Knicks fans received some good news for the first time in about a week when Tyson Chandler was named the NBA's 2012 Defensive Player of the Year.
Chandler doesn't have the gaudy rebound or block totals we've come to expect from the DPOY winner. His impact is much better measured at the team level. In 2010-11, before his arrival, the Knicks ranked 22nd in the NBA in defensive efficiency. This season, that rank jumped to fifth overall. That's particularly impressive considering the fact that most of New York's other top players - Amar'e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, Jeremy Lin and Steve Novak especially - are considerably below-average on defense.
Chandler is the first Knick to be honored as the league's top defender.
Serge Ibaka placed second in the voting, followed by three-time defensive player of the year Dwight Howard in third place and LeBron James in fourth.
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