Dennis Schröder's lessons aiding Pistons a year later: 'He helped us a lot'

Detroit — Before the Pistons’ 111–101 victory over the Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, Cleveland head coach Kenny Atkinson spoke about the familiarity between the two teams and how it could help from a scouting perspective. “We had a little bit of a cram session to prepare for the series,” Atkinson said. “Our players ask a lot of questions.

These guys know plays and schemes as well as, if not better, than we do. ” While many of the Cavaliers’ core players previously played for Pistons head coach J. B.

Bickerstaff, who spent four seasons as the head coach in Cleveland, only one Cavalier has played for him in Detroit: reserve point guard Dennis Schröder. Schröder returned to Detroit on the opposing sideline after helping stabilize the Pistons’ backup point guard position last season. He played a key role in their postseason run after being acquired in a multi-team deal before the trade deadline.

“We had a good time with Dennis,” Bickerstaff said. “He helped us a lot with what we were trying to do, and he came in at the right time for both him and for us. The small tricks he knows, those are lessons for guys.