Inside The Nets

Dennis Schroder draws praise for strong impact since Nets midseason landing

Upon early struggles, Dennis is now coming out strong as the Nets’ newest point guard.
Peter Sunjic|
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Brooklyn Nets

More than just a Spencer Dinwiddie replacement and insurance for the deactivated Ben Simmons, the Brooklyn Nets landed Dennis Schroder in this season's trade deadline with the utmost hope that the German cager will provide them with steady production and clear court guidance as a seasoned point guard.

As such, their expectations have been met already, as Dennis has been nothing but impressive as the team's newest floor general.

Dennis the Menace

Dennis only played 14 games thus far since the Nets have acquired him from the Toronto Raptors. And despite the early struggles and adjustments he endured, the veteran guard ultimately turned things around as he is now averaging 14.6 points, 5.9 assists, 2.9 boards, and 46.7 percent field goal rate per contest.

More than the individual numbers, Schroder has impacted the team well with his contagious passing, which saw the Nets moving the ball around more frequently since the All-Star Break.

“His court-mapping, how he’s manipulating the defense is great,” interim coach Kevin Ollie said after the team's practice on Tuesday, per New York Post's Jared Schwartz. “Him being an extension of me on the court because I can’t play, and him understanding what I want and him out there transferring it is great for our offense and defense.”

Schroder to Clax connection thrives

Over anybody else who was positively affected by Dennis’ presence within Brooklyn, Nic Claxton stands as the main beneficiary.

Like Schroder, Clax took such significant time to mesh well in the team's new look and system. However, upon the familiarity that he had already built with Dennis, the big man was finally able to flourish.

For the past five games, Nic is strongly averaging 16.6 points and 69.5 percent field goal shooting thanks to the 30-year-old’s on-point passes and location to his position within the paint.

“He really just, he treats the game right,” Claxton said of Schroder. “He’s a true competitor, and he holds everybody accountable. He’s a winner. He has really good work habits, he works on his body a lot. And then, we’re just trying to figure it out right now, it’s all starting to come together. It’s tough being thrown in at the middle of the season, but it’s all starting to come together.”

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Peter Sunjic
PETER SUNJIC

Peter's journey with basketball commenced in the first grade, and it has since evolved into an integral part of his life. Standing on the brink of a potential professional playing career, Peter ultimately chose to pursue a degree in Political Science and Journalism in Zagreb, Croatia. Despite this academic pursuit, his deep-rooted love for the game of basketball endured, undiminished. Now, as a writer and editor, Peter finds an avenue to channel his unwavering passion for basketball-related news and analysis. Whether it's deciphering the latest happenings or delving into the lore of old-school basketball, he covers every corner of the NBA world.

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