Harper: Unsinkable DeRozan misfires again

DeMar DeRozan is going to get a max contract no matter what this summer.

That’s the only relief he has at the moment, especially after the Toronto Raptors dropped a close, overtime game to the Miami Heat. Instead of taking a commanding 3-1 series lead heading back to Toronto, the Raptors struggled during the fourth quarter and overtime, and eventually succumbed to the force that is Dwyane Wade. The Heat star and future Hall of Famer was incredible, like he’s been throughout these playoffs and the majority of this season.

When the Heat needed a bucket, Wade had them covered. When the Heat needed a big play, Wade was there to deliver. It was the opposite of what the Raptors received from DeRozan, who continues to struggle throughout the postseason. Against the Indiana Pacers, it was possible first-round jitters for a Raptors team that needed to exorcise some demons to make it to the second round. In the semifinals against the Heat, the struggles are tied to a bad thumb on his shooting hand, which he injured at the end of Game 1.

Ever since then, DeRozan hasn’t resembled the All-Star shooting guard we saw during his contract year.

“It is a concern,” Raptors coach Dwane Casey said after the 94-87 overtime loss. “He’s been getting treatment on it, but he’s a tough kid. I think he’s trying to play through it. We’ll look at it, look at the substituting pattern to try to relieve him a little bit more.”

DeRozan’s discomfort in Game 2 after the thumb was injured is evident in his free throw shooting. The guard, who relies so much …

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