Dorian Finney-Smith lastly broke out as a Web, and maybe unlocked a helpful new lineup within the course of.
In Friday’s 124-107 win over the Hawks, he loved by far his greatest sport since arriving from the Mavericks as a part of the Kyrie Irving commerce.
Finney-Smith additionally offered Brooklyn with a pivotal new look.
Finney-Smith entered having scored 6.4 factors per sport and was capturing simply 31 p.c from the sector and a lowly 26 p.c from 3-point vary in 22 video games as a Web as he struggled to get acclimated to his new workforce.
It was a steep drop-off from his manufacturing with Dallas, the place he was capturing 42 p.c from the sector and 36 p.c from behind the arc together with 9.1 factors per sport in 40 contests this season.
Because the Nets rode a third-quarter outburst to a essential win, Finney-Smith poured in 19 factors on 7-of-10 capturing from the sector and 4-of-6 from behind the arc together with eight rebounds.
It was his highest-scoring output as a Web, and his most-efficient capturing evening from the sector.
“It feels good, man,” Finney-Smith stated following Friday evening’s win about his 4 3-pointers. “Particularly when the entire workforce is yelling at me once I flip down photographs to remain aggressive. It feels good while you acquired guys who imagine in you, so I admire them.”
It was his efficiency on the opposite finish of the courtroom which may have been most dear, nonetheless.
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 offered the Nets extra flooring 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 various.
Finney-Smith completed a team-high plus-32, whereas Sharpe’s was a team-low minus-17.
“After I go to the 5 I simply attempt to use it as a bonus, particularly my vitality,” Finney-Smith stated after the sport. “I can rise 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 powerful photographs and after they ship me on the market they sort 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 means, although most of his earlier defensive acumen got here across the perimeter as an alternative of the paint.
It’s what made him an vital 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 kind.
“He’s exhibiting his complete sport,” Finney-Smith stated of Bridges. “He’s additionally doing a very good 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 capturing it how I wish to. So I’m comfortable for him.”
