Los Angeles Lakers: Dennis Schroder is the big key to victory in Game 4

Dennis Schroder is key to the Los Angeles Lakers taking a 3-1 series lead against the Phoenix Suns

Dennis Schroder did pushups to the delight of the Los Angeles Lakers crowd in response to Devin Booker’s flagrant foul in Game 3’s final moments.

If Schroder did as many pushups as he thinks the Lakers should pay him this offseason, he would still be doing them.

Schroder rubbed a lot of Lakers fans the wrong way when he turned down a 4 year, $84 million contract extension earlier this season. $21 million per year is a lot for a guard whose fit alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis is not ideal.

Schroder has also alienated many Lake Show Life writers and some commenters due to his contract demands and his style of play.

At times, myself included. I stand by what I have said about him in my Game 3 preview:

"Dennis Schroder has not lived up to our expectations as to what a point guard should look like. He does not like to pass the ball, nor is he as effective playing alongside LeBron James or Anthony Davis because he needs the ball in his hands."

I am still not wrong. Dennis the Menace is all of these things and then some.

Nevertheless, Schroder has a role to play in Game 4. He can deliver the (almost) knockout blow to Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns on both ends.

Dennis Schroder has already signed a lease to be in Book’s head rent-free. Now he just has to ransack the place before he moves out (likely after Game 5).

How Dennis Schroder got in Devin Booker’s head in Game 3

Basketball is a simple game.

The goal is to take away what the other team’s best player does best. The Lakers did this with Damian Lillard, James Harden, and Nikola Jokic in the bubble last season.

Even in the NBA Finals, the Lakers did this to the Miami Heat. Jimmy Butler carried the team to two wins. The Lakers just waited for him to run out of gas (or Big Face Coffee) then delivered the finishing blow in Game 6 with Butler unable to keep Miami in the game.

As for this series, the Lakers figured Devin Booker by Game 3. Schroder is clearly the guy to throw Booker off his rhythm and get him quickly frustrated.

Look at this entire possession. Schroder just took it from Booker like it was nothing then threw the lob to Anthony Davis!

Schroder did his job on defense: Booker had 19 points in 41 minutes of action. Schroder constantly pressured him while he had the ball in his hands. Over the course of the game, he was able to pressure Booker into over-dribbling and/or turning the ball over (4 turnovers!).

Thanks to Schroder, the Lakers can slow down Devin Booker. There is nothing the Phoenix Suns can do to stop LeBron James or Anthony Davis.

And Schroder has a big part in breaking the Phoenix Suns defense as the point guard.

As the Los Angeles Lakers point guard, Dennis Schroder needs to get LeBron and AD the ball!

Playing the point guard position in the NBA is a much more comprehensive role than it has been in recent years. Point guards are expected to be the team’s primary scorer and playmaker while defending the opposing team’s point guard.

Even now, Schroder is getting scoffed at by many Lakers fans for turning down $84 million because he only averages 15.4 points and 5.8 assists per game for the Lakers, while not always defending the opposing team’s best player.

If Schroder REALLY wants as much money as possible this offseason, then he will leave the Lakers for a team (say the Detroit Pistons) that will pay him the money and role he wants. The only drawback is he’ll be on the Detroit Pistons and not on the Los Angeles Lakers. If Lakers fans are mad at Schroder for wanting as much money as possible, then so be it.

But in the meantime, Dennis Schroder has one job to do as the Lakers point guard: give LeBron James and Anthony Davis the ball! Preferably in the low post!

In Game 3, Dennis Schroder only had 4 assists. Yet he scored 20 points aggressively taking Cam Payne and Devin Booker off the dribble.

That may not happen in Game 4. The Suns will likely adjust by sending an extra help defender Schroder’s way when he attacks the basket.

As a result, Schroder will likely need to facilitate more than score in Game 4. He is capable of giving LeBron and AD the ball where they should have it.

Check out LeBron toying with Jae Crowder like he’s Bronny.

Dennis Schroder’s lob to Anthony Davis was a simple yet masterful pass! It was so beautiful, it had to be shown again in this article!

Ultimately, Dennis Schroder’s job on offense is to give the ball to LeBron James and Anthony Davis as the team’s point guard. For this team going forward, his best role on offense is to pass first, attack the basket second, and shoot third as the team’s point guard.

Conclusion: 

To summarize things, Dennis Schroder is a menace to his opponents (and occasionally to his own team). On defense, he is the main guy to take away what the Phoenix Suns’ best player (Devin Booker) likes to do best. Booker is already trying to collect rent on Schroder for being in his head but has been unsuccessful.

Offensively, Schroder just needs to get the ball to LeBron James and Anthony Davis. LeBron and AD will do the rest since nobody on Phoenix can guard them straight up.

As long as Dennis Schroder does his job, the results (and money) will come.