The Atlanta Hawks are currently down 3-2 against the Washington Wizards and are looking to stave off elimination this Friday.
One player in particular has been playing at a near superstar level this postseason, and is the last one to blame when looking at the deficiencies of the Atlanta Hawks this series.
Yes, Paul Millsap has perked up ever since Markieff Morris‘ “crybaby” comments and re-solidified himself as a top-20 NBA player. But it is the young German point guard that has caught the eye of many.
Dennis Schröder through 5 games is averaging 24.4 points, 7.6 assists with 2.2 rebounds on 46% shooting.
Those are All-Star type numbers and that includes a Game 4 “dud” of 18 points 3 assists and 3 rebounds (all hail Jose Calderon).
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When Jeff Teague was traded to the Indiana Pacers, many were skeptical of having Dennis run the offense, and in his first full season, we can say it was a mixed bag.
He showed flashes of elite speed and playmaking ability rivaling some of the best guards in the league, but had too many lapses on defense and empty possessions.
However, this postseason has given us a sneak peak into what the executives in Atlanta were thinking when they handed the 23 year old a 4-year, $70 million dollar contract extension.
The fact that he is able to go toe to toe with one of the league’s elite guards in John Wall has to give fans in Atlanta hope for the future.
Dennis Schroder after playoff career highs of 29 points and 11 assists: “I don’t care about stats. We need a win. That’s all that matters.”
— Chris Vivlamore (@CVivlamoreAJC) April 27, 2017
I was lucky enough to be in Philips Arena for Games 3 and 4, and Dennis’ control of the offense was on full display. Every Ryan Cameron “GOTTEEEEEEM” gave him and the crowd confidence.
Next: Prince Emerges As 3rd Option
With the elite efficiency Taurean Prince has shown, streaky shooting from Tim Hardaway Jr., and the flashes of super-stardom from Dennis mentioned above, Atlanta may just be hiding its rebuild in plain sight.