© David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Dennis Schroder believes in the Nets' chances for the NBA Playoffs
Dennis Schroder is the fresh face in the Nets organization, but he wants to meet the team’s goal of making it into the Playoffs. He was impressive in his first three games with the Nets, headlined by the blockbuster 15-point and 12-assist double-double in his Brooklyn debut.
The Nets have an uphill climb for the second half of the season, as they sit 11th in the Eastern Conference standings with a 21-33 record. It is challenging, but the Nets are only 2.5 games behind the tenth-seeded Atlanta Hawks.
“I want to accomplish the biggest thing, and for us, it’s the playoffs. We’ve got a chance to make it. We’ve got the talent in this group to make it. And I just want everybody to feel the same way,” Schroder said to Brian Lewis of the New York Post.
“I don’t know how many people went to the postseason before, but that’s when it’s really fun, and I would love for them to have the same goal, and the organization as well and to push for a playoff spot.”
Schroder is a vital player for Brooklyn
While Coach Jacque Vaughn is committed to starting Ben Simmons, the team has multiple options for playmaking in the lineup. Schroder might be the best fit because he’s already a good playmaker, but he can also shoot from the perimeter and defend the opponents.
That gives the Nets a deeper rotation that Coach JV can run Schroder alongside Dennis Smith Jr. when needed. Brooklyn will be a tough team to play against because playmakers and defenders lead the charge for the squad.
The Nets have solid potential
The Nets still have go-to guys like Cameron Thomas and Mikal Bridges, who raise the team’s ceiling for the second half of the season. The Playoffs are the goal that was reached a year earlier with almost the same team.
Every player on the Nets is healthy now, and Coach Vaughn will love seeing that. The team also has chips on every player’s shoulder after losing by 50 points right before the All-Star break. Expect the Nets to keep competing, as they will be hard to defeat when everyone is healthy and motivated to perform.
