Mavericks expanding role of Dorian Finney-Smith is leading to a breakout

The Dallas Mavericks are arguably the hottest team in the NBA right now after winning 11 of their last 13 games. They have wins over the Warriors, Bulls, Nuggets, and Grizzlies during that stretch. The Mavs are now back up to fifth in the Western Conference and are a team no opponent is looking forward to facing.

First-year head coach Jason Kidd has empowered his players and helped them make a commitment to the defensive end of the floor. Only three teams have scored more than 100 points during their hot streak, and Dallas has the top defensive rating in the NBA since Dec. 1.

Luka Doncic is leading the way, but coach Kidd has Jalen Brunson playing the best basketball of his career. Brunson is not the only player breaking out as Dorian Finney-Smith has taken another step forward this season. Here is a look at how expanding his role has led to a breakout.

Dallas Mavericks help Dorian Finney-Smith breakout by expanding his role

Finney-Smith is at the center of the team’s defensive improvement. The 6’7 forward is the Mavs' top perimeter defender, and he draws the opposition’s toughest assignment on a nightly basis. The entire roster is putting more effort into their defense, which has helped Doe-Doe shine after years of being an underrated option.

Dorian Finney-Smith’s breakout comes on the heels of head coach Jason Kidd giving him an expanded offensive role. Here is a closer look at his increased responsibility and what to expect from the 28-year-old moving forward.

Dallas Mavericks giving Dorian Finney-Smith an expanded ball-handling role

The Mavs lack of ball-handling was on full display during the team’s 2021 first-round playoff loss to the LA Clippers. Luka Doncic had to do it all as Dallas was eliminated after seven hard-fought games.

Former coach Rick Carlisle had a rigid offensive system that attempted to maximize the efficiency of every possession, which stagnated the production from some players. Kristaps Porzingis was frustrated with his role in the playoffs, and the Mavs struggled to diversify their attack against one of the league’s best perimeter defensive teams.

New head coach Jason Kidd is empowering players to do more and expand their game. He wants Dorian Finney-Smith handling the ball more because he knows his team needs more options in the postseason. Kidd had this to say about Doe-Doe’s role following the Mavericks win over the Grizzlies on Jan. 23.

"I think as we look forward, everybody is in the moment, but if we can’t develop another dribbler, it is going to be hard for LD and JB to bring the ball up. In the playoffs, they are going to take away your best and your second best. If we don’t have a third guy who can dribble the ball past half-court, we are not going to go too far, so what Doe has done has been incredible. He’ll get the rebound. His teammates trust him when he’s bringing the ball up, so it is just growth on his part. It gives him more value, and he’ll be able to make more money, so it just goes hand in hand."

Dallas needs options in the playoffs, and they are creating one in Dorian Finney-Smith. He has expanded his game every year, and the fruits of his labor are on full display. Let us take a look at some areas where Doe-Doe has improved, and what it means for the Dallas Mavericks in the postseason.

Dorian Finney-Smith is making plays off the dribble for the Dallas Mavericks

In coach Carlisle’s system, Finney-Smith was a spot-up shooter that would occasionally attack a closeout to create a bucket. This season, he is averaging a career-high in points, assists, steals, and blocks per game. Doe-Doe has tied his career-high with 3.4 2-point field goal attempts per game.

Since Dec. 1, Finney-Smith has taken his game to another level. He is still nailing those 3-pointers, but the assists are up. Over those 27 contests, Doe-Doe is averaging 11.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.0 steal in 32.8 minutes per game. He is dishing off drives like this one in the team’s win over the Grizzlies on Jan. 23.

Finney-Smith is attacking closeouts with a new confidence too. The 6’7 wing does not hesitate when he sees the rim open. Watch him throw down a monster dunk against Memphis in their Jan. 14 victory.

Luka Doncic is one of the best ball-handlers in the league, so all the Mavericks need is a few options to relieve the pressure when teams sell out to stop him in the postseason. Dorian Finney-Smith is stepping up his ball-handling and taking his game to another level. It has been fantastic to watch, and he should only continue improving in his new role down the stretch. The added skill could be massive in the playoffs.

The Dallas Mavericks are playing their best basketball of the season as they attempt to continue climbing the standings. Fans won’t want to miss a second of the action, and please check back to The Smoking Cuban for all the latest news, rumors, and analysis on the team.