Mavericks: Dorian Finney-Smith has transformed into an elite 3-and-D option

Shooting

Dorian Finney-Smith’s largest area of improvement has been his shooting. It has been a steady climb during his four NBA seasons. This year, DFS is hitting 39.3 percent from 3-point range. That breakthrough has allowed him to earn more playing time. It also increased his confidence and allowed him to be a willing shooter. Finney-Smith doesn’t pass up open looks anymore. That is an important development.

The 26-year-old has continued to improve too. Since Dec. 1, Doe-Doe is shooting 42.3 percent over 141 3-point attempts. That is a 32-game sample size.

The offense is creating a ton of open threes. Having elite floor spacers around Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis helps, but the Mavericks are also scheming to get those looks. For the season, 160 of Finney-Smith’s 206 3-point attempts have been classified as wide open by NBA Stats. The Mavericks forward is hitting those tries at 40.6 percent.

Dorian Finney-Smith transforming into an elite 3-point shooter makes him the 3-and-D wing the Dallas Mavericks dreamed of when they signed him. Credit his work ethic too. Doe-Doe went undrafted out of Florida and has pushed his way into a player averaging 29.6 minutes per game on a playoff-bound team.

The Mavs have a bargain too after signing him to a three-year deal worth $12 million in total during the summer of 2019. Expect Finney-Smith to continue improving over the length of the contract.