stoudemire seems to thrive in an offense predicated on ball movement, while Anthony is at his best in isolation.

Late Wednesday night, Stoudemire was asked if he thought he and Anthony could thrive together.

"There’s no doubt I think it will work. Just have to see what Coach Woodson’s going to do to make it work," Stoudemire said.

Does Woodson have to augment his offense to make it work? With Stoudemire and Jeremy Lin out due to injury, Woodson's Knicks relied heavily on Anthony to score, feeding him the ball in isolation again and again.

Tyson Chandler hinted that that offensive philosophy needs to change -- drastically -- in the offseason.

"I think we have to ... work on an offense with a nice pace to it, a nice flow where everybody touches the ball," Chandler said. "They’re going to get their shots (he said of Stoudemire and Anthony), but we've got to make sure we get other guys involved, get ball movement, and let them finish plays.

".... It has to be a team effort, it cant be individuals," Chandler added, "Because when you play as individuals you don’t get very far."

Lin seemed to run the offense that Chandler was describing when he took over at point guard in February. But will Lin be back next year? He is a restricted free agent next year and is expected to be re-signed.

If Lin is back, can he help the Knicks get past a team like the Heat? Miami isn't going anywhere, so New York will likely have to go through their South Beach rivals if they want to win a title.

Anthony, somehow, is confident that the Knicks can make that happen.

"In the future, I feel good about competing with the top teams in the Eastern Conference," he said. "I do consider our team being up there, top 3, top 4 teams in the East. But we've just got to get better and go from there."

That process will start this summer, when the Knicks enter an offseason with more questions than answers.

You can follow Ian Begley on Twitter.

Tyson Chandler won the NBA championship with the Dallas Mavericks last season.

He went out in the first round with the Knicks this season.

And he isn't happy about it.

"I'm personally very disappointed," Chandler said after the Knicks' 106-94 loss to the Heat on Wednesday. "... It's unacceptable to me. I didn't come here to lose in the first round and I don't plan on doing this in the future."

Chandler, named NBA Defensive Player of the Year last week, played at less than 100 percent the entire series.

He was a game-time decision for Game 1 because of flu-like symptoms. He ended up playing but was severely limited, grabbing just three rebounds in 21 minutes.

Chandler perked up in Game 2 and was feeling close to himself by Game 5. But his presence wasn't enough to cool off LeBron James and the Heat. And that left him pretty hot after Wednesday's loss.

"I'm going to do everything I can to make this team better and challenge my teammates," he said after grabbing 11 rebounds and blocking four shots in 41 minutes.

Chandler wasn't throwing his teammates under the bus for the loss. He also placed blame on his own shoulders for the Knicks' poor playoff performance.

"I tried to find my spot, tried to help my team defensively but ultimately it wasn't enough," Chandler said, "So I too have to look in the mirror and say, 'What can I do for this team next season?'"

He hopes that, after the Knicks' embarrassing losses in the postseason, each one of his teammates commits to improving in the offseason.

"We took a step in the right direction, but we've got a long ways to go," Chandler said. "I'm not satisfied with the first round. I came here to do bigger things, so everybody has to take a step forward this summer. We have to come back focused ... and we’ve got to take a step in the right direction."

You can follow Ian Begley on Twitter.

The Knicks ended one streak Sunday when they beat Miami, 89-87, to avoid being swept and ending a 13-game playoff losing streak dating back to 2001. Now New York will try to be the first team to climb out of an 0-3 hole and win.

“History is made to be broken,” Tyson Chandler said. “We just have to keep thinking positive. But that’s obviously a tall task. We’ve got to take it game-by-game.”

New York has seen that kind of comeback once before, when the Boston Red Sox came back from three games behind to beat the Yankees in the 2004 American League Championship Series, before going on to win their first World Series in 86 years.

No team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a best-of-seven series in the NBA playoffs. The 1951 Knicks rallied from 0-3 in the NBA Finals to tie the series before losing in Game 7 to the Minneapolis Lakers.

You can follow Christopher Hunt on Twitter.

NEW YORK -- Tyson Chandler received his award before Thursday's Game 3 against Miami after being named this season's Defensive Player of the Year. The trophy was presented to him by four-time winner Dikembe Mutombo.

Chandler has been credited with spearheading a change in the defensive culture in New York, much the way he did last season when he won an NBA championship with the Dallas Mavericks.

After Chandler joined the Knicks this season, New York ranked fifth in defensive efficiency and 10th in the league in opponent field goal percentage.

"I feel like coming here in free agency, if I could change the culture around here and bring the Knicks back to where they were in the '90's, bring back that great effort, it could be fun times," Chandler said Wednesday. "And that's what I love about the game. When you're playing hard-nosed basketball and you're giving it everything, that's the beauty of the game and that's what I wanted to bring back here."

GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- So who would've Tyson Chandler voted for Defensive Player of the Year, besides himself?

"It would've been tough not voting for me [laughs]," he said at the Knicks' training facility on Wednesday, after officially winning the award. "I love what [Grizzlies forward] Tony Allen does on the ball. I think LeBron [James] is a great defender. But as far as on the ball right now in the league, I think Tony Allen is the best defender in the league."

Thursday night marks James' first playoff game at the Garden. The last time he was there on April 15, his primary defensive matchup, Carmelo Anthony, went for 42 points in a losing effort. Melo's jumpshot was on, and when you consider how quick his release is, there isn't a player in the NBA who can stop it. And neither could James on that Sunday afternoon.

Anthony was feeling it again from the outside in Game 2, going for 30 points on a solid 12-for-26 from the field. That will have to happen again in Game 3, because Melo has struggled a bit driving to the basket and getting to the foul line against James. The Heat star's bigger frame (6-8, 265 vs. 6-8, 230) and quick lateral movement has made it more difficult for Melo to attack with ease off the dribble. He's having to work for every step on the move.

