With Harrison Barnes back in Dallas nursing a strained right hamstring, this is the ideal time for Dorian Finney-Smith to step up and take his game to another level.
Finney-Smith will make his third straight start this preseason when the Mavs (1-1) meet the Philadelphia 76ers (3-0) on Monday at 7 a.m. CT at the Shenzhen Universiade Center in Shenzhen, China. Following Monday’s game, the Mavs will fly home and have their preseason finale against Charlotte on Friday at 6 p.m. at American Airlines Center before opening the regular season on Oct. 17 in Phoenix.
In the Mavs’ first preseason game on Sept 29 – a 116-63 victory over the Beijing Ducks — Finney-Smith played 26 minutes and finished with seven points, five rebounds, two assists and three steals. He also was 3-of-6 from the field and 1-of-2 from 3-point territory.
And during last Friday’s 120-114 loss to the Sixers in Shanghai, China, Finney-Smith collected four points, five rebounds and one steal in 21 minutes, and was 3-of-6 from the field while missing his two 3-point attempts.
Tendinitis in his left quadriceps limited Finney-Smith to just 21 games last year. But he has completely recovered form that injury and the Mavs are expecting him to be a vital part of their rotation this season.
“He’s 100 percent from everything I’ve seen and he just continues to get more and more confidence at both ends of the floor,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “He’s certainly one of our best perimeter defenders, along with (Wesley) Matthews.
“He’s a very unique player in that, for a perimeter guy he’s a great offensive rebounder. We normally don’t turn our perimeter guys loose on the offensive boards. He’s an exception because he’s so good. He’s quick and athletic enough, and plays with enough force where he can do that and still get back on defense.’’
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