Anderson’s quick tempo pleases guard

There’s no reason to try to describe it any other way.

Keon Lawrence’s shot is ugly. It looks so awkward that Lawrence himself won’t try to defend it.

“I’ve got the worst form ever,” Lawrence said after Saturday’s practice.

While Missouri fans have had few chances to see Lawrence’s shot in person, it’s likely they would see similar shots if they watched games at a local gym. Lawrence, who is right-handed, shoots from the left side of his head instead of the correct right side. However, compared to what his shot used to look like, Lawrence’s shot is improved.

“I used to pull the ball from my left hip,” Lawrence said. “But I stopped that.”

While his form may not be perfect, Lawrence still managed to lead the state of New Jersey is scoring last season, scoring 31.2 points per game at Weequahic High School in Newark. Missouri coach Mike Anderson said he is reluctant to try to alter Lawrence’s release as long as he is accurate.

“That’s something he’s been naturally doing,” Anderson said. “I’ve seen some guys with some crazy releases that are probably some of the better shooters around. It’s not how you start but how you finish.”

Just weeks into his college career, Lawrence has shown he is clutch. At Mizzou Madness on Oct. 13, Lawrence made a fade-away 3-pointer to even up the intra-squad game. That shot, which came at the end of a 12-minute scrimmage staged for Missouri fans, showed another way Lawrence’s shot has improved.

“I didn’t used to jump enough on my jump shot. I just tried to use my arms,” Lawrence said. “I realized I don’t have too much arm strength so I need to use my legs. Towards the end, when I get tired, that’s when I really start feeling that I have to get some arc in my shot.”

Lawrence is listed at 6 feet 2, 180 pounds, but he said Saturday he weighs 171 and wants to get to 175 before the season starts.

“I’m never going to get too much bigger because of my body frame,” Lawrence said. “It isn’t like I’m weak because I’m little. I’m pretty strong. I’m not going to get bumped around all day. I know how to fight through a lot of stuff.”

Before arriving in Columbia, Lawrence had to deal with more than the normal incoming freshman. Heavily recruited by former Missouri coach Quin Snyder, he made an oral agreement as a junior to enroll at MU, but came close to backing out when Snyder resigned. After getting to know Anderson, though, he decided to honor his agreement.

“Missouri stuck with me through everything I was going through, and coach Anderson and coach (Melvin) Watkins were on my back,” Lawrence said. “I just stayed loyal. I was going through a lot of things when I found out Quin left, but it paid off.”

So far, Lawrence said he thinks he is a good fit for Anderson’s up-tempo system. Ironically, because of his athleticism and stamina, he may be a better fit for Anderson’s pace than the one he was originally recruited for. Snyder’s system emphasized a slower pace and might not have fit Lawrence’s aggressive style of play.

“I walked into something good. And I’m thankful for it,” Lawrence said. “I’m glad coach Anderson is giving me a chance to play the way I like playing. In this system, I can showcase my talents.”

Other than shooting, Lawrence’s most noteworthy attribute might be his stamina. Lawrence claimed that Anderson’s practices aren’t taking too much out of him. Lawrence said Anderson had to pull him off the floor at Saturday’s practice to give him a rest.

“During games, I definitely don’t get tired,” Lawrence said. “I don’t know why. I’m just getting used to this system.”

But Anderson’s style of play, which is predicated on playing tight defense and creating turnovers, is something Lawrence is still getting used to. Lawrence said his defense occasionally lapses and is something he needs to concentrate on.

“I just catch myself. Sometimes it’ll happen and I’ll be like ‘I’m caught,’” Lawrence said. “But after that, I’m like, ‘I have to get back on it.’”

“My main focus is to keep my defense the way I’m going right now. Sometimes I get lazy, but I have to work through that. Coach Anderson is still on me about getting after it more on defense. But I’m learning. I just have to keep harassing people.”

Despite his occasional lapses on defense, Anderson said he thinks Lawrence is a good fit for Missouri.

“I think he’s an attacking player and an instinctive player,” Anderson said. “The key is you don’t just have to just fit the system, but fit the team and understand the team. I think they’re learning him and he’s learning them.

“This system is tailor-made for him.”