NBA Playoffs 2012: What Does Iman Shumpert's Injury Mean for Knicks?

The New York Knicks opened the 2012 NBA Playoffs in devastating fashion Saturday, not only losing by 33 to the Miami Heat, but also losing Iman Shumpert for the rest of the campaign and more.

The rookie guard suffered a torn ACL in the third quarter—the same injury that has also knocked league MVP Derrick Rose out for the season—and things did not look good at all.

Shumpert was quickly dribbling up the court, attempting a behind-the-back move when he landed awkwardly on his knee, instantly clutching it afterward.

It was one of those non-contact injuries that tend to cause bigger long-term problems for players, so we can only hope that this isn't the case for Shumpert and Rose.

For now, reports tell us that Shumpert will be out for six to eight months, news that Knicks fans will not want to hear.

First of all, this means that the Knicks lose their best perimeter defender for the remainder of this series against the Heat, leaving a combination of Landry Fields and J.R. Smith to try to slow down Dwyane Wade and even LeBron James.

Though Smith's defense has improved greatly this season, he's not quite the stopper and turnover threat that Shumpert is, and this will really hurt the Knicks.

The Knicks also lose one of their main leaders for the rest of the season.

Though a rookie, Shumpert can be seen before games leading the Knicks huddle, talking trash to the opposition during the game and essentially being a vocal leader even to those more experienced in pro basketball than himself.

To see a player as popular as Shumpert grimacing in pain as he was on Saturday must be devastating for the team, and the loss of his presence will really be felt for the next three to six games against the Heat.

Beyond the playoffs, though, it's going to be a long time before we see Shumpert in action again.

Shumpert will certainly miss the NBA Summer League—which returns to action in 2012—which would have been a great opportunity to improve his game and get some major minutes against his rookie and sophomore peers.

Even returning for the beginning of next season is looking pretty bleak, and if worse comes to worst he may not even hit the court again until 2013.

With Smith looking likely to hit free agency this summer, the shooting guard position could be very thin to start next season, especially considering the struggles that likely replacement Landry Fields has had of late.

This injury could shape the Knicks' activity in the draft and in free agency, as a quality replacement will definitely be needed for at least a short portion of next season.

In both the long-term and the short-term the loss of Shumpert will be very impactful for the Knicks, and it just made an almost impossible series even tougher.