The Raptors were once again swept by the Cavaliers on Monday night following a 128-93 defeat.
DeMar DeRozan, who was ejected in Game 4 after a flagrant two foul call, finished with 13 points (5-for-11 from the field) and a series-low minus-29.
DeRozan picked the worst possible time to have his worst performance of the season. From Game 2 on, the four-time All-Star was no better than a minus-22.
DeMar DeRozan's worst plus/minus performances of the 2017-18 season
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) May 8, 2018
1. Game 4 vs. Cavs: minus-29
2. Game 3 vs. Cavs: minus-23
3. Game 2 vs. Cavs: minus-22
He never seemed to be able to get going in the series — something that Raptors' fans saw unfold against these same Cavaliers during the last three playoff runs.
"The last three years have been rough for us, competing against this team," DeRozan said postgame. "Maybe they just got our number.
"Things just don't go right for us. Whatever it is — it could be a lot of things. All I know is the last three years they have been a reason why we haven't advanced."
While DeRozan seems to shrink against the Cavaliers, LeBron James elevates his game when he sees a Raptors jersey.
James averaged 34.0 points, 11.3 assists and 8.3 rebounds in the series. It was the most assists he's ever averaged in a playoff series in his Hall-of-Fame worthy career, proving he wasn't just a one-man show out there.
James' supporting cast was non-existent in the first round against the Pacers, but that Cavs crew got going agaist the Raptors, creating the perfect storm for Toronto's early playoff exit.
"It's not just him going out there scoring 128 points," DeRozan continued. "The guys around him that he gets involved in the game make plays for them.
"There's a lot of things he does for his teammates to get them going. It's definitely been a challenge for us over the years."
The Raptors now face their third straight offseason with the question of how they overcome a LeBron James-led team. The rest of the Eastern Conference has been trying to answer that question for the past seven seasons.
"All you can ask for at the end of the day is to have the opportunity to face him to try to make up for the previous time," DeRozan said. "We just couldn't get it done this time around."
