Download our Free Mobile App!
Faster with Fewer Ads

Get App
Lakers Nation
  • Rumors
  • Schedule
    • Lakers 2025 Preseason Schedule
  • Videos
    • YouTube
    • Podcast
  • FAQ
  • About
    • About Lakers Nation
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
  • Download Our App

Download our Free Mobile App!
Faster with Fewer Ads

Get App
Lakers Nation
  • Rumors
  • Schedule
    • Lakers 2025 Preseason Schedule
  • Videos
    • YouTube
    • Podcast
  • FAQ
  • About
    • About Lakers Nation
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
  • Download Our App
Search
  • Rumors
  • Schedule
    • 2024 preseason
    • 2024-2025 regular season
  • Videos
    • YouTube
    • Podcast
  • FAQ
  • About
    • About Lakers Nation
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
  • Download Our App
Follow US
© 2024 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Lakers Nation > Blog > Lakers News > Tyson Chandler Focused On Bringing Calming Presence To Lakers Starting Lineup
Lakers News

Tyson Chandler Focused On Bringing Calming Presence To Lakers Starting Lineup

Matthew Moreno
Published: 01/16/2019
3 Min Read
Andrew D. Bernstein-NBAE via Getty Images
SHARE

After another loss in which the Los Angeles Lakers got off to a slow start, head coach Luke Walton intimated a lineup change was coming for Tuesday’s matchup with the Chicago Bulls. That manifested in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Tyson Chandler replacing Josh Hart and JaVale McGee, respectively, in the starting lineup.

Caldwell-Pope taking the place of Hart didn’t come as much of a surprise. The latter has been mired in a shooting slump while Caldwell-Pope has found a nice rhythm. Chandler supplanting McGee was a mild surprise — at least on the surface.

Although McGee has been integral to the Lakers becoming a top-10 defense, he struggled in in the past five games, perhaps as a result of still recovering from pneumonia. Chandler scored 8 points to go along with 3 rebounds and 2 assists in his first start for the Lakers.

“Tyson really helped set the tone with it,” Walton said of Chandler impacting the defensive focus that helped the team avoid another slow start. Prior to tipoff, Walton said he was hopeful Chandler’s vocal presence would aid the young starters.

That held true as an area of emphasis for the veteran center. “Just keeping them calm. Throughout this stretch, having Rondo and ‘Bron out, our floor generals, there’s been times where it’s been a little frantic,” Chandler said.

“One mistake would turn into two, three, four. When one thing happened, I just tried to settle them down. ‘Alright, don’t worry about that. Think about the next play.’ I thought we did a good job of bouncing back.

“‘Zo did an excellent job of picking up full court. His energy carried throughout the game and into the fourth quarter. I thought it was huge for us defensively, which allowed for that to turn into offense for us when we were struggling.”

Reminder: Vivid Seats is the Official Ticket Reseller of LakersNation.com. New Customers use “LAKERSNATION” (all CAPS) in the Vivid Seats App on your phone and get 10% off any Lakers home game ticket order for the remainder of the season.

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
TAGGED:Los Angeles LakersTyson Chandler
ByMatthew Moreno
Matthew Moreno is a journalist from Whittier, Calif., who is a credentialed reporter and is currently the Managing Editor of DodgerBlue.com and LakersNation.com. In addition to covering Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angels Lakers games, Matthew has a strong passion for keeping up to date with the sneakerhead culture. It began with Michael Jordan and Air Jordan shoes, and has carried over to Kobe Bryant's signature line with Nike. Matthew previously was the lead editor and digital strategist at Dodgers Nation, and the co-editor and lead writer at Reign of Troy, where he covered USC Trojans Football. Matthew graduated from California State Long Beach University with a major in journalism and minor in communications. Contact: matt@mediumlargela.com
Sign Up for Our Newsletter
Get breaking Lakers News direct to your inbox.

Categories

  • News
  • Rumors
  • Games
  • History

Information

  • Advertise
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Get breaking Lakers News direct to your inbox.

© 2025 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?