Iman Shumpert to miss 5-7 days with knee effusion

The Cleveland Cavaliers will be without Iman Shumpert for at least a week as he rehabilitates his sore knee. The Cavs guard tried playing through soreness Friday against the L.A. Clippers, but was limited to just 11 minutes of play.

On Saturday, team released the following statement regarding the status of Iman Shumpert:

Cavaliers guard Iman Shumpert experienced left knee soreness during the first half of last night’s game in Cleveland vs. the LA Clippers. He was examined at halftime and did not return to play. Additional examination and imaging today at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health confirmed left knee effusion. He will be out 5-7 days while he undergoes treatment and rehabilitation. His status will be updated as appropriate.

Since being inserted into the starting lineup, Shumpert had been playing with considerably more effort on the defensive end. He was a surprisingly steady hand bringing the ball up at times and didn’t force the issue.

While he did an effective job as point guard, the change in role did appear to impact his efficiency from the floor. As a reserve, Shumpert shot 44.8 percent from the floor and 36.4 percent from three. But when he was inserted into the starting lineup, his field goal and three point percentage dropped to 33.3 percent and 21.4 percent respectively.

It’s possible that his nagging knee soreness impacted his effectiveness as a scorer, but the fact he found ways to still make positive contributions was encouraging. No decision has been made for who will replace Shumpert in the starting lineup, but it’s hard to imagine Jose Calderon won’t receive the nod.