Schroder ready to shine for Hawks
ATLANTA:
with a dazzling crossover, and then split two more defenders as he darted into the lane. He tossed up a lob, expecting Howard to be there, but the ball went right to the Pistons. Atlanta’s new big man didn’t anticipate what his point guard had in mind. Clearly, it’s going to be an adjustment going from previous Atlanta center Al Horford - really, more of a power forward - to Howard, a dominating inside presence but not as well-rounded as his predecessor.
Pressure on the rim
Schroder expects opposing teams to sag toward the basket at every opportunity, looking both to limit Howard and choke off the potential driving lanes. That’s why Schroder spent much of the summer working on his jump shot. He often stays after practice to get in extra work with Atlanta’s best outside shooter, Kyle Korver. “With Dwight rolling to the rim and putting a lot of pressure on the rim, we’re probably going to get a lot of open shots,” Schroder said. “I think the mid-range jumper is going to be open all day. I’ve got to shoot them.”
After being drafted 17th overall in 2013, Schroder played sparingly as a rookie. But he made a big leap in Year 2, averaging 10 points and 4.1 assists on a team that set a franchise record by going 60-22. Schroder continued to play behind Teague a season ago but was often on the court in the closing minutes of big games, including the playoffs. With Teague entering the final year of his contract, the Hawks dealt him to Indiana for a first-round pick and put their faith fully in Schroder, who averaged 11 points and 4.4 assists while Teague’s production sagged.
“It changed in no time, like, everything,” Schroder said. “I’m just trying to get better every day and take the next step.” With increased minutes, Schroder knows he must alter his style of play. Coming off the bench, he could just go, go, go at both ends of the court. “Full court (defense) is probably not going to work for 82 games,” Schroder said, breaking into a smile. “I’ve got to get used to playing 30 to 35 minutes a game.”
He’s been getting advice from teammate Kent Bazemore, who earned a similar promotion. A high-energy bench player when he first signed with the Hawks, Bazemore had to learn how to pace himself a bit when he moved into the starting lineup. “It’s definitely an adjustment for him,” Bazemore said. “He likes to pressure like crazy. Obviously, with him playing a lot more minutes, it’s a lot harder to do that.” But Bazemore and his teammates have no doubt the Hawks are in good hands with Schroder.
“He’s just trying to find his role, find his niche, find out how he can be more effective at both ends of the floor,” Bazemore said. “He’s definitely gotten a lot better with the ball in his hands. He’s starting to make the right reads, getting a lot of guys involved, getting more vocal as the point guard. He’s doing all the right things.”