DENNIS SCHRÖDER - Toronto (2yr, $26M)

[BEazy]

So funny now people just automatically assume Dennis single handedly kept us afloat like there weren‘t other guys playing those games too. Smh…

[yinoma2001]

[hype]

I applaud you yinoma, out there trying to show the obvious but some just simply don't want to see/believe the obvious even if it's slapping them in the face over and over. Kind of silly to even think Dennis needs to prove anything to start over THT when he comes back. I'd be shocked if there's a single person in the entire Lakers organization where that thought even remotely crossed there mind.

Dennis is far from a perfect but he's clearly the third best player by a decent margin and if anything you'd think all fans would be excited to have him back after seeing how horrible our playmaking has been for the most part the last week or two. He's also a pretty large upgrade over THT on the defensive end which will be absolutely vital just like it was last year at the guard position.

I also do not think anyone believes Dennis single handedly did anything but he was clearly the leader and main reason we stayed afloat for that last while without Bron and AD before he went into Covid protocols. I would never want him as my main or even second option full time but for this unique situation he stepped up and did a solid job keeping us afloat just enough.

No reason to go to either extremes. He's not a superstar but he's also not a bad player. He's a bit above your average good role player. Let's see how he performs in the Playoffs at least before we write him off...

[kikanga]

Not surprised he did so well with LBJ and AD out. DS doing his own thing on offense is why I imagined he'd be a 6th man for us when we signed him.

And kudos to him for not only shooting above 40% from 3 during that stretch but also having a greater than 2:1 AST/TO ratio.

My concern with him has always been what will he look like when he doesn't get to dominate the rock. Can he catch and shoot 3s when Bron is running point play after play? Can he set up AD for easy buckets as a secondary playmaker? And will he be strong enough physically to guard multiple positions down the stretch of games?
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"Every hurt is a lesson, and every lesson makes you better”

[PlantedTanks]

Those numbers listed above is pre April 17. Since then he shot 29% from 3. Not the biggest sample size but just shows how consistently inconsistent he is.

Here is a stat to ponder

FG%

games less than 20% - 1
games less than 30% - 8
games less than 40% - 16

So Dennis has shot less than 40% in 25 out of his 59 games played. That is 42% of his games. Pretty deflating stat for your supposedly number 3 option.

If his offensive usage was less or if he made it up being a passing savant or 3pt marksmen that is acceptable but he is neither.

Check his +/- from game to game. Good Dennis bad Dennis is the general pattern. How do you rely on this type of player come playoffs?

Another poster had mentioned that Dennis would be the worst PG of any playoff team. Don't necessarily agree but I would put him bottom 3.

Hopefully he turns into Playoff Dennis Rondo but conversely he could cost the Lakers 2-5 games with his inconsistent play.

Last year playoffs vs. Houston

13/45 from 3 for 29%
44/109 overall FG% for 40%

Btw why use counting stats to prove how a player is performing? When you are the primary ball handler/initiator who looks for his shot you should put up decent counting stats. Once AC and THT were given these responsibilities and settled into the position they put up comparable numbers. With all the analytics out there that gives meaning to the basic numbers why not list those?

[hype]

Yeah, those are all great and valid questions for sure. I'd have extreme faith in him being a better secondary playmaker if he had a bit more time to get that chemistry flowing with Bron and the Double D's especially. We saw how much better he became as the primary playmaker when given a little time as in the beginning it was very rough to watch at times. He went on to improve drastically and become solid but we obviously don't have the luxury of much on court time to iron things out.

The one thing I will say which will help him a lot and I was even saying in the beginning of the season is having played with CP3 and being the at times secondary playmaker in lineups with him looking very good. As far as catching and shooting 3's, that was a huge reason he shot a career high last season was CP3 hitting him in his spots and he excelled at it. The counter argument can also say it was only one season though so it's still a pretty big question mark. I fully believe he's at worst an average 3 point shooter though as even during his early season struggles the shot rarely looked bad out of his hands when he took them.

The defense part is a good question too, you know his effort and tenacity will be there all 48 but we'll find out. The great thing is he will have an extremely elite front court having his back at all times as long as he even somewhat holds his ground against the bigger guards or any other switches.

The biggest thing of all though is I trust him far and away the most after Lebron as far as playmaker/taking care of the ball. I could potentially see THT narrow this gap but he's still not quite ready just yet.

[kikanga]

^I'm optimistic about Schroder going into the playoffs too Hype. I don't think he'll shrink in high pressure moments. He seems extremely confident in himself. And you can't understate how important that is come playoff time. There's no room for self doubt.
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"Every hurt is a lesson, and every lesson makes you better”

[yinoma2001]

[CRoost]

[yinoma2001]

[Killer_Z]

Schroeder is easily our 3rd best and most important player, and it’s not even close. This is a factual position on the player.

If you are not able to comprehend that, you may wish to consider that your feelings towards the player are more so personal or founded on emotion. Perhaps someone from your past named Dennis stole your lunch money when you were a child?

[Halflife]

[yinoma2001]

[CRoost]

[kikanga]

Whether he starts or not probably doesn't matter as much as a I think. If it's not working in a series. Vogel will change it. Same goes for anybody else on our team not named LBJ and Brow. Vogel showed us that last playoffs.
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"Every hurt is a lesson, and every lesson makes you better”

[yinoma2001]

[Reds622]

Overrated.

Some team is going to overpay for this fool and be stuck with an untradeable contract.

[Halflife]

Regardless of what people think of him we are elite with him when fully healthy and is the primary reason we are in the playoffs.

[ducasse]

I'm a little confused about these comments from Dennis

Schroder said he did not test positive for COVID-19 and revealed that he is the only player on the Lakers' roster to have not received the coronavirus vaccine.

However, he also said that, after going through his second mandatory quarantine of the season (the first was because of contact tracing), he would not have to go through that again.

"At least I can't get it no more in the playoffs," he said. "So that's probably the best thing."

How is it that he he won't have to go through this again if he isn't vaccinated and hasn't had the virus?

[Killer_Z]

I've been one of the most staunch supporters of Schro on this forum all year, but tonight is the night that he needs to show all of Laker Nation why we should pony up to bring him back next year.

He's got to bring the heavy heat and absolutely smother Steph along with AC, KCP and Wes.

No excuses ....... show us what you're made of DS!

[LakerSD]

This not winning, flawed player did his best to lose this game for the Lakers. He really doesn’t want to play in LA.

James saved Vogel with that 3.

[yinoma2001]

Terrible game. Hopefully he picks it up for the series that are ahead.
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From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals

[Lakeshow323]

How do you say get ****Ed in German?

[Great One]

overrated, not worth his asking price. getting sub'd out for caruso............
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"Nobody hates the good ones. They hate the great ones." - KB

[Killer_Z]

Worst game as a Laker. He was awful at both ends. Thank goodness for Wes and AC.