D'Antoni: Shumpert Capable Of Defending Rose, Wade, James
Jun 24, 2011 6:57 PM EDT

Coach Mike D'Antoni raved about Iman Shumpert's shutdown skills, going so far as to say the New York Knicks' first-round pick could stay in front of three of the best players in the world.

"He has the athletic ability to guard a Derrick Rose or a Dwyane Wade or a LeBron James," D'Antoni said Friday.

"He had one of the best workouts that I've seen in a lot of years. He's a little bit of everything. He can play point, he can play the 2, he can guard some 3s. He's an exciting young man. His personality and his ability to work hard are big factors, and we're excited about having him."
Via Jared Zwerling/ESPNNewYork.com
Iman Shumpert, Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, New York Knicks,

Read more: http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/214380/DAntoni_Shumpert_Capable_Of_Defending_Rose_Wade_James#ixzz1QFoJC0dc

“I’m all smiles,’’ Shumpert said at the Knicks practice facility. “This can’t be life. This can’t be real.
“I wanted New York to pick me,’’ Shumpert added, positively beaming. “I wanted New York to take me at 17. I didn’t want to tell anybody. I didn’t want it not to happen. I was quiet about it, but I wanted to come here.’’
Asked why New York, Shumpert said, “The coach, the history, the city. Being able to learn from those veteran guys in Chauncey (Billups), (Amar'e) Stoudemire and Carmelo (anthony). That opportunity doesn’t come every day.’’
Though defense is Shumpert's forte, his Westchester workout in early June allayed fears with the Knicks that he was not a good perimeter shooter. However, he shot 27 percent from 3-point range in college and scouts say he tended to be inconsistent.
“I feel I can shoot,’’ Shumpert said. “I don’t see it as a weakness. I don’t think people are going to play off me. Do I have to shoot it better? Of course. But I can shoot from different spots on the floor.’’
Shumpert said he felt his workout was most noteworthy because of the connection he felt he had with coach Mike D’Antoni.
D’Antoni said he feels Shumpert’s versatility at 6-5 was most important, able to play point guard, shooting guard alongside starter Billups or Toney Douglas, and in a three-guard tandem with Landry Fields and Billups.
“His best qualities is defensively and his athleticism,’’ D’Antoni said of Shumpert. “But there are a lot of great things about him. His workout was one of the best we’ve ever had here. And we’ve been drafting high.’’

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/knicksblog/shumpert_all_smiles_after_knicks_lHXzWA5P5JWkXJGC37CPhP#ixzz1QFsGxAlx

I really think fans are gonna be shocked when this kid gets a chance to learn and adjust to what we're doing. It may take him some time to get it, but once he does I think he can really be a boost to this team. If he's playing well that makes life so much easier for CB and TD and of course STAT and MELO.

franco12 wrote:Not trying to be critical - but I have heard this before: Anthony Roberson~!

“He’s a multi-position player that has a world of talent whose athleticism is off the charts. He’s only played two years in the league and just turned 21. There’s a lot of positives and we’ll figure out where we fit him in, and figure out what the best position is for him, but he can play a lot of places. “

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/07/17/mike-dantoni-on-anthony-randolph-and-his-plural-position/

franco12 wrote:Not trying to be critical - but I have heard this before: Anthony Roberson~!

Why in the world would you reference Roberson? What does that guy have to do with Iman? I can't believe that we don't have 100% approval of the Knicks taking a defensive player that can defend the 1-3 spots. Is this some kind of bizarro UK forum? We got killed more at the guard spot in the playoffs than inside. Now we've addressed that weakness. This kid rebounds like a SF, pushes the ball on the break like a PG and can finish strong above the rim. Am I hearing NY Knick fans turn their nose up to the best pure defensive guard we've brought in, in years?

Killa4luv wrote:i dont know if we need to be announcing this to the world, but i guess they are trying to explain the pick to the fans.

