LOS ANGELES — Lakers forward Dorian-Finney Smith has been on a minutes restriction since the team acquired him from the Brooklyn Nets in late December, but that playing time limitation was increased ahead of the team’s home game against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night.
When asked about Finney Smith’s comfort with the team and the team’s comfort with playing him more, Coach JJ Redick acknowledged before the game that Finney-Smith has been on a playing time restriction since he and Shake Milton joined the team in exchange for D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis and three second-round draft picks in the Dec. 29 trade.
“It’s been hard because he’s been on a minutes restriction since we got him, so just having to kind of navigate that and try to save him, save those like four or five minutes for the end of the game, it’s been challenging,” Redick said. “We got word [on Tuesday] that we can up his minutes from 20 to 24. So that helps, that helps.”
Finney-Smith entered Tuesday averaging 23.4 minutes in the seven games he has played with the Lakers, down from the 29 minutes he averaged in the 20 games he played for the Nets before being traded.
Redick said Finney-Smith was on a minutes restriction because of an ankle ailment.
Finney-Smith sat out of four games in late November/early December because of a sprained left ankle.
He also missed time before being traded because of a left calf contusion – which Finney-Smith said was related.
Finney-Smith has only been able to practice once – on Jan. 10 – since joining the Lakers.
He wasn’t able to participate in their Dec. 30 practice as the physicals from the trade were being completed and missed the Jan. 16 practice because he was away from the team for personal reasons. His wife gave birth to a boy earlier in the month.
“Those practices when we were kind of in limbo and the uncertainty around when we’d be able to play again, we got a lot in,” Redick said of the schedule changes because of the wildfires. “And then of course he has to leave.
“But I think he’s in a good spot. We’re super comfortable with him and he’s super comfortable in his role. As the season progresses, we hope that that minute total gets back up to kind of what he was doing in Brooklyn. About 29, 30 minutes a game. That’s kind of what we’re all hoping for.”
SELF-ASSESSMENT
Tuesday was the Lakers’ 41st game, marking the midway point of the regular season and providing Redick the opportunity to reflect on how he’s grown since being hired as a first-time coach in late June.
“My assistants would have a better answer for you,” Redick said. “I was very comfortable on Day 1. I’m more comfortable now. The synthesis of information has always been very easy for me. Being able to communicate that has been natural – I’m getting better at that.
“In game, there are certain things that are out of your control. But the things that I can control, I think I’ve been pretty good with. But there’s obviously things that you look back at certain games, certain losses, and you’re like, ‘Hmm. Should’ve done that.’
Redick added: “The San Antonio game [on Dec. 13]. Great example. With [Victor Wembanyama], we were in 1-5 coverage. It was one of the few games we’ve had where we’re switching across the board. And we talked about it as a staff pregame, looking back at that game, we should’ve been in coverage with Charles Bassey. He killed us on the offensive glass. Made a difference in the second half. So there’s always things you’re evaluating and wish you could do better.”