Dennis Schröder at the pistons: winning streak with the basketball world champion

The city, which became famous as a “Motor City”, now has a new drive. You could say: finally. Because, as the decades of economic decline have shaped Detroit, the crises of all of the companies such as General Motors, Chrysler or Ford, the Detroit Piston’s basketball team is now putting on its own upswing. A former loser group mutates into the currently hottest team in the winter, this story coordinates with the arrival of Dennis Schröder in Michigan.

The figures show a series for the master of 1989, 1990 and 2004 as it was last ten years ago: seven victories in a row, six of them since the trade, which blew the German world champion into the city; Makes sixth place in the east table of the US Profiliga NBA. The pistons were considered a rubble last season, which was evident with a record of 28 bankruptcies in a row. “Almost a year after the disaster, Detroit suddenly plows through the league,” the magazine is therefore surprised Sports Illustrated.

Schröder, 31, who, after an odyssey about many stations in his twelfth NBA year, is also surprised at his ninth club. He has become a traveler of basketball together with his family – one who is passed around in the sometimes questionable interchange of the company. “At the end of the day it is modern slavery,” said Schröder himself a few weeks ago, although it should be noted: after all, well -paid slavery (its current annual salary is $ 13 million). This system gave him the Brooklyn, Golden State and now Detroit brand brands in the current season alone.

At this location, however, it is a little different, because what initially looked like another new start from necessity turns out to be a stroke of luck for Schröder. After a long time, he ended up in the league settings with a franchise with a winning culture. In a functioning team with a clear distribution of roles, in an emerging basketball team that builds on his skills. “He didn’t need long familiarization time and is a real profit for us,” says Detroits young leader Cade Cunningham, who currently protrudes in almost every game. “We have more options with him. Dennis is dangerous on the offensive and defends Klug across the field. It fits our identity perfectly. “

In the end, is Detroit a stroke of luck for Schröder, even if he is a bank player there?

If you like, it consists of the specific characteristics of the workers’ city of Detroit: willingness to sacrifice, solidarity, sleeve high. Schröders don’t even pay those of his individually strong start to the season at the Brooklyn Nets. He comes from the bank with less playing time, usually only takes a few litters, organizes the attacks and throws himself into big moments with delight, such as those final minutes at 148: 143 against Atlanta this week. There was suddenly appearing with decisive points of the world championship Schröder (a total of 16 points). “Dennis won us the game today, he was just huge for us,” praised Cunningham.

Similarly, Detroits coach JB Bickerstaff formulated it, who now sees his bunch full of talent for a veteran. As is well known, Schröder’s development as a basketball player is based on an environment that emphasizes his strengths, which gives him chief responsibility – and he currently has this: he is asked with his experience as head of operations from the second row. “It’s great to have another player who can handle the ball who courageously goes,” said coach Bickerstaff after the Atlanta game. Schröder himself, despite all the imponderables that the constant change brings with it, apparently resigned himself to his fate. He has acquired a certain pragmatics when it comes to new beginnings. Well, then Detroit, his approach initially looked at the new task – before he now looks really satisfied.

“When I arrived here, it felt like I had been there for weeks,” he said this week in the press conference. “This is due to the teammates and the coaches who made it easy for me.” And he has a sporty understandable explanation for team success. “It’s fun because we play well together, we have a very selfless team, so it went so well here before I came.” It may also be due to chance, but maybe that is the most important point: Dennis Schröder has found a place with his move to Detroit that enables him and his employer a symbiosis. And now in “Motor City” the pistons rattle a few weeks before the playoffs.