We, meaning UK fans. 95% of Knicks fans, probably never heard of the guy so it probably would be wise to at least say why they did that.

holfresh wrote:Coming from the same guy that said Gallo was the best shooter he has ever seen...

Yeah, why should a coach try to instill confidence in his players. MDA, at it again!

Knicks' first-round pick Iman Shumpert loves to play defense
Saturday, June 25, 2011
BY ART STAPLETON

NorthJersey.com
STAFF WRITER

GREENBURGH, N.Y. – Iman Shumpert learned his most important basketball lesson from his two older brothers on the playground in the Oak Park section of Chicago.

"I hated to get scored on. It’s embarrassing to get scored on," said Shumpert, whom the Knicks introduced Friday just one day after they selected the Georgia Tech guard with the 17th pick in the NBA Draft. "Where I’m from, when people score on you, you’re the weak link. If I was going to go and play with my brothers and play on their team [in] a pick-up game, I can’t be getting scored on [or else] I can’t play. I was the young guy.

"It’s just something I developed, a pride for not letting people score on me."

The team often criticized for never playing any defense now has a player who does.

I've attempted to articulate this mentality in posts about defense before- but he is the first player I've heard who actually says it the way I've attempted to explain it.

Its the attitude all great defensive players have- they take it personally when they're scored upon. They don't just run back down the floor thinking "Now I'm going to score on him."

I think his offensive game will come around, and the Knicks will work slowly to integrate him into the offensive flow, but if he can play D with the above attitude and the natural physical specs and talent he has, we're going to be pretty happy with this guy.

nixluva wrote:

“I’m all smiles,’’ Shumpert said at the Knicks practice facility. “This can’t be life. This can’t be real.
“I wanted New York to pick me,’’ Shumpert added, positively beaming. “I wanted New York to take me at 17. I didn’t want to tell anybody. I didn’t want it not to happen. I was quiet about it, but I wanted to come here.’’
Asked why New York, Shumpert said, “The coach, the history, the city. Being able to learn from those veteran guys in Chauncey (Billups), (Amar'e) Stoudemire and Carmelo (anthony). That opportunity doesn’t come every day.’’
Though defense is Shumpert's forte, his Westchester workout in early June allayed fears with the Knicks that he was not a good perimeter shooter. However, he shot 27 percent from 3-point range in college and scouts say he tended to be inconsistent.
“I feel I can shoot,’’ Shumpert said. “I don’t see it as a weakness. I don’t think people are going to play off me. Do I have to shoot it better? Of course. But I can shoot from different spots on the floor.’’
Shumpert said he felt his workout was most noteworthy because of the connection he felt he had with coach Mike D’Antoni.
D’Antoni said he feels Shumpert’s versatility at 6-5 was most important, able to play point guard, shooting guard alongside starter Billups or Toney Douglas, and in a three-guard tandem with Landry Fields and Billups.
“His best qualities is defensively and his athleticism,’’ D’Antoni said of Shumpert. “But there are a lot of great things about him. His workout was one of the best we’ve ever had here. And we’ve been drafting high.’’

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/knicksblog/shumpert_all_smiles_after_knicks_lHXzWA5P5JWkXJGC37CPhP#ixzz1QFsGxAlx

I really think fans are gonna be shocked when this kid gets a chance to learn and adjust to what we're doing. It may take him some time to get it, but once he does I think he can really be a boost to this team. If he's playing well that makes life so much easier for CB and TD and of course STAT and MELO.

"But I can shoot from different spots on the floor."

As opposed to shooting it from only one spot on the floor?

nykshaknbake wrote:What was MDA supposed to say, that he hated the pick and this guy has a one way ticket to the end of the pine? The fact is this guy is kind of the antithesis of what MDA values. I like the pick though and hope he's protected by the GM and hopefully defensive assistant from MDA.

He can say anything but he is the greatest I have ever seen or he can stop the three best players on the planet...