The Cleveland Cavaliers had a plan for Dennis Schroder in the playoffs, and it's playing out just as they hoped.
The big move the Cleveland Cavaliers made at the NBA trade deadline was acquiring future Hall-of-Fame James Harden from the Los Angeles Clippers.
However, there was another move the Wine and Gold made that may not have been as notable nationally, but was made with the playoffs in mind: adding veteran guard Dennis Schroder.
One of Cleveland’s clear weaknesses in their playoff rotation from the last few seasons has been a physical and irritating (in the best way) player off the bench.
The Cavs have needed someone who will only play a few minutes a night but leave an everlasting impression on the game, and, so far, Schroder has filled that void to perfection for Cleveland.
“I'm just so glad our vision of what he was gonna be for us in the playoffs is coming true,” explained Atkinson on Sunday. “Huge piece.”
May 7, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dennis Schroder (8) dribbles defended by Detroit Pistons guard Daniss Jenkins (24) in the first half during game two of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn ImagesCleveland’s head coach broke down what has made Schroder such an effective player off the bench, and it starts with his physical defense.
“That's kind of why we brought him, like, his pressure defense,” continued Cleveland’s head coach.
“Whoever he was picking up, and the physicality that goes with that… Sometimes, little guys are, like, hey, turn the guy, Dennis is turn him, hit, swipe. He's got all the activity around that.”
Schroder is averaging 1.0 steal per game for the Cavaliers in the playoffs, and this physicality that Atkinson highlighted is something that doesn’t show up in the box score, but it’s certainly there.
Cleveland may have acquired Schroder for his scrappiness, but he’s also turned out to be a nice boost on offense, too. In his 10 games, the guard is averaging 7.0 points while shooting 41 percent from the floor and 35 percent from behind the arc.
Atkinson also credited Shroder’s ability to get underneath his defense and drive to the rim, which opens up more kick-out opportunities for the rest of the team.
As Cleveland’s series against the Pistons gets deeper, it’s bound to get more physical; that’s just how these playoff matchups go. As that transpires on the court, Schroder could play a key role in the Cavaliers advancing to the Conference Finals and heading home earlier than anticipated once again.
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