DeMar DeRozan has struggled throughout the playoffs for the Toronto Raptors, but things were taken to a new level of poor play during a Game 4 loss to the Miami Heat on Monday night.
DeRozan shot just 4-of-17 (23.5 percent) and went 1-of-4 from the free throw line in a 94-87 overtime loss. He’s now shooting 35 percent from the field in the series and 53.8 percent from the line. Compare that to the 44.6 percent from the field he shot during the regular season and 85 percent on free throws, and you know something is wrong.
It appears that his thumb injury is much more serious than anyone has acknowledged.
DeRozan suffered a thumb injury during Game 1, which has led to him having it heavily taped/iced after games and practices:
— Nate Jones (@JonesOnTheNBA) May 10, 2016
Everyone's icing something post-practice. For DeRozan, it's his right thumb he hurt in Game 1. pic.twitter.com/ysPwVFBWx7
— Lori Ewing (@Ewingsports) May 8, 2016
Though you could argue that DeRozan’s shooting slump existed during the team’s first-round playoff series against the Pacers before he suffered the injury, there are recent signs that it has become worse.
For instance, DeRozan’s shooting percentage has gotten progressively worse in each game since Game 1. He stopped shooting 3-pointers for the most part, going from attempting 18 threes in the first round of the playoffs to only one the entire series against the Heat. And even though he only shot 31.9 percent on field goals against the Pacers, he still made 87.2 percent of his free throws. Against the Heat, he’s making just 53.8 percent from the line — a sure sign that something is wrong with the career 82.5 percent free throw shooter.
There is talk that DeRozan, an impending free agent, is costing himself money with this showing. Lakers fans are even getting concerned as there’s been talk the team is likely to make a run at him.
Just keep in mind that the truly bad shooting from DeRozan is almost certainly due to an under-publicized thumb injury. And although you’d love to see DeRozan shoot the ball less, with center Jonas Valanciunas out for the series, Toronto doesn’t exactly have great alternatives.
