The logic behind DeRozan having a shoelace tied around his thumb
DeMar DeRozan was seen grimacing while Toronto Raptors director of sports science Alex McKechnie tightly tied a shoelace around his injured right thumb prior to Game 5 against the Miami Heat Wednesday.
Canadian broadcast showed them wrapping DeRozan's thumb in a shoelace at the last timeout. But he doesn't seem to be wearing it now.
— John Schuhmann (@johnschuhmann) May 12, 2016
The logic? By applying tight pressure to a wounded area, swelling can be reduced. It worked for DeRozan, too. He tied his career playoff high with 34 points in the 99-91 win, going 11-for-22 from the field. It's only the third time this postseason that DeRozan has shot above 40 percent.
DeRozan was wrapping a shoelace around his injured thumb on the bench to keep swelling down, said it was painful, "it worked though"
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) May 12, 2016