Nuggets’ Lawson back in action, Carter to keep minutes
Denver Nuggets rookie guard Ty Lawson has shown that he has the maturity of a veteran several times throughout his first season in the NBA and now, after coming back from injury, he has made it clear that he understands what it takes to create a cohesive team.
Lawson returned to action tonight against the New York Knicks after missing 10 games with a bruised left shoulder. In his absence, Anthony Carter stepped up and resumed his familiar role as Chauncey Billups’ back up and he shined in the 17 minutes he was averaging over the course of those 10 games. Now, with Lawson healthy, the Nuggets coaching staff has concluded that Carter has earned the right to keep his minutes while the rookie will have to once again work back to earn more minutes.
At the beginning of the year, Carter was still slated to keep his spot as the first point guard off the bench. However, he struggled in limited time and Lawson won the hearts of the Denver fans and coaching staff as he continued to impress off the bench. When Billups went down with an injury, Lawson emerged as the starter and showed that he could mix in well with the Nuggets top unit.
With the injury, 
fans began to question Lawson’s durability and his recovery speed and Carter continued to make hustle plays and crisp passes to basket-cutters like Nene and Carmelo Anthony in what has been an efficient offense the past few weeks.
“A.C. is a veteran,” said acting coach Adrian Dantley. “That’s why when you have a basketball team, you want to have three guards. Ty got a little bit of action in the beginning. Then Ty got hurt and created an opportunity for A.C. to come in. All the guys know A.C. can play, and he’s contributed since he’s been here.”
Said Lawson: “Whatever makes the team better, that’s what I’ll do. If I don’t play, that’s cool with me. If we’re winning, I have no problem with it.”
So long as the Nuggets are winning this formula will likely not be altered. However, if Carter slips even a little bit Nuggets fans will be screaming for Lawson and his high energy play.
Perhaps it is a good thing the Nuggets will be on the road in Lawson’s first five games back.
Thanks to the Denver Post’s Benjamin Hochman for providing the quotes.
***NUGGETS NOTE: NUGGETS ON THE ROAD
The Nuggets opened the road trip tonight with the Knicks and will play the Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic and an ever important game in Dallas against the Mavericks before returning home to the Pepsi Center.
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Time: March 24, 2010, 4:40 am
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