Dorian Finney-Smith lastly broke out as a Internet, and maybe unlocked a precious new lineup within the course of.
In Friday’s 124-107 win over the Hawks, he loved by far his greatest recreation since arriving from the Mavericks as a part of the Kyrie Irving commerce.
Finney-Smith additionally supplied Brooklyn with a pivotal new look.
Finney-Smith entered having scored 6.4 factors per recreation and was taking pictures simply 31 % from the sphere and a lowly 26 % from 3-point vary in 22 video games as a Internet as he struggled to get acclimated to his new staff.
It was a steep drop-off from his manufacturing with Dallas, the place he was taking pictures 42 % from the sphere and 36 % from behind the arc together with 9.1 factors per recreation in 40 contests this season.
Because the Nets rode a third-quarter outburst to a important win, Finney-Smith poured in 19 factors on 7-of-10 taking pictures from the sphere and 4-of-6 from behind the arc together with eight rebounds.
It was his highest-scoring output as a Internet, and his most-efficient taking pictures evening from the sphere.
“It feels good, man,” Finney-Smith mentioned following Friday evening’s win about his 4 3-pointers. “Particularly when the entire staff is yelling at me once I flip down photographs to remain aggressive. It feels good once you acquired guys who consider in you, so I recognize them.”
It was his efficiency on the opposite finish of the courtroom that may have been most beneficial, nevertheless.
The Nets’ turned the sport round within the second quarter earlier than blowing it open after halftime.
Coach Jacque Vaughn opted for a small-ball lineup that featured Finney-Smith as a makeshift heart for a lot of the run, and it proved extraordinarily fruitful.
Brooklyn closed the primary half on a 20-10 run to regain the lead with Finney-Smith at heart.
Finney-Smith greater than held his personal anchoring the protection, together with a highlight-reel block of Saddiq Bey, and supplied the Nets extra ground spacing on the offensive finish.
Usually, backup heart Day’Ron Sharpe would fill these minutes whereas starter Nic Claxton rests, however Vaughn now seemingly has a brand new different.
Finney-Smith completed a team-high plus-32, whereas Sharpe’s was a team-low minus-17.
“Once I go to the 5 I simply attempt to use it as a bonus, particularly my power,” Finney-Smith mentioned after the sport. “I can stand up and down the courtroom quick and I can guard one by way of 5. It simply gave them a distinct look. [Sharpe] did his job tonight, however they had been making some robust photographs and once they ship me on the market they type of don’t ice it on me that a lot, so it simply gave them a distinct look.”
Finney-Smith emerged as one of many league’s extra sought-after two-way wings with Dallas as a result of his 3-and-D capacity, although most of his earlier defensive acumen got here across the perimeter as a substitute of the paint.
It’s what made him an necessary a part of the Nets’ haul for Irving.
Finney-Smith arrived together with Spencer Dinwiddie, a first-round choose and two second-round picks as a part of the deal, because the Nets despatched Markieff Morris along with Irving to the Mavericks.
Although Mikal Bridges continued his red-hot stretch with a game-high 42 factors within the win over the Hawks, he additionally proved pivotal in getting his new teammate again to type.
“He’s displaying his entire recreation,” Finney-Smith mentioned of Bridges. “He’s additionally doing a superb job of telling me to get my confidence again as a result of I had performed [against] him a bunch of occasions in order that they know what I can do. It feels good when he’s scoring 40 however he’s worrying about me as a result of I’m not taking pictures it how I need to. So I’m comfortable for him.”