Dime is the premier basketball magazine, covering the NBA, NCAA, High School, Playground and International basketball - as well as sneakers, fashion and music.
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BALLER���S BLUEPRINT PHOTO. INTERVIEW. Andrew Greif Garrett Ellwood/Getty Images How To Be A Great Ballhandler TY LAWSON 5-11, 195 lbs., PG, Denver Nuggets As far as transitions go, Ty Lawson to Denver will go down as one of the smoothest in recent memory. We���re talking about a national champion North Carolina Tar Heel point guard being drafted to play in Denver for George Karl, himself a bleed-blue Tar Heel alum whose push-the-pace style must have made Lawson feel like he never left Chapel Hill. The resulting mind-meld between coach and player created one of the NBA���s most entertaining teams and a need to re-sign Lawson in November to a four-year, $48 million extension. Not just any fast point guard will do; Lawson���s speed can be all the more dazzling to watch at times because hitting ���fth gear doesn���t require him to sacri���ce ballhandling. When the Nuggets are running at top form, Lawson runs the team like a fastidious stock-car driver going 500 laps while barely scratching a wall. Keeping the ball on a string while moving as fast as Denver can seems like it should break some fundamental law of physics, but it���s the only way Lawson, currently averaging 14.1 points and 6.8 assists a night, has known how to play in his four years in the Mile High City. His role with Karl may seem hand-in-glove perfect, but his ability to keep opponents��� mitts off his handle is one of the reasons he���s worth such an investment for the 21-16 Nuggets. How does Lawson keep the ball on a string so well? We asked him. Dime: You���re one of the fastest point guards, so how much do you practice at full speed? Ty Lawson: I do a lot at full speed. At ���rst I was going out of control in my college years but just in experience and playing like that I���ve gotten it under control. Just crossing over guys with my step. Dime: Is there a dribbling drill you did growing up you still work with? TL: The main thing is what I hated when I was younger was the commando drill you do. Up and down 10 times and right on a drop ��� I hated this when my dad was doing 26 it. I���d do ���ve moves and a crossover and he���d make me do it. Dime: Instead of watching tape on strategy, do you watch ���lm on ballhandlers across the league? TL: Recently I���ve been watching Tony Parker and his ���oater. You can���t block it. He���s going 100 miles per hour and he ���oats it. Also how Chris Paul migrates in the pick-n-roll, reading it. Those are the main two things. They���re both unstoppable moves. Dime: What���s your trademark? TL: Probably my left-to-right crossover. It���s de���nitely rolled a couple ankles for sure. Dime: I saw recent stats that said you averaged nine drives to the hoop every game last season, the most in the league. Is that George Karl giving you the green light or do you feel you���re better at creating on the dribble? TL: Just recently Coach told me to be more aggressive. His theory has been ���three or to the basket.��� He doesn���t like tough twos, so I���ve been going to the basket. I can ���nish really well for being a small guy.