Schröder’s fourth quarter shows how he can help Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – While his shot isn’t falling with the consistency he’s hoped for since being acquired in a trade from the Brooklyn Nets two weeks ago, Dennis Schröder showed Saturday why he can still be a factor for the Warriors.
Despite another tough shooting night, the 31-year-old guard came up big when it mattered most against the Phoenix Suns. He scored 11 points but had seven in the fourth quarter, including a 30-foot 3-pointer with 83 seconds left.
Schröder also grabbed a critical rebound, helped contain Suns sharpshooter Bradley Beal and made key free throws in the final moments, helping Golden State secure a much-needed 109-105 win at Chase Center.
“Those are winning plays, those are big plays,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “Even [Schrӧder’s] had difficulty shooting, his ability to handle the ball allowed Steph [Curry] to get rid of the ball. His defense on the ball, creating pressure up and down the floor.”
Schröder’s shooting, or lack thereof, has been a problem for the veteran guard since his arrival from Brooklyn.
Kerr and Schröder’s Golden State teammates remained optimistic that things would eventually turn around. On Saturday, Schröder rewarded them for their trust.
“It definitely felt good to get the three down,” Schröder said. “When you come into this organization, you play with Steph Curry, Draymond [Green]Andrew Wiggins [Jonathan] Kuminga, you just have to fit in. We’re just now figuring it out. It was a few tough games, but I’m happy we won the game.”
The Warriors added Schröder in hopes of taking some of the pressure off Curry’s shoulders as the primary ballhandler. Schröder’s defense has also been an attractive aspect of his game, and Golden State will take all the defensive help it can get.
Schröder came up big against Beal at the end, but spent much of the night defending Suns guard Tyus Jones, who scored just eight points on 3-of-11 shooting in 32 minutes.
“I had to focus on that side of the ball first,” Schröder said. “That’s what I’ve done my entire career. That’s what got me when I was in Atlanta. I have to set the tone on the defensive end, from 30 yards out, and the offensive end will come.”
Fans at Chase Center got a small glimpse of that when Schröder took off in the fourth quarter. For Draymond Green, though, it wasn’t all that surprising, especially the clutch three-pointer Schröder made as the clock wound down.
“We had been on the wrong side of him for years and had been making big plays like that for years, so then the ball went to him [and] when he took the photo, we all knew it had a chance,” Green said. “If you look at the plays he made down the stretch, it wasn’t just that play. He was great. We are not going to get caught up in errors and mistakes. The ball just isn’t going in lately.”
It ultimately went to Schröder at a critical time, a perfect Christmas gift for the Warriors newcomer who is still trying to get comfortable in his new surroundings.
“It was tough,” Schröder said on “Warriors Postgame Live.” “My family is not there. My kids, my wife, everyone is still in Brooklyn. I adapt to it. The boys took me in very comfortably. I feel really comfortable with those guys. It definitely felt good tonight.”
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