DEFENSE: Grade- B+
Ty Lawson played well on the defensive end of the floor this season. He averaged 2.6 rebounds, 1.1 steals, 0.1 blocks, and 1.7 personal fouls per game. Given the minute’s load, those numbers look solid. Let us take a peek at some advanced metrics because they portray a clearer picture of an NBA player’s defensive performance.
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Ty Lawson earned a positive 1.0 defensive win share this season. That ranked seventh on the Kings, but two players ahead of him where Matt Barnes and DeMarcus Cousins, two players who ended the season, not as members of the Kings roster. Lawson earned a defensive box score plus/minus rating of negative 1.5 or twelfth on the team. Sacramento was a bad defensive squad, and Lawson often played with the reserve unit that was leaky on the defensive end.
Overall, I was impressed with Lawson’s defensive play. He is an undersized point guard (listed at 5’11) who uses his speed and quickness to defend on the perimeter. I remembered Lawson from his Denver days as an average to a poor defender, but with an extended look, he slightly exceeded those expectations. I gave Lawson a B+ grade for his defense for all the reasons listed above.