In the 2015 NBA Playoffs, no team has failed to replicate their regular season prowess quite like the Atlanta Hawks. In the regular season, the Hawks posted a 106.2 offensive rating, good for sixth in the NBA. In the postseason, this number has fallen to 101.6, better than only seven of the 16 playoff teams. This offensive inefficiency has been observable for numerous stretches in the postseason, and much of this collapse can be attributed to the team’s backup point guard, Dennis Schroder.
In the regular season, Schroder shot 42.7 percent from the field and 35.1 percent from behind the arc, giving the Hawks enough production to stay afloat while Jeff Teague was on the bench. However, in the playoffs, these numbers have fallen drastically. Schroder is shooting an abysmal 38.4 percent from the field and 24.1 percent from behind the arc during the postseason. His PER has dropped as well, tumbling from 15.7 in the regular season to 13.6 in the playoffs.
Atlanta’s clear weakness can be easily identified when looking at the team’s offensive rating and net rating in the playoffs. In the postseason, the Hawks have an offensive rating of 107.0 when Schroder is off of the court, a number even better than their strong regular season mark. Additionally, Atlanta’s net rating during this time is more than respectable at plus-10.4. However, with Schroder on the court, the Hawks’ offensive rating has plummeted to 93.7, and their net rating has dropped to minus-7.4.
Schroder’s weaknesses have become so evident mainly because of how much Atlanta has used him when he has been on the court during their playoff run. Schroder leads the team in usage percentage by 2.2 percent, a mark that surpasses teammates like Al Horford, DeMarre Carroll, Paul Millsap and Teague. Not only is Schroder being used more than any of his teammates, he owns the sixth-highest usage percentage in the playoffs overall.
Although it is not a time for experiments, head coach Mike Budenholzer will need to figure out what to do with his offense when Teague is on the bench. Although the Hawks do not have many options to choose from, Shelvin Mack is an interesting possibility to supplant Schroder on the depth chart.
Nicholas Sciria is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Nick_Sciria, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.