It has been a while since the Los Angeles Lakers started a playoff series in their own arena. The last time they did so was back in 2012, back when Kobe Bryant was still their main man and Crypto.com Arena was known as Staples Center.
But on Saturday, Game 1 of the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs between the Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves will take place at Crypto.com Arena, and fans are sure to be hyped, especially since the Lakers are thought to be legitimate championship contenders this year.
Forward Dorian Finney-Smith is one man who is looking forward to the playoff atmosphere for Game 1 on Saturday.
“First time I’m going to feel that Laker energy I grew up watching, watching them in the playoffs,” DFS said. “I’m excited to see the energy that’s going to be in the building.”
This will be Finney-Smith’s fifth appearance in the playoffs in his nine NBA seasons. He reached the Western Conference Finals as a member of the Dallas Mavericks in 2022, so he has learned what the playoffs are all about.
“The playoffs are different, obviously,” DFS said. “It’s just that every possession matters when you’re playing in the playoffs. Our fans are always engaged, so I can only imagine how it’s going to be in the playoffs. Just talking to [Austin Reaves] and Vando (Jarred Vanderbilt), they talk about the run they made and it was lit in the building. I just want to see for myself.”
That run the 31-year-old mentioned came in 2023 when L.A. got to the Western Conference Finals. This time around, the team seems to have a stronger chance at actually going all the way, and it isn’t only because it now boasts Luka Doncic.
The Lakers acquired Finney-Smith in a late December trade from the Brooklyn Nets. His arrival marked the beginning of their turnaround after a couple of years of mostly mediocrity, and he has helped turn them into a playoff-ready team that has the ability to lock opponents down defensively, especially on the perimeter.
His defensive ability will be needed for this upcoming series, as L.A. is going up against Anthony Edwards, the superstar Timberwolves guard who can will his team to victory almost by himself at times.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Dorian Finney-Smith is looking forward to playoff atmosphere in L.A.
It has been a while since the Los Angeles Lakers started a playoff series in their own arena. The last time they did so was back in 2012, back when Kobe Bryant was still their main man and Crypto.com Arena was known as Staples Center.
But on Saturday, Game 1 of the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs between the Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves will take place at Crypto.com Arena, and fans are sure to be hyped, especially since the Lakers are thought to be legitimate championship contenders this year.
Forward Dorian Finney-Smith is one man who is looking forward to the playoff atmosphere for Game 1 on Saturday.
“First time I’m going to feel that Laker energy I grew up watching, watching them in the playoffs,” DFS said. “I’m excited to see the energy that’s going to be in the building.”
This will be Finney-Smith’s fifth appearance in the playoffs in his nine NBA seasons. He reached the Western Conference Finals as a member of the Dallas Mavericks in 2022, so he has learned what the playoffs are all about.
“The playoffs are different, obviously,” DFS said. “It’s just that every possession matters when you’re playing in the playoffs. Our fans are always engaged, so I can only imagine how it’s going to be in the playoffs. Just talking to [Austin Reaves] and Vando (Jarred Vanderbilt), they talk about the run they made and it was lit in the building. I just want to see for myself.”
That run the 31-year-old mentioned came in 2023 when L.A. got to the Western Conference Finals. This time around, the team seems to have a stronger chance at actually going all the way, and it isn’t only because it now boasts Luka Doncic.
The Lakers acquired Finney-Smith in a late December trade from the Brooklyn Nets. His arrival marked the beginning of their turnaround after a couple of years of mostly mediocrity, and he has helped turn them into a playoff-ready team that has the ability to lock opponents down defensively, especially on the perimeter.
His defensive ability will be needed for this upcoming series, as L.A. is going up against Anthony Edwards, the superstar Timberwolves guard who can will his team to victory almost by himself at times.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Dorian Finney-Smith is looking forward to playoff atmosphere in L.A.
