[Hoopsmeister]

I tend to agree that Finley's scoring average is going to dip a bit (beyond simply the effect of his first few games back) but I think his shooting percentage will go up. I don't think it will happen so much because of his game in relation to the Mavs fast-breaking offense--that opens up as many easy scores for Fin as it does anybody else either in terms of easy baskets or finishing at the basket off a pass from Nash--but simply because of the shift in the offense.

In the past, Finley was the Man. The Mavs needed him to score no matter what to have a chance in the game. Now of course, over the course of his injury, the Mavs have shown that they don't need Finley to score 20 every game. Not only the increase in Nash and Dirk's games but the addition of Howard, Hardaway, Griffin, Wang, etc, etc. I'm not saying the others are better scorers than Finley, but rather that this team is loaded with guys who can put the ball in the hoop. There will still be nights when Finley is hot and goes off for 30+. But on nights when he is not shooting as well, I don't think he will force up as many difficult shots because somebody has to. Instead, he can have confidence that if he doesn't have a good shot, he can pass it off and somebody on our offensive juggernaut will end up with a better shot.