Iman Shumpert may start Friday for Knicks
Iman Shumpert #21 of the New York Knicks celebrates a basket against the Charlotte Bobcats during their game. (Jan. 4, 2011) Credit: Jim McIsaac
GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Knicks fans who were chanting for Iman Shumpert to re-enter Wednesday night's loss to the Bobcats soon may get their wish and more.
Coach Mike D'Antoni said Thursday that he was considering starting the rookie against the winless Wizards Friday night in Washington. The Knicks (2-4) need a spark, and Shumpert has provided one in both of the games he's played -- even though he didn't finish either one.
Shumpert scored 11 points in 22 minutes in the Christmas Day season opener against Boston before spraining his right knee in the third quarter. He returned Wednesday night in the Knicks' 118-110 loss to Charlotte and had 18 points, five rebounds and three assists in 30 minutes before sitting out the final 3:50 with cramps in both legs.
The good news? Shumpert posted a pair of postgame tweets to speak directly to frazzled Knicks fans:
First: "I'm not injured . . . I just cramped up tonight. I'll get my conditioning back up . . . don't be alarmed."
And second: "Stay with us New York . . . we will get it right . . . next up is Washington! It felt good being on the floor again with my teammates."
It felt good for them, too, but not much else went right against the Bobcats. That led D'Antoni to give the team a 90-minute videotape session about defense Thursday, which Carmelo Anthony noted was "a long, long film session for six games into the season."
Said D'Antoni: "We were awful. We were awful and a lot of things broke down. Probably a little bit is a lot of pressure busting pipes. I think we've got some pipes busted out there and we've got some guys who are just not performing real well."
Among those are starting guards Toney Douglas and Landry Fields, either of whom could be replaced by Shumpert as early as tonight.
"I think we do consider it," D'Antoni said. "Now we'll see if we do it or not. He's obviously going to play a big part. We'll just try to figure out what's the best way to go. I think as a coach, especially when you're 2-4, you consider a lot of things.
"There's a lot of things you've got to think about: people's psyche, are they better coming off the bench . . . Everything's on the table. We'll try to figure out what's the best starting lineup, what's the best way to rotate people and what's the best way to try to win."
Asked directly if Shumpert could start Friday night, D'Antoni said: "Sure. Yeah. I mean, it could. There's nothing that says no unless we decide not to do it . . . We haven't decided yet."
Along with becoming a Garden fan favorite two games into his NBA career, Shumpert has earned the praise of his veteran teammates. Anthony called him a "game-changer" and Amar'e Stoudemire gave Shumpert perhaps the greatest compliment of all.
"Iman brings a lot of energy," Stoudemire said. "He's young, he's athletic, he's energetic. He has a certain swagger about himself that's contagious. He reminds me of myself when I was a rookie with so much energy, and it's great."
Notes & quotes: Stoudemire said the left ankle sprain that caused him to miss two games is healed . . . D'Antoni revealed that Mike Bibby was available only in an emergency on Wednesday night because of a sore foot but should be ready for Friday night's game.
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