Despite slipping to a road loss to the Houston Rockets, the Los Angeles Lakers are staying positive.
The LA Lakers fell to 20-15 for the season with a loss to the Rockets, but are still well placed, fifth in the Western Conference.
Their road trip continues with a tilt against the Dallas Mavericks, which will pit new signing Dorian Finney-Smith against the team who drafted him.
Finney-Smith briefly crossed over with current Lakers head coach JJ Redick on the Mavs, who got a first-hand look at what he can do, years before the trade with the Brooklyn Nets.
Los Angeles, CA, Thursday, January 2, 2025 – Lakers forward Dorian Finney-Smith sprints up court during second half action against the Portland Tra…
Anthony Davis on Dorian Finney-Smith
LA Lakers star Anthony Davis was asked in the locker room after the game about the impact he has seen from Dorian Finney-Smith so far.
Finney-Smith scored 13 points against the Rockets, his highest output since the trade – and fans are now calling for him to start.
Davis made clear his admiration for Finney-Smith, particularly his defensive abilities.
He said: “He plays the right way, defensively he’s a monster, rebounding, we can only imagine when he really gets comfortable with us and not hesitating shooting the basketball and makes the right reads where he’s just flowing.
“It will be even better for us. We are excited to have him.”
While Finney-Smith’s growing impact is notable, Anthony Davis is continuing to make a big impression on the team right now.
His own rebounding is crucial to the team, he had 13 against the Rockets, along with another 30 points.
Davis is averaging 26 points per game for the season, and 11.8 rebounds per game.
He had an impressive five blocks against the Rockets, shy of his season best of six in a game, against the Sacramento Kings.
But that’s shy of Victor Wembanyama’s best of 10 in a game, with the Spurs star dominant in the category.
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