7 players the Boston Celtics should have never given a chance
By Ben Grunert
Dennis Schroder
At first glance, Dennis Schroder’s run with Boston seems like a fine one. He posted solid counting stats with the Celtics, averaging 14.4 points per game on 44% shooting. However, Schroder’s impact left a lot to be desired.
In a season where Boston finished with 51 wins and reached the NBA Finals, the Cs performed as poorly as they could have when Schroder took the floor. The former Hawk posted a subpar -6.6 on/off differential as Boston outscored opponents by 6.6 fewer points with Schroder on the court, per Cleaning the Glass.
After ranking second in net rating that season with a +7.5 mark, Boston got outscored by 2.3 points per 100 possessions with Schroder. Basically, Schroder swung the Boston Celtics from a winning team to a losing team when his number was called.
In 49 games with Schroder, the 2021-22 Celtics played at a 47-win pace with a 28-21 record. Boston only lost 31 games that year, meaning Schroder was present for 67.7% of Boston’s losses in a season where he actually left the team at the February trade deadline.
Schroder’s playstyle did not mesh well with the Boston Celtics
Sometimes, a player’s statistical impact does not align with the eye test for fans. However, most of the Celtics faithful can attest to the glaring nature of the problems with Schroder’s fit in Boston.
Simply put, Schroder didn’t fit the Celtics system. The German point guard’s inability to promote ball movement clashed with the way Boston played at their best. Unlike players like Marcus Smart and Derrick White, Schroder rarely moved without the basketball. When he brought the ball up the floor and passed it to a teammate, he would often stay put at the top of the key, giving opposing defenses less work to do.
Boston’s best brand of basketball leaned on motion offense and ball movement — two areas of the game Schroder’s playstyle did not mesh well with.
All in all, Schroder’s days in green proved quite forgettable. He showed up for a rocky first half of the 2021-22 campaign and left right before the Celtics went on a 20-6 run ahead of their memorable finals run.