Newly acquired guard Dennis Schroder believes the Cleveland Cavaliers’ aggressive mindset could propel the team to significant achievements after experiencing two convincing victories in his first week with the franchise.
Schroder, obtained from the Sacramento Kings at the trade deadline, debuted with Cleveland in a road game against the Los Angeles Clippers in which the Cavaliers limited L.A. to just 42 first-half points. “Impressive win. Great group of guys,” he said postgame, noting he had not seen an opponent held under 50 points before halftime during his stint in Sacramento.
Three nights later, during his first appearance at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, the 30-year-old guard reiterated similar themes following a 138-113 triumph over the Washington Wizards. “It was a rough two months for me at the beginning of the season,” Schroder admitted. “But being a part of Cleveland’s organization has been great. We didn’t even practice yet, but you can tell the chemistry is on a high notch.”
Schroder contrasted the Cavaliers’ focus with the less urgent atmosphere he left behind. “I’m a winner. I try to win,” he said. “It’s tough when it’s not going your way—waking up, going to practice, and winning isn’t really the focus.” While expressing gratitude to the Kings for providing “security for my family,” he added, “To be on this side now, where you play every single game to win, that excites me every day.”
On the court, head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has already deployed Schroder to apply ball pressure and increase tempo. The veteran guard summed up the approach in two words: “Dog mentality.” He believes intensified defense can allow Cleveland “to do big things here.”
Source: Hoops Wire
