Dorian Finney-Smith Admits Lakers Didn't Use Coaches' 'Study Guide' in Spurs Blowout

The veteran swingman diagnosed L.A.'s biggest issue against San Antonio.

Jan 13, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) dribbles the ball against Los Angeles Lakers forward Dorian Finney-Smith (17) during the third quarter at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images / Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

During the Los Angeles Lakers' disappointing 126-102 blowout loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday, a largely healthy L.A. squad looked fairly listless against All-Defensive First Team second-year center Victor Wembanyama, former 12-time All-Star point guard Chris Paul, and the rest of the chippy young Spurs.

Final pic.twitter.com/mAcDslMD7C

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 14, 2025

All-NBA Second Team Lakers center Anthony Davis led Los Angeles with 30 points on 13-of-18 shooting from the field (2-of-5 from long range) and 2-of-4 shooting from the foul line and 13 rebounds. The 6-foot-10 Kentucky product also blocked two shots, stole the ball twice, and dished out a pair of dimes.

Still, things weren't entirely sunny for the nine-time All-Star. Davis finished with a team-worst -21 plus-minus, and looked old and plodding against the more bigger, more lithe Wembanyama.

More Lakers: Los Angeles Called Out for Massive Mistake During Michael Cooper Jersey Retirement

For his part, sixth man Lakers small forward Dorian Finney-Smith noted that blame for the defeat should fall to the team, not head coach JJ Redick and his decorated staff, as Dave McMenamin of ESPN detailed.

Dorian Finney-Smith on the Lakers' lopsided loss to the Spurs: "We didn’t execute the game plan like we were supposed to. But the coaches, they gave us the right answers to the test. We just ain’t use the study guide."

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) January 14, 2025

"We didn’t execute the game plan like we were supposed to," Finney-Smith said. "But the coaches, they gave us the right answers to the test. We just ain’t use the study guide."

Los Angeles coughed up a 62-53 halftime lead in a brutal second half, that saw the club's defense collapse against a younger Spurs squad.

More Lakers: JJ Redick Reacts After Spurs' Victor Wembanyama, Chris Paul Gift Sons Their Journeys

For now, Finney-Smith continues to come off the bench for Los Angeles. He hasn't gotten into much of a shooting rhythm just yet. To wit, he scored just four points on 1-of-4 shooting from the field and 1-of-2 shooting from the foul line, chipping in three rebounds and two steals, across 20:10 against the Spurs.

Across his six games for Los Angeles so far, the newly-acquired Finney-Smith is averaging 6.8 points on .438/.409/.800 shooting splits, 3.2 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 0.8 steals a night.

The veteran 3-and-D forward could make sense as a starter over either Rui Hachimura or Max Christie. Redick has been a strong advocate of Christie — and given the team's surprising four-year, $32 million investment in the raw young swingman out of Michigan State this past offseason — it's clear that Los Angeles brass envisions a big role for the 22-year-old.

But Finney-Smith is better right now, and could handily defend opposing guards and forwards as L.A.'s starting two guard.

Alternately, Finney-Smith could replace Hachimura at small forward, who's essentially a power forward playing down a position to accommodate an aging LeBron James' limitations defending opposing wings. Hachimura is better at that gig, but Finney-Smith is better than Hachimura.

More Lakers:

Lakers West Rival Waives Former Los Angeles Center

Lakers Still Have Interest in $15 Million Center Ahead of Trade Deadline

For all the latest Los Angeles Lakers news and notes, stay tuned to Lakers On SI.