DeMar DeRozan jammed the thumb on his shooting hand earlier in the series against the Heat and has been receiving treatment during games ever since. Now, Raptors fans are mimicking the treatment as a show of support for their all-star guard.
While on the bench, DeRozan has been seen getting his thumb wrapped tightly in a shoelace by Alex McKechnie, a member of the team’s training staff. When DeRozan moves the thumb while wrapped, it helps reduce the swelling and he says the thumb feels better when the shoelace is unwrapped.
Just normal stuff going on here. Great photo from @GettyImages. pic.twitter.com/8F5Bh2J7Em
— Jason Lieser (@JasonLieser) May 12, 2016
On Friday, DeRozan wasn’t the only with his finger wrapped. Ahead of (and during) Game 6, Raptors fans had shoelaces around their thumbs as well. Even the team’s mascot did it.
Let's. Go. Rap. Tors. #wethenorth #raptors pic.twitter.com/QRH4DoVuMS
— Ennis Esmer (@ennisesmer) May 14, 2016
The Raptor is lacing up for Game 6. #WeTheNorth #thousanddollashoelace #RTZ https://t.co/iaSdKcwEnT
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) May 13, 2016
DeRozan had his best shooting game of the playoffs on Wednesday in Game 5 and credited the shoelace treatment with playing a role in his performance.
With the Heat winning Friday’s Game 6, that means the series shifts back to Toronto for Game 7 on Sunday. You can bet there will be plenty of red shoelace-wrapped thumbs at Air Canada Centre.
H/T For The Win
