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Atlanta Hawks 2016-17 Player Preview: Dennis Schroder

By Tom Atkinson

Nov 6, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Dennis Schroder (17) against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Hawks defeated the Pelicans 121-115. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 6, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Dennis Schroder (17) against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Hawks defeated the Pelicans 121-115. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 5, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Dennis Schroder (17) brings the ball upcourt against the Los Angeles Clippers during the fourth quarter at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 5, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Dennis Schroder (17) brings the ball upcourt against the Los Angeles Clippers during the fourth quarter at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

2015-16 Season in Review

2015-16 per game averages: 11 points, 2.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 0.9 steals and 2.3 turnovers in 20.3 minutes.

Season shooting percentages: .421/.322/.791

After an incredible improvement between his rookie and sophomore seasons, Dennis Schroder enjoyed a stable third season.

The menace played the most games of his career and he did so with increased minutes. His numbers, though, were perhaps a little disappointing. All three of his shooting percentages dropped and there were only minimal improvements to his per games statistics, scoring one point and assisting 0.3 times more per game.

In fairness, though, the 2014-15 season was a special one and it was never going to be easy to replicate it. In that 60-win campaign, where the Hawks bewildered and dominated any in their path (until the playoffs), it must have been easier for players to score. So, with the offense struggling at times last season, it is no surprise that Schroder’s offensive numbers did not make another huge leap forward.

What he did do, though, was improve his defense. As the Hawks, on the whole, found something of a defensive identity towards the end of last season, many players found an extra element to their game on that end. Schroder, Mike Scott, and Tim Hardaway Jr. all became a key part of this new defensive style and Schroder, while not exactly Chris Paul on D, showed remarkable improvements.

And while the 2015-16 season may not have been another breakout for Schroder, it definitely did enough to convince the franchise that he was the future at the one. Although his numbers were similar to the year before, Dennis the Menace showed much better consistency and put up really nice numbers per 36 minutes. His 19.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 4.5 rebounds in that timeframe are way ahead of several notable players at this stage of their career, including Reggie Jackson and Kyle Lowry. In fact, the German’s per-36 numbers are even better than Stephen Curry’s during his third season.

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