Denver Nuggets may have not shocked the world by defeating the Los Angeles Lakers, but they did shock the NBA universe by taking a uber talented squad, whom should have KILLED Denver in 5 games — easily — to a Game 7. They made new believers out of fans, critics, players.
The Denver Nuggets is one of the youngest teams in the NBA, the starters of the Mile High squad average just 23.6 years of age, but all of a sudden they are the talk of the town.
Of those players, it seems individuals are smitten with Ty Lawson.
How could you not be?
Ty Lawson, averaged 16.4 points and 6.6 assists in the regular season, pulled it into overdrive in the playoffs. He averaged 19 points on 51.4% from the field and 6 assists during this series.
During Game 6, he took over the Pepsi Center, with his gargantuan 3-pointers, driving the lane, and dishing dimes. Ty Lawson is a huge part of why Denver was able to push a Game 7. When the Lakers had a 16-point lead in the third quarter of Game 7, it was speedy Lawson that took over. That lead was quickly cut until it was a tied game. Ty Lawson was so impactful that Kobe was assigned to guard him during the 4th quarter.
It may seem like a moral victory to some, but in all fairness it’s a hint of what Denver can be.
The future of the Denver Nuggets, a squad that Kroenke has been perfectly honest about; a team he wants as young as possible. He wants Denver to have fresh legs and to rise together in the same fashion.
No place to start like Ty Lawson, who has one year left on his contract, as it seems he will be offered a contract extension this summer.
Don’t worry, Ty is a NBA player that desires to be a member of the Nuggets franchise:
“It’s definitely a goal. I want to be here long term. I’m pretty sure my agent and Masai (Ujiri, the Nuggets’ executive vice president of basketball operations) will talk this summer.” – Ty Lawson
Ty Lawson is heading into his 4th season in the NBA is showing progress year after year; a golden commodity that the Nuggets franchise will award the starting point guard.
“He’s going to be a big part of the Denver Nuggets. We’re excited. Ty is going to grow even more. He made a little jump, and he’ll continue to make jumps as he gets older.” – Nuggets GM, Masai Ujiri
“We showed a lot of heart. I think we all grew together. We’re a young team. We’re growing and getting better. … It’s a learning curve. I don’t want to compare us to Oklahoma City, but the first time they were all together in the playoffs, they took the Lakers to six games and the next year, they made that step.” – Ty Lawson
Lawson + Faried have me so excited! They’re young, affordable and super talented. If only Afflalo and Gallo could stay healthy, we’d have a young core to rival OKC!