Dorian Finney-Smith made big-time plays that did not show up in the box score, but the Lakers showed to be better when he was on the floor.
Like any statistic, plus-minus has its flaws. But it can also have specific positive or negative indicators over a long enough sample.
A “plus-minus king,” is usually bestowed upon an unsung hero in the box score who’s consistently involved within the most productive lineups. For the Lakers’ last season, that player was Dorian Finney-Smith.
Just over one month before the franchise-altering deal for Luka Dončić, the Lakers made a trade to acquire one of the most sought-after two-way wings in the league. Finney-Smith came over from Brooklyn for D’Angelo Russell, making an instant impact.
Following his addition, the Lakers went 32-19, tied for third best in the West. Finney-Smith was a plus-268 during his Lakers tenure, ranking number one on the team by a mile.
The numbers don’t jump out at you: 7.9 points and 3.6 rebounds on 39.8% shooting from three. His impact, though, went beyond the surface-level box score, with one notable place being on the boards.
The 6’7 “forward was repeatedly asked to play the big man role, even playing center in multiple lineups. He was the last piece in their death lineup, one head coach J.J. Redick leaned heavily on, to say the least, during the playoffs. To play that position, boxing out is imperative. It’s simplistic in basketball terms, but not always executed.
Finney-Smith rarely misses a box-out opportunity. Once a shot goes up, his first instinct is to search for a body to attach himself to. Notice in the clip below as he’s in the low man position, responsible for being the help at the rim.
The Mavericks have a two-big lineup with Anthony Davis and Derek Lively on the floor. Once the shot is released in the clip above, Finney-Smith’s head turns and focuses on the 7-foot Lively. The front-facing box out allows for LeBron to swoop in for the rebound.
Finney Smith also contributed as a rim protector, being one of the best on the team at defending without fouling by using verticality to impact offensive drives. The clip below demonstrates this, as he goes straight up against a Kyrie Irving layup attempt.
He absorbs the contact of Irving while keeping his hands straight in the air to contest. It’s textbook form.
You don’t get stat sheet credit for boxing out or using verticality, but it shows up where it counts the most, the scoreboard. Per the NBA’s tracking data, when he was on the floor, the team held a plus-11.1 net rating, ranking number one on the team.
In addition to all his responsibilities as a big man, Finney-Smith was tasked with defending the other team’s top perimeter wing or shot creator. He utilizes a seven-foot wingspan along with his quick feet and basketball IQ. Watch below as he matches up one-on-one with Kevin Durant, crowding him and forcing a miss.
On offense, along with shooting, Finney-Smith used those same smarts and instincts to open up shots for others. His screen setting was a significant part of the Lakers’ offense, whether off the ball to create a 3-pointer for a teammate or actions where he’s more directly involved, such as the “Gortat Screen” demonstrated in the clip below.
It starts with a regular on-ball screen but Finney-Smith sees Luka driving and screens the big man one more time in the paint to completely open up the rim. It’s a synergistic play between a two-man pairing.
Finney-Smith spoke on this play following a Lakers practice this season.
“Whenever I had the opportunity, I would do it in Dallas.” said Finney-Smith. “It’s usually with big men in drops. Usually, they’re not in drops. I’m popping when they’re in drops. I was able to get a couple Gortat screens because they were in man-to-man and he drove my direction and the basketball instincts just kicked in and tried to get my guy an easy layup.
“It’s available when the floor’s spaced the right way. But it’s a wrinkle you put in for a drop coverage.”
The Lakers’ last “plus-minus King” was Alex Caruso during the 2020 title run, who now plays a similar role on the title favorite, the Oklahoma City Thunder. That torch has now been passed to Finney-Smith, who the Lakers hope to retain this summer and reach similar heights next season.