Schroder’s faux pas
Brain farts are, admittedly, nothing new in the NBA. In fact, they occur more often than conventional wisdom would dare admit; due to a variety of reasons that include pressure and fatigue, even the best of the best fall prey to lapses in judgment. Noneth
For all the ink Isaiah Thomas received in returning to the court after a seven- month absence, the National Basketball Association matches on tap the other day were largely forgettable. For longtime followers of the pro scene, it’s telling that only a set- to between two lottery- bound teams saved the schedule from being a total laugher, with the outcome in doubt until the very last second. And the Suns won in grand fashion, overcoming a 12-point Hawks lead with four minutes and change left in the contest to protect home court by the slimmest of margins.
That said, the match truly stood out for one thing: the questionable decision by Dennis Schroder to go for two points in the Hawks’ last offensive set even though they were down by three. Ignorance couldn’t have been the excuse; he knew there were only six and a half ticks remaining on the clock, which was why he let the leather roll near quartercourt off an inbounds pass following two made free throws by the Suns’ Devin Booker. Judging from the way he sprinted to the basket after picking the ball up, however, a trey wasn’t in his mind at all. Never mind that those around him were ready to take the pass and launch from beyond the arc.
Not surprisingly, Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer was livid in the aftermath. He didn’t have any timeouts left to call, so he had to rely on Schroder to exercise good judgment — as expected of all points guards — in order to devise, on the fly, a play that would send the contest to overtime. As things turned out, all the play did was get them close. And for fans, his bizarre decision is further highlighted by his teammates’ incredulous looks at the buzzer.
Brain farts are, admittedly, nothing new in the NBA. In fact, they occur more often than conventional wisdom would dare admit; due to a variety of reasons that include pressure and fatigue, even the best of the best fall prey to lapses in judgment. Nonetheless, Schroder’s misstep was startling and pronounced, its modest effect on league standings aside. The Hawks could have further built on the momentum of three victories in their last four outings; instead, they absorbed disappointment.
If there is any silver lining, it’s that the setback managed to cement the Hawks’ bottom-of-the-barrel position, which should augur well for them come the 2018 draft on the assumption that they continue their losing ways. Considering Schroder’s faux pas, it’s safe to say they will.