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The bigger question is: Will Lin, a restricted free agent, be a Knick next season? Insiders have said it's very likely, and on Sunday afternoon before Game 4, Lin's backcourt teammate, Iman Shumpert, seemed very confident about the possibility, too. "Oh yeah, oh yeah," he said. "We all miss him. But if he's not able to come back this year, next year I'll be back with him, so we'll all be back together again." ESPN.com

New York Knicks, Free Agency, Jeremy Lin, Iman Shumpert 

Eight days after being carried off the court in Miami, Iman Shumpert was back in Madison Square Garden, desperately praying that his Knicks could find a way to survive one more playoff game against the powerful Heat. What Shumpert wasn't praying for, however, was that he could make a swift return to action. The Knicks' rookie, who tore the ACL and lateral meniscus in his left knee in Game 1 of the playoffs, said he will not rush his rehab, and he doesn't expect to return to the court until December, at the earliest. "I'm not trying to beat any timetable," Shumpert said before the game. "Right now, it's the end of the season. I want to take my time, make sure everything's healthy. So when I come back, I'm healthy." New York Daily News

New York Knicks, Injuries, Iman Shumpert 

The last time the Knicks won a playoff game, Iman Shumpert was 10. Since then, as the Knicks have compiled the longest postseason losing streak in N.B.A. history — 13 games — every team other than the Charlotte Bobcats has won at least one playoff game. But Knicks fans can look back fondly on that 97-89 first-round win over the Toronto Raptors on April 29, 2001. In that game, Allan Houston led the Knicks with 24 points and Kurt Thomas led them with 9 rebounds. It was not all that long ago: Thomas is still active, even if he is the second-oldest player in the league. Vince Carter, who is also active, was Toronto’s second-leading scorer, with 20 points. He is now with the Dallas Mavericks, averaging 8.3 points in their first three playoff games. New York Times

New York Knicks, Iman Shumpert 

Knicks guard Iman Shumpert, out with his knee injury, was wheeled into the arena, but will watch from the locker room to make sure he is not run into a player amid game action. Sulia

New York Knicks, Injuries, Iman Shumpert 

A day after the Bulls' Derrick Rose and the Knicks' Iman Shumpert suffered season-ending knee injuries in playoff openers, James said Sunday that the lockout-shortened season has taken a toll on everyone's body. "Look at Dwight Howard, who for the most part has played in 98 percent of his games since high school, and now he has a season-ending injury because of his back," James said. "And with D-Rose, it's the same way. He's always been in the lineup until this year. "There's been so many injuries -- hamstring injuries and knee injuries and things like that -- it really could be because of the shortened season. It's been a tough season for all of us. It was very taxing on all of our bodies." Newsday

Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Derrick Rose, Injuries, Iman Shumpert 

The issue now for Iman Shumpert is how much of next season will be lost. The Knicks suffered a crushing loss last night when it was revealed Shumpert, their prized rookie swingman, tore his left ACL and lateral meniscus in yesterday’s disastrous 100-67 Meltdown in Miami. The team estimates Shumpert will be out between six and eight months, which is a potentially major problem for next year. Missing six months would take Shumpert out through October, and eight would take him out through December. The season typically opens in late October or early November, so whether Shumpert can make it back for the start of the season is unknown. By the Knicks’ timetable, there’s a chance he could miss the season’s first couple months, which would be devastating. New York Post

New York Knicks, Injuries, Iman Shumpert 

Marc Berman: #Knicks expected torn ACL as he left arena as source told me Shumpert had heard a pop in knee as he crumpled to floor. Devastating day. Twitter

New York Knicks, Injuries, Iman Shumpert 

Ricky Rubio: I feel the pain. So sorry for DRose and Shumpert. Wish u a speedy recovery. Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Ricky Rubio, Injuries, Iman Shumpert 

Adrian Wojnarowski: New York's Iman Shumpert has suffered a torn ACL in his left knee, league source tells Y! Sports. Twitter

New York Knicks, Injuries, Iman Shumpert 

Shumpert showed a lot of promise in his rookie season, averaging 9.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists this year. It was his defense that helped win him a starting job. However, like most of the Knicks, he was overwhelmed in Game 1 against the Heat and had no points, one rebound and one assist in 19 minutes before the injury. This means more Landry Fields for the Knicks, who is a solid and smart player but does not match up with the athleticism the Heat bring. NBCSports.com

