Carmelo Anthony
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New York Knicks Start Rookie Iman Shumpert and Cruise Past Detroit Pistons: Fan’s Take

After struggling to a 2-4 start in the 2011-12 season, New York Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni finally benched Toney Douglas and replaced him with rookie Iman Shumpert the second half of the Knicks game vs the Washington Wizards on January 6, 2012. The Knicks, who trailed in the game by a point at the half, went on to beat the Wizards, 99-96.

Toney Douglas was Killing Knicks With Bad Shooting

Through the first six games of the season, the Knicks had been starting Toney Douglas at point guard. Douglas was getting some assists, but his shooting percentages were awful, and his missed shots were killing the team. On the season, Douglas is shooting just 33% from the field, and 27% from three-point range. It's hard to win games with a starting point guard shooting like that.

Rookie Iman Shumpert Gets First Career Start vs Detroit Pistons
On Saturday night, January 7, 2012, head coach Mike D'Antoni started rookie Iman Shumpert over Douglas as the Knicks played the Detroit Pistons in Detroit. Shumpert responded with a good game, scoring 11 points with three assists, two rebounds and a steal. Most importantly, Shumpert made five of the 10 shots he took in the game, including one of three three-pointers.

The Knicks cruised to a 64-42 halftime lead, and an easy 103-80 win. Mike Bibby had a great game, scoring 16 points in 15 minutes, and making all four threes he took in the game. Amare Stoudemire led the Knicks with 22 points, and also had eight rebounds. Tyson Chandler chipped in 10 points and nine rebounds. Another rookie, Josh Harrellson, added 11 points and seven rebounds.
All the Knicks looked great, except for leading scorer Carmelo Anthony. I'm a big time Carmelo Anthony fan since he led my favorite college basketball team, the Syracuse Orange, to the NCAA Championship in 2003. I watch the Knicks because of Melo, and in the Pistons game you could see that Carmelo Anthony was not himself.

Carmelo Anthony Playing in Pain

Suffering from soreness all over his body as the result of collision in the back in the Wizards game, Melo scored just 13 points against the Pistons. He also had seven rebounds, three blocks and a steal. Anthony said his back, hip and knee hurt in the game, and his whole right side of the body was sore. Curiously, considering he was playing in pain, Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks in minutes played in the game with 31.
The Knicks have now won two straight, and should make it three in a row when they face the 2-6 Charlotte Bobcats at home at Madison Square Garden on Monday, January 9, 2012. Carmelo Anthony said after the Pistons game that he can really use the day off between the Pistons and Bobcats games. Hopefully the Knicks can have another easy game against Charlotte with rookie Iman Shumpert starting at point guard.

Then Melo can rest some more before the Knicks start playing some tough games against Philadelphia, Memphis, Oklahoma City and Orlando.