Dorian Finney-Smith has emerged as one of the Rockets’ most significant letdowns this season, consistently hampered by injuries and fluctuating performance. The Lakers had already encountered similar difficulties with him last year and had even cautioned other franchises about his tendencies during the offseason. Regrettably, the Rockets overlooked these warnings, making Finney-Smith another name on their extensive list of injury woes this year.
Dorian Finney-Smith’s Persistent Health Issues
Affectionately known as “Doe-Doe,” he has appeared in only 37 games this season, constantly struggling with a persistent ankle injury. Predictably, this ailment has also hindered his effectiveness whenever he has taken the court. His averages reflect his struggles, posting just 3 points and 2 rebounds per game, with shooting splits of 33% from the field and a mere 27% from beyond the arc.
Finney-Smith was acquired to address a critical need for the Rockets as a dependable 3-and-D forward. It’s been evident throughout the season that the Rockets lack robust two-way players. Though Finney-Smith was never projected as a star, Houston harbored significant expectations that he would positively contribute on both offense and defense by excelling in his assigned role.
Instead, his recurring injury problems have exacerbated the team’s existing roster challenges. In his absence, many of the Rockets’ rotation choices have devolved into difficult trade-offs between players each possessing distinct, noticeable flaws. This situation has unfortunately resulted in the Rockets entering the playoffs without a clear, consistent team identity.
Houston’s Resilience Amidst Finney-Smith’s Injury Setbacks
Despite these challenges, the Rockets have demonstrated remarkable persistence, completing a strong season with Finney-Smith contributing minimally. They secured a 5th-place finish in the Western Conference and are now set for a first-round playoff clash against his former team, the Lakers. Interestingly, Los Angeles faces comparable roster issues to Houston, with many of their role players exhibiting exploitable weaknesses.
However, Finney-Smith has a prime opportunity to prove his worth in the crucial moments of the playoffs, provided he can remain fit. With the Lakers missing Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves at the start of the series, LeBron James will likely spearhead their offensive efforts. Considering James’s vast experience, the Rockets would be prudent to deploy various defenders against him – and Finney-Smith could certainly be among them.
Indeed, Finney-Smith might possess the most extensive experience guarding LeBron James among the Rockets’ current players. His physique is ideally suited to challenge LeBron’s formidable size and enduring athleticism, complemented by his own decade-long career in the NBA. Even if he doesn’t play a direct man-to-man defense against LeBron, Finney-Smith can still offer valuable guidance to his younger teammates on strategies to contain “The King.”
One can hope that Dorian Finney-Smith can rebound from an injury-plagued season, a scenario that the Lakers seemingly anticipated. He will soon have an ample chance to exact his revenge against his former team.
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