[embedded content]
Dennis Schroder played a decisive role in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 125-120 Game 5 win over the Toronto Raptors, and he made his impact clear when explaining his fourth-quarter surge.
“Yeah. I mean, I was just trying to be aggressive. We were speaking at halftime. Making sure that we play Cavs basketball,” Schroder said.
The guard described his mindset as Cleveland entered a critical moment in the series, emphasizing urgency and momentum.
“So, it’s all about momentum. They had the momentum going into Game 5 because they won two in a row,” he said. “I felt like I had to say something to the group so we can rise and go play Cavs basketball and play to our standards.”
Schroder also detailed what he told the team during that halftime message, pointing to Cleveland’s identity and structure.
“I just want to see Cavs basketball, how we played when we first got here,” he said. “We need the big guys. I mean, Jarrett and Evan Mobley are the key to our team.”
He stressed the importance of involving the frontcourt duo alongside Cleveland’s primary creators.
“We got two superstars with Don and with Uno [James Harden], but those two big men, they’re the top bigs in the league,” Schroder said. “So we got to use them and that’s the key to our success.”
Schroder’s role had fluctuated throughout the series, but he focused on readiness rather than frustration.
“Yeah, I mean just keep working, trusting what I do. And just staying with it, waiting for your turn,” he said. “When your number is called, you got to be ready.”
He acknowledged the mental challenge of limited minutes earlier in the postseason.
“It’s tough for sure. But my mental toughness, I had to go through everything already through my life,” Schroder said. “You just got to stick with it.”
Experience, he added, becomes useful only when matched with consistent intensity.
“I think experience of course matters, but at the end of the day, the urgency and the energy got to be there,” he said.
Cleveland’s ability to play multiple ball handlers also helped unlock their offense in key stretches.
“It’s great. But we just got to play Cavs basketball,” Schroder said. “Use the bigs, make sure they’re a threat.”
The closing stretch also highlighted trust within the roster, including moments when he stayed on the floor during a hot run.
“I’m the same way though. When somebody is balling… I’m letting the guy cook,” he said. “I appreciate it from Don. That means a lot.”
Schroder finished with 19 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter, as Cleveland took a 3-2 series lead heading into Game 6 in Toronto.
[embedded content]
