GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- The New York Knicks will probably be short-handed Sunday against the Denver Nuggets.
Iman Shumpert is doubtful for the Sunday afternoon game with a right hip contusion.
Shumpert hurt his hip in a collision with Utah Jazz big man Enes Kanter in the first minute of Friday’s loss.
With Shumpert likely out, coach Derek Fisher will start either Tim Hardaway Jr. or J.R. Smith at shooting guard.
No matter who starts, it’s an inopportune time for the Knicks to play without Shumpert, one of their best two-way players.
New York has lost seven in a row and five of its first six at home.
Even if the losing streak reaches eight Sunday afternoon, though, don’t expect the Knicks to start finger-pointing after the loss.
Shumpert said Saturday that infighting is no longer an issue in the locker room.
“I know it was a problem last year. This year, [there’s] a confidence in the system and confidence in one another,” Shumpert said after Saturday’s practice. “I think everybody trusted [each other] once we came to training camp; we could see that everybody worked their ass off this summer.”
Finger-pointing plagued the Knicks in their 37-win 2013-14 season.
Players openly questioned coach Mike Woodson’s schemes. Over the course of the season, all the losing and public blaming impacted morale in the locker room.
Fisher noted on Thursday that he hasn’t see the same issues yet with this season’s team.
Shumpert supported that theory Saturday, noting that there is a different vibe around the Knicks right now.
“Everything just seems to be going with purpose this year,” he said. “Everything seems like, ‘We can learn from this.’ There’s no blowouts; there’s no, ‘We came in with the wrong mindset so we’re getting our [butts] kicked.’
“Everything seems composed; everybody seems to know what’s going on. Everybody believes in what we’re doing. When you have that, you got guys that are bringing that right energy every day, even if we lose.”
The Knicks are 2-8, so the end result hasn’t been pretty thus far. But if you are looking for a silver lining, Shumpert provided one for you Saturday.
Fisher explains positive message after loss: Fisher’s postgame comments Friday night caused a bit of a stir because of the extreme lengths to which he went to accentuate the positive after the last-second loss.
On Saturday, he expanded a bit on why he decided to deliver a positive message after a loss.
“[The Knicks] deserve to be rewarded even sometimes when we don’t win, because they’re trying and they’re giving the effort. Can we be better? Can we give more effort? Yes. But it’s not for lack of commitment to each other and to this team,” Fisher said. “We’re coming together, we’re growing together, and I know it’s not easy for fans to hear because we’re losing games. But this is a marathon that we’re running, and we just have to continue to train ourselves to be able to finish the race.”
Fish vs. Shaw: Fisher is looking forward to facing Nuggets coach and ex-Lakers teammate Brian Shaw. Shaw played with Fisher in Los Angeles for four seasons. The two won two titles together.
“It’s just kind of humbling to think about where we both came from and life experiences. In particular, Brian and his family experiences and how he has persevered through so much in life to be in this position now, in a leadership position with a major NBA franchise. That just says a lot about his character and his integrity,” Fisher said of Shaw, who lost his sister and parents in a car accident. “I learned a lot from being a teammate of his, and his influences definitely helped me to try to make the transition I’m making right now.”
The Nuggets are off to a 2-6 start in Shaw's second season as head coach. Some analysts believe Shaw, a Phil Jackson disciple, is on the hot seat. Denver defeated the Indiana Pacers on Friday night.
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