Dorian Finney-Smith just keeps getting better for Dallas Mavericks

Dorian Finney-Smith has improved his ability to drive for the Dallas Mavericks

During the 2020 season when the Mavs led the league in offensive rating, Finney-Smith averaged 3.0 drives per game. He did not crack two a night in his first few seasons, but he was attacking closeouts and getting into the paint. Last season, his drives dipped back to 2.8 per game before reaching a new career-high with 3.3 this year.

He is not Luka Doncic, who is second in the NBA with 22.0 drives per game, and the Mavericks are not asking him to be, but it is a massive advantage if Doe-Doe can recognize a driving lane and exploit it for an easy basket at the rim as he did against the Cavaliers on March 30. 

Cleveland was selling out to stop Luka Doncic on Wednesday night, and Finney-Smith made them pay with 28 points on ten of 16 shooting from the field. The 28-year-old drilled a career-high-tying six 3-pointers, but he was also getting to the rim for easy buckets. There was this unforgettable dunk too.

His ability to put the ball on the floor and attack has only improved throughout this season, and he offers the Dallas Mavericks another option moving forward.

Luka Doncic had to create every shot in the 2021 playoffs against the LA Clippers, and head coach Jason Kidd realized that is not a formula for postseason success. Jalen Brunson and Spencer Dinwiddie are key cogs for Dallas, but Finney-Smith being able to drive when the defense is not set could be massive when the games matter most.