Dallas Mavericks' Tyson Chandler goes from villain to hero

But sometimes, your enemy knows you even better. Tyson Chandler is proof.

There was a time, as most Mavericks fans can attest, when Chandler was a villain. He was a huge part of the first-round playoff series win by New Orleans over the Mavericks in 2008. That series ended Avery Johnson's coaching tenure in Dallas.As it turns out, Chandler was in full fact-gathering mode during that series."Playing against them, you could see the weaknesses," he said. "I scouted them, and we knew where we were going to attack them. Then, when you come here, the first thing you think about is, 'OK, that's not going to happen. I'm going to take that out of the equation.' "Chandler has erased some of the obvious flaws the Mavericks used to have – like overall softness and lack of athleticism at the center position. And he's done so by overcoming some significant odds.As the Mavericks are enjoying a long break without any games, although they did convene for a practice session Friday, there can be no doubt that the most critical change in their team from recent years is Chandler's presence.

He has brought a respect factor to the Mavericks' center position that has been absent pretty much throughout the franchise's existence. He's not Shaquille O'Neal in his prime. And he doesn't try to be.

Chandler is a legitimate player in the paint. When you have Dirk Nowitzki , Jason Kidd, Caron Butler and Jason Terry, that's enough to change how the Mavericks play.

"He does the dirty work for them," Utah coach Jerry Sloan said recently of Chandler. "They've always had scorers. But he's willing to do a lot of other things."

It's understandable if Maverick fans and even some people around the NBA are surprised by Chandler's play. He missed 68 games the previous two seasons because of injury, mostly a left foot problem.

And when it was clear he could withstand the physical rigors, it became a matter of Chandler just being himself around his new team. They took to him quickly, especially when he would offer constructive criticism.

"It says more about the character of the team," Chandler said. "It's such a good locker room that it's not hard to come here and fit in, and they don't mind somebody getting in their face and somebody telling them when they're wrong."I've had situations where it didn't go all peaches and flowers because everybody doesn't always want to hear what you have to say. I voice my opinions, and sometimes they don't want to hear that. But this team is about winning."