Three-Headed Monster at Point Guard Leaves Tough Decision for George Karl

What team is deeper than the Nuggets at point guard?

Nobody. Nil. Nada.

That is, according to Denver head coach George Karl. “We have the best third point guard in the NBA,” the wise old coach told The Denver Post Tuesday.

With Anthony Carter returning from a strained hip injury, the same one that kept him out of four games last year, he gives Karl another option in the backcourt.

But, it also takes minutes away from rookie phenom Ty Lawson, which may add to the bad rap A.C. has already received from fans.

Karl touched on it Thursday in The Denver Post saying, “I’ll be honest, I think sometimes the fans have been too hard on A.C. And not to respect what he does is, I think, fanatically fanlike.”

But really, is the fans’ criticism of the aging player warranted?

This is Carter’s fourth season with the Nuggets and 11th overall, and he was the starter in the Allen Iverson year. At the time, he was solid, but never spectacular—and last year even speaking of Carter as solid came into question.

His speed has declined greatly, and with it, his ability to be Denver’s best perimeter defender—a title Karl gave him two years ago. As Carter’s speed has slipped, so have ball-handling skills and decision making.

His turnovers were up to two per game in 2008-09, but likely the mistakes that plague the minds of Nuggets fans the most are two errant in-bounds passes by A.C. in the Western Conference Finals last May against LA.

Both happened late in games Denver had a chance to win, but instead the ball and hopes of making the NBA Finals were thrown away by Carter.

Certainly, as I surround myself with some of the most diehard Denver fans for games, the dislike for Carter is evident.

Sarcastic comments of, “Great D A.C.” or, “Nice pass” are frequent. As are more direct disses like, “Carter can’t cover him,” or the simple, “Carter sucks!”

Even when I read the headline of this piece to my roommate he couldn’t help to say, “One of the heads is slower than the others.”

Let’s make it clear, A.C. is a decent NBA player, and we as fans may be too hard on him as Karl alluded to.

But, Nuggets fans started noticing his deficiencies before this offseason brought the young and explosive Ty Lawson—although Lawson’s arrival has left Denver dudes (and dudettes) clamoring for more P.T. by the rookie.

Carter’s numbers are down across the board from last year, from points (5.3-3) to assists (4.7-2.1) to shooting percentage (.43-.33), and Lawson has excelled early in the season.

Lawson’s 9.9 points, 3.1 assists and one steal per game are all better numbers than the veteran has put up, and Lawson’s intangibles are another reason he should backup Billups.

Ty Lawson is literally lightning quick and faster than a speeding car. It’s almost as if Ty is breaking the “Law Son” as he easily strides down the court faster than anyone and darts in and out of opponents on his way to the hoop.  

And even though it seems coach Karl is grasping onto the Anthony Carter that was, defending him at every turn, Lawson has been rewarded with more minutes (21.6-17.1) and basically the second point guard position.

Lawson performed well last night in that reserve role, despite the Nuggets loss to the Clippers, as he went 3-4 on three pointers and ended with 12 points.

And really, no matter who is the No. 2 or 3 point guard, Denver’s depth at the position will bode well for them as the season goes on, especially if there are any injuries that arise.

Look for the three-headed monster to be back in full force tonight for Denver against Chicago at 7 p.m. as Anthony Carter is expected to return from injury, adding depth to the Nuggets already deep bench.