May 7, 2012, 12:57 PM
Knicks’ Lin Has Hurdles to Clear Before a Return
By HOWARD BECK
With a thrilling victory over the Miami Heat on Sunday, the Knicks not only infused new life into their postseason but raised a tantalizing possibility: the return of Linsanity.

Jeremy Lin is ahead of schedule in his recovery from knee surgery. He is running again and has scrimmaged three-on-three. He has hinted at a possible return in this series. With Baron Davis and Iman Shumpert both lost to knee injuries, the Knicks, who trail the Heat, three games to one, have never needed Lin more.

The stage would seem set for a storybook return, but the reality is more complicated. Lin is not in game shape, has yet to play five-on-five and has not received medical clearance.

“I’m not counting on Jeremy Lin to play,” Coach Mike Woodson said in a conference call with reporters Monday.

Lin had surgery on April 2 to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. He has not played in a game since March 24, a span of 44 days. Although he has played three-on-three in the last week, he has not had contact on consecutive days.

“I’ve watched him shoot and run up and down – he’s not in great shape,” Woodson said. “You know as well as I know that playoff basketball you’ve got to be at an all-time high and he hasn’t played in a while.”

Even if Woodson were comfortable with Lin’s condition, the call is not yet his to make. Team doctors have to clear Lin for five-on-five contact first. Woodson said he expected Lin to play three-on-three again Tuesday.

Mike Bibby, who at one point was out of the rotation, will start at point guard in Game 5 Wednesday, Woodson said. Toney Douglas, who has yet to play in this series, could play as his backup, although Woodson sounded more inclined to use a big lineup with J.R. Smith and Carmelo Anthony handling the ball when Bibby is on the bench.

Davis – the Knicks’ starting point guard since Lin went down – dislocated his right knee cap in the third quarter of the Knicks’ 89-87 victory Sunday. The team is awaiting test results, but Davis is not expected to play again in this postseason. Shumpert, the Knicks’ other starting guard, tore his left anterior cruciate ligament in Game 1.

The Knicks are trying to become the first N.B.A. team to win a playoff series after losing the first three games.

Moonangie wrote:

y2zipper wrote:It's bullcrap. Lin's value is already set. It's either gonna be the mid-level or lower.

Based on his "audition" during the Linsanity era, I'd say it's more then likely to be the MLE (which is the most any team can offer him). We will most certainly match the ofer.

Yeah. That was exactly my point. I think he'll get a 2 year deal at the MLE and then he'll be a bird rights guy for the Knicks if he can sustain his play. He might get offered the full MLE contract, though, and I'd give it to him as well.

Here's the thing. The Knicks shouldn't play him unless they're 200% sure that he's completely healthy. Right now it's an unecessary risk to Lin's career and the Knicks should respect that.

I think if the Knicks make this a 6 or 7 game series that people might relax a little and be more patient with the thing.

Allanfan20 wrote:

Jmpasq wrote:Skip Bayless and Steven A is trashing Lin for not playing.

I like SAS but once someone turns him off, he is turned off from them forever. See A-Rod, Marbury, Tebow and now STAT and Lin. He has no credibility when it comes to this. Lin needs to play when he is ready, not when SAS and Jalen Rose and Skip Bayless say he's ready.

SAS doesn't know what he wants. He kept trashing the kid before and yet now he is acting like with Lin playing, it would make a whole lot of difference.

Allanfan20 wrote:

Jmpasq wrote:Skip Bayless and Steven A is trashing Lin for not playing.

I like SAS but once someone turns him off, he is turned off from them forever. See A-Rod, Marbury, Tebow and now STAT and Lin. He has no credibility when it comes to this. Lin needs to play when he is ready, not when SAS and Jalen Rose and Skip Bayless say he's ready.

SAS never liked Lin. Which is pretty weird now that he wants Lin to save the Knicks. I guess another negative to throw Lin's way.

NYKBocker wrote:

Allanfan20 wrote:

Jmpasq wrote:Skip Bayless and Steven A is trashing Lin for not playing.

I like SAS but once someone turns him off, he is turned off from them forever. See A-Rod, Marbury, Tebow and now STAT and Lin. He has no credibility when it comes to this. Lin needs to play when he is ready, not when SAS and Jalen Rose and Skip Bayless say he's ready.

SAS never liked Lin. Which is pretty weird now that he wants Lin to save the Knicks. I guess another negative to throw Lin's way.

MSG3 wrote:We are not winning 4 in a row. I refuse to have hope.

I don't care if we don't win 4 in a row. Just the idea of a 3-3 series tie is enough to make it exciting to watch.

What is so important about having Lin slash to the hoop if they know he's incapable of doing it because of his limited movement and slow recovery. We need all the help we can and I'll gladly sacrifice a slashing lin just for one game if we can get a passing/mid-range jumper Lin.

I suspect Lin still do not trust his mid-ranger. He's more comfortable with slashing and drawing a foul. Ah, a shame, since he's pretty accurate with those mid-range.