Schroder faces former coach, performs on both ends of floor
Thunder guard Dennis Schroder caught Jazz coach Quin Snyder’s attention during warmups before OKC beat Utah 122113 Monday. The former player-assistant coach duo embraced, patting each other on the back and sharing greetings and smiles.
But as it goes with such relationships, they both flipped a switch at tipoff. In the second quarter, Schroder, sweat dripping from his forehead, stared straight ahead as he walked past Snyder out of a timeout. He had already logged seven points and four assists in a night when he would total 23 and six, respectively. And he was playing tight defense on Utah star Donovan Mitchell.
“The thing about Dennis is he’s always had an incredibly competitive spirit,” Snyder said of Schroder’s development since Snyder coached him at Atlanta in 2013-14, Schroder’s first season in the league and Snyder’s last as an assistant. “He looks like he’s enjoying playing, and their team is connected and Dennis has grown. I’m not around him every day, but you can see in his presence on the court and his poise and his patience, kind of choosing when to attack, but more than anything, you can see he’s in a good place.”
Back in 2013-14, Schroder averaged about 13 minutes off the bench per game. He relied on his defense to earn playing time, adding just 3.7 points and 1.9 assists on average. After rising to the starting point guard role in Atlanta, Schroder became a backup again for Thunder this time, but his role has changed.
Schroder provided a fivepoint burst late in the third quarter, first driving past Jazz forward Derrick Favors for an easy finish at the rim and then draining a floater while drawing a foul on the very next play to put the Thunder up 90-67. That was with starting point guard
Russell Westbrook on the floor.
Adams wins battle with Gobert
Jazz center Rudy Gobert headed to the Utah bench with a technical foul in the last minute of the third quarter. He had racked up five personal fouls. Gobert didn’t knock any cups of water off the scorers’ table — although earlier in the game he did fake as if he was going to, with a smile — but he was visibly frustrated. Thunder center Steven
Adams was a big reason for that frustration. Adams checked out of the game seconds later to a rousing ovation from Chesapeake Energy Arena. Adams, with some contribution from Nerlens Noel, held Gobert to 13 points in 21 minutes on the court. Adams in the meantime scored 22 points.