Hoops Habit
Fansided

NBA Power Rankings: All 30 Starting Shooting Guards

By Shane Young

January 17, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade (3) guards Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) in the second half of the game at the Staples Center. Heat won 99-90. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
January 17, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade (3) guards Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) in the second half of the game at the Staples Center. Heat won 99-90. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
10 of 31
Next
NBA Power Rankings
Jan 2, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; New York Knicks guard Iman Shumpert (21) reacts after a shot during the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at AT&T Center. The Knicks won 105-101. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /

 22.  Iman Shumpert — New York Knicks

Floating around in trade rumors for most of last season, Shumpert had nearly an identical year as his 2012-13 campaign.  It’s not entirely much to exult over, as a Player Efficiency Rating (PER) of below 10 makes you realize how much of a strain it was for Carmelo Anthony in the Knicks’ starting lineup.

Shumpert falls in the same boat as Tony Allen, the ship that doesn’t care how inept one’s offense can be, as long as you energize the building, bring defensive tools, and play unselfishly.

Before last season, Carmelo actually expressed how glad he was to have Shumpert back on board, because he made the escapade thrilling.  More than anything, wouldn’t it lead you to believe Anthony liked having Shumpert around so he could slack off on the defensive end?

I’m not accusing Carmelo of taking plays off, but it makes it easier when Shumpert is guarding the best perimeter threat on the floor and New York’s biggest star is able to conserve energy and effort for scoring points.

Phil Jackson has now stepped into the front office, already demonstrating how conservative he’ll be of this roster.  Not one ounce conservative, as he’s already traded away an unfavorable point guard, an injury-prone center, and drafted two young studs in June.

Jackson’s history with winning — similar to that of his new head coach Derek Fisher — was predicated on creating the perfect offensive system.  Shumpert, who has barely shot 40 percent from the field once, isn’t your first option as a shooting guard in the Triangle Offense.  If that’s what Fisher and Jackson decide to run, expect frequent lineup changes as the year begins.  Nobody can see that system working without a frontcourt player that can be dangerous, though, so my expectations are low.

Based on Real Plus-Minus, Shumpert’s WAR (Wins Above Replacement) reached 4.26, putting him 17th of all shooting guards.

J.R. Smith vows to be better and more consistent with a head coach he can get along with now, so the only thing that can keep Shumpert away from the trade bait label is to show signs of offensive promise.  Looking at his first three years, I wouldn’t bet any prized possessions on it.