WASHINGTON — This is an easy move, one that Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni should have made last night but did not pull the trigger on until the second half.
Start young Iman Shumpert at guard. Don’t outthink yourself, coach. Do the right thing.
Basketball can be so simple if you let it be. Energy and hustle go a long way in the NBA and never more so than in this schedule-squeezed season when it is every team for itself as the injuries mount.
D’Antoni talked about starting Shumpert but went with Toney Douglas at the point and nearly paid the awful price to an awful team as the Knicks found themselves down by 16 in the second quarter to the winless Wizards. With Shumpert helping in so many ways, the Knicks managed to cut the lead to 47-46 by the end of the first half.
In the second half, D’Antoni started Shumpert at the point as the Knicks built a nine-point lead and managed to hang on for the 99-96 victory at the Verizon Center as Carmelo Anthony poured in 37 points, including a clutch late 3-pointer, and came up limping at the end with a sore back and groin.
Shumpert’s unselfish play made a huge difference. He led the Knicks with seven assists and five steals while scoring 10 points. D’Antoni needs to keep it simple to keep his job. The five Knicks starters managed to combine for just five steals.
Let Anthony chuck, let Shumpert, the rookie out of Georgia Tech, play the role of the Energizer bunny and let the Broadway Bigs do their thing. That’s who these Knicks are. Don’t try to make them something they are not. They are not the Phoenix Suns. Work with what you have.
“I thought he played great,’’ D’Antoni said of Shumpert, who worked overtime to try to keep John Wall under control. “He turned it around, actually.’’
Yes, he did. It’s not just the energy Shumpert brings. He brings a sense of calmness to the team. This is what he said about the importance of the win: “I think it was a breath of fresh air for everybody. I think everybody was a little tightened up.’’
As for running the offense he said, “I’m always pretty comfortable. … It don’t matter if I come off the bench, if I start, it doesn’t really matter. When everybody comes in they got to do their job.’’
He did all this with Paul Hewitt, the former coach at Georgia Tech looking on. Before the game, D’Antoni was asked why he did not put Shumpert in the starting lineup.
“I thought about changing the lineup, I didn’t say I was going to start him,” he said. “Who knows? We haven’t played enough games to really get a good sample of what’s best for us right now.’’
Really? By the second half all that was out the window. Nevertheless, D’Antoni left himself some wiggle room for tonight’s game against the Pistons at Auburn Hills.
Asked if Shumpert would start, he said, “Maybe. I still want to think about it. We don’t want to lose Toney, but we’ll do what we have to do.’’
D’Antoni must start Shumpert. It’s the easy and right thing to do. In this short season, quick decisions are needed.
Defense is about instilling your will on the opponent. Shumpert is active. There is a line in the Knicks media guide about Shumpert that I love: “Plays with the mentality that it is embarrassing to be scored upon, which was instilled in him at a young age when playing with his three brothers.’’
You never want your brothers to get the best of you, even if they are bigger and stronger. You play harder to get the best of them. That’s what Shumpert brings to the court. The Knicks could use a little less Broadway glitz and a little more back-alley toughness.
Make the change and start Shumpert. This season is much too short to just let things play out.