Fri Feb 28 04:50:00 UTC 2025: **Lakers’ Unsung Hero: Finney-Smith’s Impact Extends Beyond the Box Score**
LOS ANGELES – While the Los Angeles Lakers’ acquisition of Luka Dončić understandably dominated headlines, Dorian Finney-Smith’s contribution has quietly become a crucial element of their success. Despite inconsistent shooting, Finney-Smith’s defensive prowess and “winning plays” have solidified his position as a key player.
His +162 plus/minus, second only to Austin Reaves on the team, underscores his impact. In Tuesday’s victory over the Dallas Mavericks, Finney-Smith’s two-point performance belied his significant contributions, particularly in the fourth quarter. Coach JJ Redick highlighted Finney-Smith’s crucial offensive rebounds, screens, steals, and deflections – plays that don’t always register in the box score but are vital to winning.
“He led the charge down the stretch, making winning basketball plays,” Redick stated, citing a key steal from Kyrie Irving and a crucial tip-dunk as examples. Redick, a former teammate of Finney-Smith, emphasized his ability to respond to coaching, describing him as a player who “sets the tone with his toughness.”
LeBron James, who frequently faced Finney-Smith as an opponent, echoed Redick’s praise. “We knew exactly what we were getting,” James said, highlighting Finney-Smith’s ability to make game-changing plays, both statistically visible and otherwise. James specifically pointed to three key plays in the Mavericks game as evidence of Finney-Smith’s impact.
The Lakers appear to have finally found the reliable 3-and-D wing they’ve sought for years in Finney-Smith, a player whose value transcends simple statistics and embodies the team’s winning spirit.
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