Uptown wrote:seth_rosenthal Seth Rosenthal
RT @FisolaNYDN: Iman Shumpert could start as early as Friday vs Wizards, Mike D'Antoni announces
Yup, Ian Begley on ESPN confirmed this as well:
New York Knicks rookie Iman Shumpert may have played his way into the starting lineup. Mike D'Antoni said on Thursday that he may insert Shumpert into the Knicks' starting five as early as Friday night's game at Washington.
"I think you 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 one way or the other and we'll just try to figure out the best way to go."
Shumpert has impressed coaches and veterans with his aggressive play. He is averaging 14.5 points, two assists and 4.5 rebounds in two games. He missed four games with a sprained right MCL but returned on Wednesday night against the Bobcats.
The 2011 first-round pick scored 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting, pulled down five rebounds and handed out three assists in the Knicks' 118-110 loss.
Shumpert would likely start at shooting guard, taking Landry Fields' place in the lineup.
Fields established himself as one of the top rookies in the NBA in the first half of the 2010-2011 season. But he struggled mightily after the Knicks acquired Carmelo Anthony last February.
Through six games this season, Fields' play has been uneven at best.
He's averaging 9.5 points and three rebounds in 30 minutes per game. He has scored seven points or fewer in four of the Knicks ' six games.
New York has lost two straight at home at four of its last five. With Tyson Chandler in tow, they entered the season with lofty expectations but have struggled to play with any consistency on both ends of the floor. The team's mediocre record is one reason why D'Antoni may insert the 21-uear--old Shumpert into the starting lineup, despite a glaring lack of NBA experience.
"If you're 2-4 you consider a lot of things," D'Antoni said. "We're not having to stay pat just because our record is good. We'll consider it and talk about it and see what happens."
I find it's always brilliant logic to talk about a guys "averages" after two games. Maybe the per second average calculator was down the day Begley wrote this?
Fields established his value as a glue/Havlicek guy, not as a proficient scorer, which qualities were hyper appreciated in a 1 star roster the rest of which turned out to be trade fodder. We now have three stars and those glue qualities are not as valuable or appreciated. Fields needs to change his glue. Or sniff some. Or something.
Whose jersey is Spike wearing now, anyway?
1/5/2012 3:44 PM
is good at one thing, he's definitely knows how to run his players into the ground. I just hope he doesn't throw Shump into the fire too much. When he left the floor limping, I was thinking he came back too quick. Now they said he might start on Friday? wow....Hope he's healthy enough to log major minutes.....