Ty Lawson: "MEEP, MEEP" Here Comes the Road Runner

After writing two player profiles with negative overtones, I was inspired last night to praise one of the best surprises of the year, Denver’s own Ty Lawson.

As I watched last summer’s NBA draft, I heard everything about Blake Griffin, deservedly so, Ricky Rubio, disappointingly so, and then a laundry list of guards supposed to reshape the league at its foundation. From Johnny Flynn to Stephen Curry to Tyreke Evans all of these guys were supposed to be the next big thing. Though Tyreke Evans has been thus far and will be this year’s rookie of the year and Stephen Curry can definitely score with the best of them, there was one college guard suspiciously absent from the conversation. I don’t know if anyone else watched the NCAA playoffs in March like me, but the one player who stood above all others was none other than the little dynamo, Mr. Lawson. Not only did he handle every challenge thrown at him during the duration of March Madness while playing Robin to Tyler Hansborough’s Batman, for some inexplicable reason, he single handedly demoralized Michigan State in the championship game with eight steals (six in the first half). He was my favorite player to watch that whole college season and I eagerly awaited his emergence into the NBA.

As the draft went on and the picks passed ten then fifteen, I wondered what the scouts were thinking. NBA executives are traditionally suspect with some of their picks, but Ty Lawson was a winner with tremendous upside. His only downside is his height, 5’11’’, which I could see someone believing to be a defensive liability. Luckily, Minnesota had an overabundance of number one picks and they took him sixteenth. Believing they had two guards in Johnny Flynn and Ricky Rubio they fool heartedly traded Ty to the Nuggets at which point I couldn’t keep from laughing like a little boy who happened upon a discarded bag of Halloween candy. I knew we had gotten a true difference maker and the only thing lacking from the Nuggets roster, a reliable, backup point guard. As Roy Williams told George Karl, Ty Lawson was, “the best point guard I have ever coached.”

What I have come to learn this season is Roy Williams wasn’t overstating anything. For a rookie, Ty brings not only athleticism to the table, but defensive intensity, pass first sensibilities, speed in transition, a low turnover rate, above average decision making, and humble confidence. Though Ty has logged fewer minutes than almost every other guard taken in last year’s draft it has been hard to ignore the things he can do on the court. One of the best highlight’s of the season came at the end of the Nuggets’ first matchup against the Lakers when Ty drove to rack and dunked on seven footer DJ Mbenga. This play got national attention and put him on the NBA map.

What I propose to all you Nuggets fans out there is we have the best young point guard in the league next to Chris Paul (with the possible exception of Deron Williams). While other guys might have some of the same skills and more height, Ty Lawson possesses something in so much abundance it will separate him from the rest of the scrubs within the next two years by miles. One Word, SPEED. SPEED. SPEED. (OK those were three of the same words).

Now that Tony Parker, Leandro Barbosa, and Steve Nash have all lost a step, Ty Lawson is by far the fastest player in the league (not including LeBron James who probably covers more area in the open court than Ty). More than this, as Karl has pointed out, he seems to get faster when he dribbles the basketball. As he is so low to the ground, it is almost impossible for opposing players to steal it from him and when he gets to the rim he cradles the ball like a running back (take notes Adrian Peterson).

For those of you paying attention, you will notice I said he will be the second best within the next two years. This is because Ty still has a lot of learning to do. He is still adjusting to shooting over the giants of the NBA, though at a faster rate than I might have guessed, and is learning the Nuggets offense more and more every game. Watch for our young gun to make an even bigger leap next year as he gets more playing time and gains confidence in the system.

Until then, just lay back and enjoy his progression, knowing the Nuggets made their best draft investment since Carmelo Anthony. Before we picked up Lawson we might have rued the end of the Chauncey era, now it will just begin another chapter in the Nuggets’ championship story.

Scott Hastings came up with a relevant nickname for our young Nugget, The Roadrunner. Not only is he as fast as his cartoon counterpart, but his defenders get just as frustrated as Wile E. Coyote. I’m going to stick with this moniker for now. Until then: RUN TY, RUN!