NBA

Shumpert regaining ‘D’ tenacity in time for Knicks’ playoff run

With the playoffs nearing, Iman Shumpert is nearing his rookie-season defensive tenacity. Shumpert looked like the old defensive menace in the victories over Toronto Friday and Saturday.

Shumpert had four steals and scored eight points Saturday (2 of 4 on 3-pointers). He is starting to find a greater rhythm, though still seems tentative to dunk. His 3-point shooting is improving and the Knicks are going to need Shumpert to be an impact player to have a chance at upsetting Miami.

“I was kind of mad at myself, I haven’t been getting my hands on the ball and gotten as many deflections as I want,’’ Shumpert said. “I’m trying to pick up my aggression because it picks up the excitement when I get my hand on loose balls and get out in the open floor. Because that’s what I’m supposed to be doing for this team and going into the playoffs, we’re going to need that.’’

Shumpert has yet to finish a playoff game. He tore his ACL in the third quarter in Game 1 of last season’s first-round series in Miami. He made his return in mid-January. (Derrick Rose, who tore his ACL on the same day, has yet to return.)

“It’s exciting time of year,’’ Shumpert said. “I got hurt my first time in the playoffs. I’m excited going into the playoffs.‘’

Kenyon Martin’s inspired play has been contagious, perhaps lighting a fire under Shumpert. After Martin made a block in the second quarter Saturday, Shumpert followed on the next possession with a rejection.

“We feed off of those guys — Shumpert on the perimeter, K-Mart in the paint,’’ Carmelo Anthony said.

* Seven of the Knicks’ next eight games are against playoff clubs, starting with Boston and Memphis back-to-back tomorrow and Wednesday.

* Raymond Felton on the new all-point-guard starting backcourt of him and Pablo Prigioni: “He brings something different that teams haven’t seen. You ever have a gnat at a barbeque? Just annoying. That’s how Pablo is. Pablo is annoying on defense.He’s frustrating for point guards. That’s been great. He’s been a guy really kicking things off for us defensively in the first quarter.’’

* Woodson wants to start thinking of a playoff rotation and rookie Chris Copeland is on the bubble. Copeland, an electric scorer, got himself in trouble again on defense Saturday when Kyle Lowry skipped past him in the lane for a layup after Felton got picked off.

Woodson chewed him out on the bench.

“Offensively I know he can score the ball,’’ Woodson said. “I got to get his motor skills up defensively. He’s got a slow twitch in that regard. We got to make him understand there is an urgency to playing defense This is his first year in the league. His pace probably in Europe was a lot slower than the pace in our leagueIt’s a major adjustment for him. We’re trying to get him a lot quicker than probably he is willing to do.’’

* Knicks assistant Jerry Dunn’s son, Taylor Dunn, is in the Sweet 16. Taylor Dunn plays for No. 14 La Salle, who advanced last night with a last-second 76-74 win over Ole Miss in Kansas City. Jerry Dunn, former Penn State head coach, had planned to fly to Kansas City last night for the game.