NBA Rumors: New York Knicks Must Start Iman Shumpert to Turn Season Around

The New York Knicks are not the playoff-caliber team we all thought they were after the signing of Tyson Chandler in the offseason, and Mike D'Antoni needs to make a move or two with the lineup to ignite his team and get them going in the right direction.

One move he should make is starting rookie guard Iman Shumpert, who has been one of the few players for the Knicks this season that has been quite impressive.

According to the New York Post, D'Antoni seems to be thinking about starting Shumpert.

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I think you do consider it. We’ll see if we do it or not. He’ll obviously play a big part one way or another. We’re trying to find out what’s best for him. Especially when you’re 2-4, you consider a lot of things. ... We wouldn’t stand pat because our record is so good. We’ll consider it and talk about it.

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The player whom Shumpert would replace in the starting lineup is Landry Fields, who seems to be going through a sophomore slump in the early going.

Fields is averaging just 9.5 points per game this season and has only shot just 21 percent from beyond the three-point line. In two games this season, Shumpert has given the Knicks life off the bench and has averaged 14.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.

Although Shumpert's stats are from a smaller sample size, it's clear by watching the two play that he is the better option to start at shooting guard for New York.

Shumpert has shooting range from the outside and has the quickness needed to get to the basket and score at the rim.

Fields doesn't have a ton of experience as a sixth man for the Knicks, so the uncertainty of how he would handle that new kind of role is something D'Antoni has to consider.

The Knicks need something to energize them at both ends of the floor, and a young rookie with something to prove is the perfect remedy for the team's struggles through six games this season.

With Shumpert's impressive play this season, D'Antoni not only has to deal with determining which starting lineup gives his team the best chance to win, but he will have to fight the impatient fans at Madison Square Garden that want the exciting rookie to play more.

Nicholas Goss is an NBA Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report.

Follow @NicholasGoss35