BY SAMUEL LACHOW
When the Nets & Knicks met for the first time this season on December 5th, Shumpert had arguably his best game of the season, shooting 5-8 from the field and going 5-7 from three-point range. But Shumpert’s play is erratic; while he shows glimpses of All-Star talent, this season Shumpert has averaged just 7 points per game and is shooting a horrid 39%.
In his last five games, Shumpert has scored 7, 6, 5, 2, and zero points, the goose egg against the Clippers on Friday night.
Lastly, in Shumpert’s four career games against the Nets he averages seven points per game shooting a mediocre 44% from the field. Unluckily for Shumpert is that he’ll likely have to face Shaun Livingston.
In his last ten games, Livingston has averaged eleven points per game, adding five rebounds, three assists and 1.5 steals. Livingston is beginning to penetrate again, providing the Nets with easy baskets. Livingston provides the Nets with quick layups and dunks along with an ability to draw defenders and kick out for open threes.
Shumpert tends to gamble on defense, allowing Livingston to penetrate and get some easy layups. While Livingston is a long defender, his defense tends to lack on three-point jumpers, which could mean that Shumpert could get his threes. The key is for Livingston to slow Shumpert at the beginning of the game.
In 18 career games against the Knicks, Livingston has averaged just 7 points per game against the Knicks but shoots nearly 60 percent from the field. With the Knicks oft-porous defense, expect Livingston to get some easy baskets.
EDGE:
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