Ty Lawson: Rookie of the Year?

[PosImpos]

Last night Lawson put up 17 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds in 26 minutes off the bench against a probable playoff team (the Jazz).  That comes after the Nuggets' last preseason game, when he played very well also.  With Blake Griffin out for a while, if Lawson continues that kind of efficient production - assuming other contenders like Flynn, Evans are inconsistent - I think Lawson might have an outside chance at ROY.

I really think teams slept on this guy.  No way should he have gone 18th.  What do you think?

[Fafnir]

I think he fell way to far in the draft.

But I also think its only one game. He'll definitely make the all rookie team though.

[MBz]

He's a player simple and plain.  He really shouldn't have fallen as far as he did.  That offense is perfect for him.  Unfortunately when JR Smith comes back, his minutes are going to drop down into the teens and I do not see him winning rookie of the year.  He may very well be a guy who's in the rookie-sophomore challenge.  How about another sleeper in DeJaun Blair.  Another guy who fell all the way to the second round.  He put up 14 and 11 last night with 5 of those boards being offense.

[Birdbrain]

Johnny Flynn is better than him and we'll get boat loads of playing time.

[Fan from VT]

Last night Lawson put up 17 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds in 26 minutes off the bench against a probable playoff team (the Jazz).  That comes after the Nuggets' last preseason game, when he played very well also.  With Blake Griffin out for a while, if Lawson continues that kind of efficient production - assuming other contenders like Flynn, Evans are inconsistent - I think Lawson might have an outside chance at ROY.

I really think teams slept on this guy.  No way should he have gone 18th.  What do you think?

Agreed. He's great. He's a victim of the "Disease of Familiarity." Hot prospect coming into college, highly ranked before his sophomore year. Very good sophomore year, highly ranked still. Returns to school. Does better, is somehow surpassed by newbies/breakout surprise players on the scene like Jrue Holiday, Flynn, Jennings, Evans, Curry. Playing at UNC he's on the national scene a lot, so his warts are seen, not just the highlights. Talk yourself into the reasons not to pick him. But he's a very good player. Snagged him in a fantasy  draft to boot.

[Bahku]

Watched him a long time ... loved his game from the first, and teams definitely "slept" on him in the draft. I think he's going to surprise a lot of people, especially when it comes to how well he can adapt to the NBA. As far as him winning ROY, it's entirely possible, but it's way too early to make that call, (I would love it, by the way ... any UNC player! )

[Chris]

I think Lawson is going to be somewhere close to Jameer Nelson when all is said and done.  Neither are great PG's, and certainly not great "true" point guards, but they both are winners, who understand how to run an offense, and can break down a defense and put the ball in the basket. 

[PosImpos]

I understand how unlikely it is that Ty will win ROY and that with JR Smith coming back he probably won't get that many minutes (although Ty seems to have earned the job as Chauncey's primary backup, and you might see Billups play at SG at times with Ty at point).

I just wanted to bring up this idea for discussion, because it seems like Lawson is the real deal and is at least a long shot for ROY.

[Who]

I don't think Lawson will get enough minutes to make a run for RoY.

If he was playing 30-35 minutes a night, then I'd reckon he would have a decent chance at it. More for second place (Griffin -- it's a one horse race) than first place.

[fairweatherfan]

Watching UNC over the last few years I was really surprised that Lawson wasn't more highly regarded.  And last night we saw him routinely blow by NBA guys, wreak havoc on D (lots of deflections and disruptions) and take care of the ball.  He's a perfect fit for Denver's wide-open style, and playing Chauncey at the 2 is a great luxury for them.

But he won't win ROY I don't think - he's got a great shot at the All-Rookie team though.