James might be the only player in the league who can give routine fits to Anthony, who will need to put on two Jordan-esque performances at the Garden for the Knicks to send the series back to Miami. In addition to James, Anthony will have to prepare for anything and everything coming at him tonight. Even Melo joked around after practice on Wedneday that he expects every player on the Heat to guard him at some point, including three at the same time.

"I expect LeBron, [Shane] Battier, [Chris] Bosh, [Joel] Anthony," he said. "Even guys that’s not on the team [laughs]. I'm expecting them to throw everything out there, to get the ball out of my hands and be aggressive on the defensive end."

So here we go: Melo or mush. Anthony, quite simply, will have to play the best game of his Knicks career Thursday night, which also includes production in the assist and rebounding departments. Playing the four (in Amare Stoudemire's absence) means he'll have to make smart passes out of the post and set strong positioning for boards. These were things he was doing without STAT in the lineup from March 26 to April 18, even going for a triple-double on April 17 in a 118-110 win over the Celtics -- and he'll have to continue to do them in Game 3.

You can follow Jared Zwerling on Twitter.

GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- While he was meeting with a small group of local reporters on Wednesday after officially being named Defensive Player of the Year, Tyson Chandler told ESPNNewYork.com where he would store the hefty honor.

"This is going in the trophy rack back at home in the man cave," Chandler said, "next to the ESPY trophy [for winning the title with the Mavericks last year], my championship shoes and anything else you guys decide to vote me for [laughs]."

Chandler said it was first award since "probably high school."

"It seemed like every time I thought I maybe I got close to being an All-Star or something like that, it was like something always came up," he said. "And so to win this ... I never set out for individual goals, except for this one because I felt like if you're Defensive Player of the Year, you're changing something and you're helping win ballgames. So to win it, I was speechless."

Chandler spent the afternoon at the Knicks' training facility celebrating with his wife, Kimberly, and a few friends. The festivites included a presentation by Kia (the award's sponsor), which donated a new Sorento CUV on behalf of Chandler to the Art for Life Foundation, which provides art activities for kids experiencing physical, emotional and mental problems, in order to help normalize the hospital experience for them.

You can follow Jared Zwerling on Twitter.

GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Tyson Chandler being named Defensive Player of the Year as a Knick on Wednesday only seemed right, considering his defensive upbringing in the NBA started under the tutelage of a former Knick.

When Chandler was drafted No. 2 overall by the Bulls in 2001, his teammate, Charles Oakley, taught him a valuable lesson about the importance of defense.

"Just his approach every single day," Chandler said. "Oak, even at that age, felt like the guy wasn't going to score on him. He was going to pose his will on that guy, whether it be in practice or a game. I really learned something for that, just watching him and how he approached the game and the defensive end, and approached the game as a professional by taking your job seriously.

"He would always tell me you can't control offensively the kind of night you're going to have night in and night out. Sometimes the ball just doesn't go in, but defensively you never have to have a bad defensive game, and I kind of ran with that. So every night I felt like I could always have a great game because I can always come out here and play D."

Chandler, the first Knick ever to be crowned Defensive Player of the Year, also credited former award winners Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mutombo, including close candidate Patrick Ewing, for how he sculpted his defensive style of play.

"All those guys I have respect for," Chandler said. "Any time you're able to change the game without taking a shot, I have a lot of respect for that, because to me that's like the ultimate sacrifice."

Overall, Chandler said his biggest motivation growing up was Celtics legend Bill Russell.

"I wanted to mention myself in the same breath as him," he said. "What I shoot for is him."

During his time in New York, Chandler has worked very closely with assistant coach Herb Williams, another former Knick who's taken the young center under his wing. After practice, they're always together talking about the game and strategizing schemes to beat the next opponent. In addition to defense, Williams has worked with Chandler on his post moves and free throws, helping him build rhythm and getting his release right on his shot.

"Herb has been incredible," Chandler said. "I absolutely loved the guys that played back in the day, the old big men. Those are the true big men and you can learn a lot from the Oakleys to Ewings to Herbs to the Cartwrights. You learn so much from them and I appreciate the time that Herb gives me every day."

Overall, Chandler said the Knicks' defensive history fueled him ever more to sign with New York in December, in addition to joining forces with Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire. He wanted to bring back what his former teacher, Oakley, helped establish in New York, and that's just what he did.

"I feel like coming here in free agency, if I could change the culture around and bring the Knicks back to where they were in the 90s, bring back that great effort, it could be fun times," Chandler said. "And that's what I love about the game. When you're playing hard-nosed basketball and you're giving it everything, that's the beauty of the game. And that's all I wanted to bring back here."

In 2010-11, the Knicks ranked 22nd in the league in defensive efficiency, a measure of points allowed per 100 possessions. And this season? Fifth in defensive efficiency, thanks largely to Chandler. In addition, the Knicks improved to 10th in opponent field goal percentage (26th in 2010-11) and eighth in points in the paint allowed (28th last season).

Speaking of Chandler's influence in the paint, according to 82games.com, the Knicks allowed the lowest opponent PER at the center position this season. Opposing centers had a 12.2 PER against the Knicks, well below the league average PER of 15.

Now it's time for Chandler's defense to help prevent the Knicks from entering the losing section of the history books. The Knicks, down 0-2 in the series. face a must-win situation in New York on Thursday. If they falter, the Knicks will have dropped each of their last 13 playoff games, breaking the all-time record (the Grizzlies lost 12 straight from 2004 to '06).

You can follow Jared Zwerling on Twitter.