DeRozan adamant shooting woes won't continue into Game 5
Another playoff game, another horrendous shooting display from Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan.
Plagued by a thumb injury on his shooting hand, DeRozan came up woefully short in Game 4 as he scored nine points on 4-of-17 shooting from the field while hitting 1-of-4 from the line.
DeRozan admitted to reporters following a 94-87 overtime loss that his thumb wasn't uncomfortable. But he also vowed to play better.
"I know for sure I'm not gonna shoot like I did tonight (in the) next game. I know that for a fact," DeRozan said. "It's just something I have to deal with and I'll push through it."
If that sounds familiar, it's because DeRozan made a similar proclamation after Game 1 against the Indiana Pacers:
"I missed shots. I never had a problem with a guy guarding me, I always take on the challenge. I can't have a great shooting night every night but I'm pretty sure I won't go 5-of-19 again," he said, before going on to hit 5-of-18 in Game 2.
Credit DeRozan for one thing: He hasn't lost his confidence. He's stuck to his game, despite failing performances, and is hoping his shot comes back to him.
| Opponent (Game) | PTS | FGM | FGA | FG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIA (4) | 9 | 4 | 17 | 23.5 |
| MIA (3) | 19 | 6 | 17 | 35.3 |
| MIA (2) | 20 | 9 | 24 | 37.5 |
| MIA (1) | 22 | 9 | 22 | 40.9 |
| IND (7) | 30 | 10 | 32 | 31.3 |
| IND (6) | 8 | 3 | 13 | 23.1 |
| IND (5) | 34 | 10 | 22 | 45.5 |
| IND (4) | 8 | 4 | 15 | 26.7 |
| IND (3) | 21 | 7 | 19 | 36.8 |
| IND (2) | 10 | 5 | 18 | 27.8 |
| IND (1) | 14 | 5 | 19 | 26.3 |
The simple answer for his struggles is that defenses are keying in on him. But DeRozan has been the focus of the defense for the entire season, so it's nothing he hasn't dealt with previously.
It's also baffling DeRozan would miss so many seemingly easy looks. He's shooting 38.6 percent at the rim in the postseason as compared to 60.9 percent during the regular season. His free-throw percentage has also dropped by over 10 percentage points.
His shot chart through 11 games is stained blood red from every spot on the floor.
But at this point, more criticism won't do him any good. DeRozan knows he's struggling, and he's trying everything he can to shut out the noise and just focus on getting back on track.
"You can't let frustration get to you at all. You can't listen to what the outsiders say. You can't get caught up in that. You gotta stay positive. it's 2-2, we got a great opportunity to go home and do what we could do," DeRozan said.