In a recent NBA playoff game, the Cleveland Cavaliers secured a 112-103 home win over the Detroit Pistons, leveling the series at 2-2. Despite the victory, backup point guard Dennis Schröder struggled to make a positive impact.
Schröder logged 19 minutes and 50 seconds, shooting 3-for-4 from the field and 1-for-2 from beyond the arc, finishing with 7 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 steal. He also recorded 1 turnover and 3 fouls, posting a team-worst plus/minus of -14. While he showed some scoring efficiency, his playmaking was limited, and his defensive deficiencies were glaring. The team’s performance clearly suffered when he was on the floor, as evidenced by his poor plus/minus.
Over the regular season, Schröder averaged 10.8 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 4.9 assists in 24.2 minutes per game across 70 appearances, shooting 40.5% from the field. In the playoffs, through 11 games, he has averaged 7 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 15.9 minutes, with a 43.3% field goal percentage and 36% from three-point range. However, his net rating in the postseason is -3.9, indicating that the team fares worse when he is on the court. The Cavaliers clearly need a reliable ball-handler off the bench, but Schröder’s overall effectiveness remains a significant concern. How will Cleveland address this issue moving forward?
