Four weeks ago, Dennis Schroder wondered what he had to do to get back on the court.
The rookie guard was glued to the bench. He played once in nine games, a blowout loss to the Nets in London. His inconsistent play, with turnovers a particular nemesis, the culprit.
Schroder is slowly earning back court time. He played in six of the past seven games before Saturday, missing only the Hawks’ previous game, at the Pelicans. In those six games he averaged 14.5 minutes, 5.1 points and 1.6 assists. He totaled only seven turnovers.
“For weeks ago, I worried about that every time I step on the court, like don’t do a mistake,” the 20-year-old German said. “It put me in pressure. Now, I try to play my game and don’t think about it. I think that is the best option.”
Schroder said he has gotten plenty of encouraging words from coaches and teammates. He mentioned Jeff Teague and Kyle Korver in particular of preaching to him to be patient. Teague knows something about the ups and downs of a rookie season. He appeared in 71 games, but averaged just 10 minutes.
“He is in a unique situation in that he is learning so many things, the NBA, a new country, the language to a certain degree and then there is basketball,” coach Mike Budenholzer said. “At times, he has done really well and showed a lot of promise. Just trying to get him to understand how to value possessions and value opportunities. … For young people, sometimes that is hard.”
Schroder started the season as the backup point guard. He lost the spot mostly because of the play of Shelvin Mack. His carelessness with the ball was an issue. He played in eight of the first nine games, the only absence being a league suspension for striking the Kings’ DeMarcus Cousins in the groin fighting through a screen. He appeared in eight of the next 32 games, before his recent run of court time. That included a stint in the NBA Development League.
Antic out two more weeks: Pero Antic likely will be out two more weeks, according to Budenholzer. That will put the forward/center's absence at the high end of the original two-to-four week diagnosis for the stress fracture in his right ankle.
Antic was replaced Friday in the Rising Stars Challenge, the rookie-sophomore exhibition as part of All-Star weekend to be held in New Orleans. The Hawks, after consultation with doctors, told the NBA to replace Antic.
“He is not available for Atlanta or the All-Star game for another week or two,” Budenholzer said. “There is going to be a progression of rehab and getting him back until he is fully healthy. That is the doctor’s advice and everybody is following the protocol.”
When asked if Antic’s return would be closer to the four-week mark, Budenholzer said: “That would be my guess.”
Etc.: Paul Millsap was in the starting lineup for the Hawks on Saturday, one day after he missed a practice because of an illness. The All-Star forward has missed only one game this season, that because of elbow tendinitis. … Mike Scott stopped by Georgia Tech's McCamish Pavilion on Saturday afternoon to watch his alma mater Virginia. The social-media savvy Scott posted a picture on Instagram of the scoreboard following the game. It read: Virginia 64, Georgia Tech 45.
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