Jeremy Lin...No Catchy Play on Words

I haven't been this excited  to watch the Knicks in years.  Jeremy Lin has completely changed the atmosphere that surrounds the New York Knicks.  How long will it last?  I'm not sure.  Could it be more than just some catchy play on words in the stands (Lin-Sanity, All He Does is Lin, Lin, Lin, or my favorite Linsane in the Membrane)?  Can it be more than just an atmospheric change?  Can it be the culture change that New York basketball has so desperately needed?  I think so.  Fans of the Knicks have become so accustomed to losing, that even when an all-star laden line up (Amare, Tyson, and Melo) failed to live up to their promise...we accepted it.  We scoffed at people who would suggest that this team is actually worse off now than it was prior to acquiring Melo.  We were okay while Melo scored 30 in a loss, because hey...at least somebody is doing something.  At least we have an all-star on the team.  This is the end of that way of thinking, this is...well, at the very least can be a new era in New York.  Will Jeremy Lin continue to average 28 points a game?  I seriously doubt it, but I am willing to believe that he is the answer Knicks fans have been looking for.  A player who inspires his teammates, promotes their success before his own, and plays the game the way we used to play when we were kids...with excitement.  The Knicks, for the first time in years, actually look like they are ALL playing defense.  They play like a team.  They play for each other, not themselves.  They have done this all without their leading scorer, and top big man...both, the seeming future of this franchise.


Amare will return soon, after mourning the loss of his brother, and Melo is sure to return to the lineup not long after that...and what happens then?  The ball has consistently gone through the hands of Carmelo Anthony all year long, and in doing so Amare Stoudemire's points per game is down over 7 a game, and where is that production?  Carmelo is the Knicks leading assist man with just over 4 per game.  That means he touches the ball almost every play that he is in the game, and yet only finds (or even bothers to look for) another scorer 4 times....FOUR!?!?  Lin has averaged 8 in the last 4 games (all wins).  Can the two superstars co-exist without being the main floor generals also?  Tonight it seemed the only way to even have a chance at stopping Lin was to double team him.  That was with Jared Jefferies, Billy Walker, and Landry Fields on the floor.  Will teams be able to afford double teaming Lin with Amare and Melo on the floor?  Only if Carmelo allows Lin to run the offense.  Lin has made it clear that he wants to feed the big men the ball, that he wants to constantly get his teammates involved, and I believe that Stoudemire will be the biggest benefactor of this way of thinking...if he plays the game as he has always played. And Carmelo?  Well, he can still be Carmelo...only let Lin create openings for him, so he isn't forcing up shots that he doesn't need to take. I mean Jared Jefferies had 9 points in the first half...imagine what Lin can do for Carmelo.

It's only been four games, I know that.  Tonight was clearly the biggest win of them all, as they were able to withstand a late Kobe Bryant rally, and shake off the Lakers.   The Knicks are 6 games back in the Atlantic division and play sub .500 teams 5 out of the next 6 games before playing Atlanta and Miami.  Amare will certainly be back by then, and Carmelo should be right behind him.  There is plenty of time to right this ship.  I'm excited!  Knicks fans are are excited!  The Garden is rocking harder than when Jay-Z killed it on his Fade To Black concert.  And the future just may be now...just may be Jeremy Lin.


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