New York Knicks, Injuries, Iman Shumpert 

In Miami, with a little more than six minutes to play in the third quarter of the Knicks’ 100-67 loss, rookie Iman Shumpert was bringing the ball across halfcourt, when he attempted a behind-the-back move on the Heat’s Mario Chalmers. Shumpert planted his left foot and, as he did, immediately began clutching his left knee as he fell to the floor. “My concern now is the rook in terms of him going down,” coach Mike Woodson said. “We don’t know the outcome of that, of his injury.” Sporting News

New York Knicks, Injuries, Iman Shumpert 

Shumpert was taken for an MRI, but just from the scene on the court, it’s unlikely that the outlook will be positive. “It didn’t look good on the floor,” Woodson said. “He was obviously in big-time pain.” Sporting News

New York Knicks, Injuries, Iman Shumpert 

JR Smith: Everyone please pray for @Iman Shumpert thank you! Twitter

New York Knicks, Injuries, Iman Shumpert 

Travis Leslie: Prayers for my bro Iman.. Twitter

New York Knicks, Injuries, Iman Shumpert 

There's no official word yet from the Knicks on the extent of the injury, but it looked bad, as Shumpert immediately grabbed his knee and then collapsed to the court. When the team's training staff lifted the rookie off of the ground, he was crying and grimacing in pain. A spokesperson for the Knicks said that Shumpert won't return to the game, and that he was taken to a local hospital for tests. He said the injury "doesn't look good." ESPN.com

New York Knicks, Injuries, Iman Shumpert 

Q: Being a rookie, are some of the veterans around the league offended by ... Iman Shumpert: Sometimes I think so. I think a lot of ’em try to hush me. But, I just keep coming. You might score on me, but only thing it does is it [ticks] me off even more and makes me go harder the next time. Q: What are some of the things you hear from some of the veterans? A: “All right, that’s enough rook. ... Who is this kid?” I remember Paul Pierce saying, “Why is he talkin’ to me?” New York Post

New York Knicks, Iman Shumpert 

Q: You’ve guarded Derrick Rose ... Dwayne Wade ... A: A little bit. Q: And Kobe Bryant. Which one was the toughest? A: I think it’s between Kobe and Rose. I think with D-Wade having [Chris] Bosh and LeBron [James] with him, he can pick his spots a little bit more, and the tough thing about him is he’s gonna get out in transition, it’s a totally different cover. He’s not gonna play around with the ball or anything like that. He’s gonna make a move, if he don’t have it, he gets off it, and they sorta just get theirs within playing off of each other. With Derrick Rose and Kobe, it’s like you know they have the ball, you know it’s a clearout, and you just gotta stop ’em, so it’s harder. It’s way worse on your body guarding D-Rose, because it’s gonna be a ton of ball screens, he’s extremely fast, and he’s just gonna run all game. Kobe, it’s just unbelievable footwork the whole game. The best footwork I’ve ever guarded. Q: Did Kobe say anything to you?A: I think in the fourth quarter when we played ’em here, he was, “All right, that’s enough rook,” and he just went off. New York Post

Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Kobe Bryant, Iman Shumpert 

Q: Describe Coach Woodson. Iman Shumpert: Me and him have a relationship where we know it’s nothing personal. He’s gonna come at me crazy, and at times he comes so crazy that I might respond back, but it’s only gonna make me go two times harder the next play. Q: Would this team like to see him back next season? A; Love to see him back. New York Post

New York Knicks, Mike Woodson, Coaching, Iman Shumpert 

“I was told I was going undrafted,” Shumpert said during shootaround Tuesday before the Knicks played the Chicago Bulls. “That’s what I was told by everybody. I guess I wasn’t good enough in everybody else’s eyes. I was called fool’s gold. That’s what I was called in the draft combine. That’s how I remember it. I took it personal.” Respect and recognition eluded Shumpert throughout much of his amateur career, but that’s changing in his first season as a professional. The Knicks drafted Shumpert with the 17th pick in the 2011 NBA draft on the strength of his defense. It was a surprise choice, but Shumpert has proven to be a pleasant surprise for the Knicks, starting 25 games and averaging 9.8 points, 2.7 assists and 3.2 steals in 28.7 minutes. He ranks fifth in the NBA steals. ESPN.com

New York Knicks, Draft, Iman Shumpert 

Brian Mahoney: One Knicks player, rookie Shumpert, speaking pregame about their coach's decision to resign is sad even for this franchise. Twitter

New York Knicks, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Iman Shumpert