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Nuggets Guard Lawson's Goal Is To Reach Elite Status

DENVER (CBS4) - It wasn't long ago that the Denver Nuggets were a perennial playoff team.

For the Nuggets to get back to that level, one key may be point guard Ty Lawson elevating his game.

Ty Lawson told CBS4's Vic Lombardi on Xfinity Monday Live that he is working at being more consistent, and is gathering pointers from Coach Brian Shaw.

"Right now I'm working on being better with my left hand and getting my shot off quicker. And to be more aggressive on defense. I think that's going to take me to the elite status (as a) point guard," he said.

Ty Lawson
Ty Lawson and Vic Lombardi on Xfinity Monday Live (credit: CBS)

Lawson said he would love it if the Nuggets could win a championship someday for the city of Denver. It's something the franchise has never achieved, but it's something Lawson knows Shaw did as a player in the NBA multiple times.

"He had a hard deck to deal with," Lawson said, referring to the Nuggets losing season. "Everybody was hurt. Gallo was hurt. J.J. (Hickson) got hurt. Nate (Robinson) got hurt. Being a first time coach it's hard to just put in different pieces on the rung. I think he did a good job for what he had and we'll be a lot better."

Lawson said Shaw interacts with his players differently than former Coach George Karl did.

"Coach Karl is more in your face. He'll yell at you. Brian Shaw -- he'll let you make your mistakes. He's more laid back," Lawson said.

Lawson said he texts with Karl frequently and thinks Karl, who didn't coach this season, would be a good fit for a team like the Golden State Warriors, one of several NBA teams with a head coaching vacancy.

"He can't wait to get back into coaching. That's what he wants to do," Lawson said.

Another key to improvement for the Nuggets may be with some personnel changes.

"You never know what's going on right now. (Nuggets General Manager) Tim Connelly has so many options. We have a high draft pick. We have a lot of players that have a lot of value in this league. (Connelly) can either with the draft pick package it up and he can get a good player from somebody else or just draft a young kid and bring him into the game," Lawson said.

Lawson is gearing up for his basketball camp for kids again this summer in Colorado. The Ty Lawson Basketball Camp runs from July 15-18 at Bear Creek High School in Lakewood. Get more information at tylawson3.com.

See more video with Ty Lawson in the Xfinity Monday Live section.

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