EWB Best Season: (12) 2013 Matt Harvey vs. (21) 2011-12 Tyson Chandler

Up next in the Empire Writes Back best season of the 2010’s tournament is the 12th seeded 2013 season of Matt Harvey vs. the 21st seeded 2012-13 season of Tyson Chandler.

Welcome back to the Empire Writes Back best season of the 2010’s tournament, as (12) 2012 Matt Harvey takes on (21) 2011-12 Tyson Chandler.

While these two seasons may not be talked about enough, they certainly are some of the best performances from someone on a New York team that we’ve seen in some time.

First, let’s start with the year that Tyson Chandler had for the New York Knicks in the 2011-12 season. Chandler averaged 11.3 points, 9.9 rebounds,1.4 blocks and 33.2 minutes per game in 62 games for the Knicks that year.

He also led the league in field goal percentage at 67.9%, 2 point field goal percentage at 68.3%, and effective field goal percentage at 67.9%. He also led that year’s Knicks team with 9.5 win shares.

Despite those impressive numbers, however, his offense isn’t exactly why he was named to a spot in this tournament. Chandler won Defensive Player of the Year after the 2011-12 campaign, despite not being named an all-star.

He was a force to be reckoned with in the paint for the Knicks all season, and his efforts earned him the award for his outstanding defensive play. Chandler was a huge part of the Knicks success that season, helping them eventually reach the playoffs.

While Matt Harvey’s 2013 season for the New York Mets didn’t get them into the playoffs, however, it was an absolutely sensational one.

Harvey posted a 2.27 ERA, 0.931 WHIP and 191 strikeouts in 178.1 innings pitched over 26 starts that year for the Mets. He also led the league in home runs per 9 innings with 0.4, and fielding independent pitching with 2.01. All of this netted Harvey a 5.4 WAR on the season.

He was also named to his first and so far only all-star appearance, starting the game for the National League as the Mets and Citi Field hosted that year’s all-star festivities. He was also among the leaders of the Cy Young award race, finishing 4th.

While the Mets were subpar, Harvey was talked about more than any pitcher on a losing team in recent memory in my opinion before he went down with an injury in August that forced him to miss all of the 2014 season.

While Chandler certainly had an impressive season for the Knicks in 2011-12, I have to give this win to Harvey’s 2013 season here.

He looked like he could be the best pitcher in baseball at many points throughout that season. And while Chandler was a great defensive force, I would say he was not at dominant as Harvey was and that’s what does it for me here.

Do you agree with my pick of Harvey? Or do you think it should have been Chandler? Either way, make sure you go vote on our Twitter, @empirewritesbck, to vote on who you think should advance to the next round.

You may also leave a comment on Twitter or under this post if you would like to express an opinion of your own about this matchup.

Be sure to look out for future matchups in this tournament as well, as they are released every morning from now until the end of the tournament.

In the mean time, check out some of the other posts on this site, made by my outstanding colleagues here at Empire Writes Back.