Fansided

Iman Shumpert: Hopefully We Can Win 60

By JJ Keller

May 18, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; New York Knicks small forward Iman Shumpert (21) and Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert (55) go after a loose ball in game six of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Pacers won 106-99. Mandatory Credit: Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports
May 18, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; New York Knicks small forward Iman Shumpert (21) and Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert (55) go after a loose ball in game six of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Pacers won 106-99. Mandatory Credit: Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
May 18, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; New York Knicks small forward Iman Shumpert (21) and Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert (55) go after a loose ball in game six of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Pacers won 106-99. Mandatory Credit: Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports
May 18, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; New York Knicks small forward Iman Shumpert (21) and Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert (55) go after a loose ball in game six of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Pacers won 106-99. Mandatory Credit: Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports /

New York Knicks guard/forward Iman Shumpert has high hopes for his team next year. He recently said that he expects 60 wins for the Knicks next year, which would be a 6 game improvement over their win total last year.

When at his summer basketball camp, Shumpert said “How many did we win last year? Fifty-four, hopefully we can win 60 next year. We want to build on what we already have. We started off not getting out of the first round. Now we just have to build.”

Shumpert clearly feels that they have a good core in place that they can build around and use to reach that hefty goal. He also seems to have some hard feeling towards the Heat, also telling the New York Post:

"“They won,’’ Shumpert said. “I’m not going to talk about LeBron (James), Dwyane Wade, the Miami Heat. I watched it. It was cool and everything. But I don’t want to talk about it.’’"

That could serve as some motivation for the flat-topped guard to want to beat the Heat next year, and that 60 win goal certainly shows that he is optimistic. Shumpert is more of a defensive player and struggled in the regular season — with both injuries and his performance. But he was better in the post season, putting up 9.3 points per game on 41% shooting from the field.

Whether the Knicks will meet that goal is yet to be seen, but they certainly have some talent in place to get there.