5 - Ty Lawson

NBA Comparison: Terrell Brandon
Weaknesses: Despite a good feel for the point guard position, he still has a ways to go learning the nuances of the position. But he is in a tremendous situation playing for a premiere talent developer (Roy Williams) at one of the most prestigious basketball schools in the country … Size is a concern for him as he is around 6-0 and despite his great athletic ability, he struggles to get shots off against bigger opponents … Will also struggle some defensively as he is a post up/match up problem against tall points … Lacks great length with short arms and doesn’t have a high release point on his shot … His offensive game is still developing, but he appears to be a better spot up shooter than shooting off the dribble … Can get wild at times, but overall had a solid A/TO ratio …
Notes: Came into North Carolina as the top rated point guard in his high school class which included Mike Conley Jr. and Javaris Crittenton … Considered the top point guard to play at prestigious Oak Hill Academy by his HS coach Steve Smith …
Aran Smith – 9/4/2007
Weaknesses: Lawson lacks size and athleticism for the PG position at the next level … This limits him defending bigger PGs in the NBA … His jump-shot has a slow release and his shooting mechanics need work (not a consistent outside shooter). He shoots the ball very low and doesn;t get much lift on his shot making it tough to get off against bigger defenders … Lawson has to improve his mid-range shot and ability to create shots off the dribble (pull-up jump-shot) … Defensively he shows a tendency to gamble too much … Early in his college career he gained a reputation for being soft, missing time for little injuries that should not have kep him off the floor …
Stevan Petrovic 6/11/09
Strengths: Combines speed, quickness, strength and ball handling to form a very intriguing package A one man fastbreak, he is able to stay under control and maneuver around defenders even at the ultimate breakneck pace Has a pass first mentality, understands who to get the ball to and is always looking to get others involved before getting his own offense going Has the rare ability to pull up on a dime and elevate for a shot after going full speed Breaks press-defenses with ease, splitting double teams and traps with a variety of moves Possesses and extra gear in the open court and is always looking to push the ball and aggressively attack the opposition His shot has shown some improvement and he is able to get good elevation and balance under it Uses his explosive first step to create separation off the dribble allowing him to get into the paint at will, where he shows tremendous body control while finishing at the rim His ability to get into the lane also makes him very dangerous as a drive & dish weapon, because he is very patient and reads the help defense nicely allowing him to deliver precise passes to open teammates His poise and composure are rare for the college level; he is very efficient with the ball sporting one of the best assist/turnover ratios With his great quickness and a strong body he shows flashes of being a very pesky defender He is able to turn ball handlers numerous times in the backcourt, then totally harass and discourage them from penetrating on the perimeter
Weaknesses: The greatest concerns are his height and subpar length, because of them, he not only has problems finishing around the rim but also struggles to get shots off against taller defenders Although his shot has gotten better (15% increase in ft shooting) his mechanics are still very flawed- he has not changed his release point, continuing to shoot the ball from his chin His follow through is very inconsistent and he tends to push the ball out as if shooting a teardrop A less than formidable jump shot combined with his short frame will substantially hurt his ability to operate in a half court set In the pick & roll oriented NBA, teams will go under screens daring him to shoot, and if he cant become a dependable knock down shooter, his role may only be as a change of pace guard off the bench Another question mark is his durability, as he suffered a sprained ankle in mid-season and never regained his form He has also not logged major minutes in college (25.5 mins/gm) which could be a result of a less than adequate motor or simply due to the depth of the team Even though he has great tools to be a pesky defender, his focus on that end has been sporadic at best: he seems lackadaisical and loses track of his assignment with regularity He has a bad habit of playing defense with his hands down, which does not bode well because with his short frame, people can shoot over him with ease
Borko Popic – 5/21/2008