Knicks Rumors: Starting Iman Shumpert Is Best Move for Mike D'Antoni

New York Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni would be continuing his best roster move of the young NBA season by leaving rookie guard Iman Shumpert in the starting lineup.

According to multiple sources including Howard Beck of the New York Times on Friday, D'Antoni made it clear that although he was considering starting Shumpert, he decided to keep him coming off the bench.

That is, until Saturday night at Detroit when Shumpert made his first career start against the Pistons. The Knicks welcomed back Amar'e Stoudemire and watched as the rookie from Georgia Tech replaced point guard Toney Douglas en route to a 23-point New York win, their second in two nights.

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"I thought it went well, we started off on the right foot and kept the energy up." - Iman Shumpert following Saturday night's win over Detroit, via ESPN.com. 

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Shumpert wasn't exactly jaw-dropping in his first outing as a pro starter, but he was very efficient for a young player. Shumpert went 5-for-10 from the field and only turned the ball over twice in 28 minutes of action. 

If there is any criticism to be sent Shumpert's way it's that he needs to improve his passing, to find teammates more often and put them in better scoring positions (he finished with three assists on Saturday night).

Still, the 6'5", 220-pound combo guard is without a doubt an NBA starter, and the perfect starter for Mike D'Antoni's 2011-12 Knicks. 

The rookie hit four three's off the bench in a loss to the Charlotte Bobcats earlier in the week and he's shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc in four games this season.

That kind of finesse and coordination for a player of his size and strength is incredible, and deserves to be not only played but seen by fans in the Big Apple.

D'Antoni made the right move by starting Shumpert. After all, Douglas is arguably just as solid coming off the bench to jack up long-range shots as he is starting games.

This subtle but brilliant roster move will help build Shumpert's confidence before veteran Baron Davis returns from back recovery while at the same time helping the Knicks to move up in the Eastern Conference standings.