A Royal Pain
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Sacramento Kings Report Card: Ty Lawson

By Tyler Watts

Apr 1, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Ty Lawson (10) controls the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second half at Target Center. The Kings won 123-117. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 1, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Ty Lawson (10) controls the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second half at Target Center. The Kings won 123-117. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 1, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Sacramento Kings point guard Ty Lawson (10) goes to the basket as Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) defends during the second half at Target Center. The Kings won 123-117. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 1, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Sacramento Kings point guard Ty Lawson (10) goes to the basket as Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) defends during the second half at Target Center. The Kings won 123-117. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /

OFFENSE: Grade- A-

Ty Lawson did not bounce all the way back to his peak in Denver, but he provided the Kings with quality offensive minutes any time he was the court.  Lawson averaged 9.9 points, 4.9 assists, 0.5 three-pointers made, and 1.9 turnovers per game in his 69 games played this season.  Those are robust numbers when you realize he made those averages in just 25.1 minutes per game.  Lawson shot 45.4% from the field, and 79.7% from the free throw line, as well.   The numbers looked healthy overall for Mister Lawson.

Below is a highlight video of Ty Lawson’s November 18 contest against the LA Clippers.  One of Lawson’s best performances of the season happened that night, and the video shows some of his on-court abilities.  Enjoy.

The area on offense where Lawson struggled was his three-point shooting.  A career 35.9% shooter from distance (or relatively league average), he shot a miserable 28.8% this season.  His three-point percentage has gone down almost every single season of his career.  If Lawson cannot regain his three-point touch, he will be less efficient and desirable on the offensive end of the floor next season.

The advanced metrics rated Lawson as one of the Kings best offensive pieces.  (All advanced metrics courtesy of Basketball-Reference.  Lawson earned offensive win shares of positive 2.2 which ranked third on the Kings behind Darren Collison and the departed DeMarcus Cousins.  He, also, made a positive 0.2 offensive box score plus/minus contribution.

The solid percentages from the field and free throw line plus the great advanced metrics led me to give Lawson an A- grade.  It would have been an A+ especially given that it greatly exceeded my expectations if it was not for the poor three-point shooting.

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