This changes things tremendously. Remember how Miami was double and triple teaming him at the height of the Linsanity streak? Well a lot has changed since then. Melo can once again Shoot and Stat looks like he is back. And of course we have our defensive anchor in Chandler. We are minus Shump now but our defense is still playing great.
Having another scorer in Lin is BIG, it means we don't have to go to JR if he is really off. Bigger than that is that Lin can drive and break down defenses, just watch Novak suddenly starting to get more shots. Watch Stat getting the ball in close and getting easy points, as well as Chandler. Melo probably doesn't benefit as much as those guys, but we become a much much better "TEAM" with Lin back.
We will be a much different team as long as he is anywhere near his play before the injury.
Hope for this guys,
EMS
We are not winning 4 in a row. I refuse to have hope.
LIn should only play in game 5 if the doctors say he is ready. Plus, given how we have now had two of our PGs (Shumbert was a potential PG) suffer severe knee injures. Do you really want to put Lin out there? I think not.
If the refs were actually going to make calls against Miami, sure, having Lin play would be great if he's ready to go.
But the way they manhandled him during the regular season, I'd rather not have him or the Knicks take a chance, and let him work on his game in the off season, and come back 100% next season.
Its great the knicks won and our big two had a good game.
Lets leave Lin on the bench. He has not played in over a month and likely out of game shape.
Is there a risk to playing him? I don't know. Is it worth setting him back from his rehap and maybe off season program if he does get hurt?
ANd how effective will he be?
We avoided a sweep. Im not sure anything we do is going to avoid the enevitable. Miami will want to close this thing out.
I'd go with Melo being point forward at times, let Henry Bibby get good minutes and I'd rather have TD if healthy than a rusty Lin. I like TD so I would root for him to do well. We don't know if his problem is physical, mental, or off court. It don't make him a bad guy right?
Not saying we should not try. Dolan wants game 6 cuz its a home game!
MSG3 wrote:We are not winning 4 in a row. I refuse to have hope.
yup, if the series was tied, Lin should try to play but to win 4 in a row???
I'm also for not playing Lin. But TD appears to be mentally shot that putting him in the game could create more problems not just in not doing anything, but in creating turnovers that give Miami momentum. At least a JR shot is a shot attempt. I would rather that Woodson put JR in for relief PG duty like Shump. But that means playing Bibby like 35 minutes, which is scary. Uggh. Can anyone else aside from Bibby and Smith dribble the ball up the court? Should've signed another guard instead of Gadzuric.
Does anyone know what TD is going thru?
Nalod wrote:
Does anyone know what TD is going thru?
A long passageway connecting MDA's dog house to Woodson's even more remote dog house.
Seriously, what is up with him? Last year, he seemed poised to make it in the NBA. Now, he has less game than Frank Williams.
If the doctor's clear Lin medically, why not? Roll the dice, give the kid some playoff experience. I'd much rather see an 80% Lin than a 100% healthy brain dead Douglas.
Skip Bayless and Steven A is trashing Lin for not playing.
They say he isnt playing because he is a RFA and doesnt want his value to drop
Did you see Lin's reaction to BD's injury?! After also seeing Shump's knee explode, it's got to act as a deterrant for him. It would be a great storyline to see him return and help us win, but it's probably just that a story- in reality he could either be ineffective, or he could damage his knee. It would be a big risk, no matter how much we need him.
So the only Knick player in either back-court position who is under contract and will be healthy on opening day next season is...
Toney Douglas.
Man, all the negativity. Lin's injury is minor and I have never heard a correlation between it and more serious knee injuries. Lin is right on his way to recovery, not rushing things.
Yes, Miami manhandled him last time but Lin was the only one on our team playing good as far as him, Melo and Stat go, so we had little choice.
Anything is possible and now that the big two are playing well, the load doesn't fall on Lin. He is just a supporting piece.
If he can play well, he will. I don't think the injuries are affecting his thinking, if anything he wants to help the team out. He doesn't strike me as being selfish of all things.
Anyway, stranger things have happened and he is getting close to a return. We don't need 4 in a row, we are down to 3. The past is the past.
I guess it is all those potholes on the Garden floor that have us worried.
Here's the latest according to @AlanHahn twitter:
Woodson says "I'm not counting on Jeremy Lin to play" in Game 5
Woodson did add that Lin will get treatment, will run up and down the floor. Practice tomorrow. Final decision made after that.
Woodson echoes what I've said all along: can't expect him to just parachute into a playoff series and be effective after sitting for a month
Woodson on wanting Lin to play vs what docs say: "I cant be that selfish and say, 'Son, put on a uniform and play.' I just can't do that."
and earlier Hahn said:
there isn't actually consideration for Lin to play weds is there?" have to consider, but from what i've seen, not ready
I know I have watched Jeremy play in person. I can't say the same about the gentlemen on ESPN.
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.
I'd like Line to play but if he doesnt I will understand. No sense in getting injured right before free agency.
Sas should use the same letters but arranged differently, starting with the "A".
I'm not counting on Lin back for game 5....
But if we somehow make it to a game 6, coupled with the emotional Garden crowd...we HAVE to have a Lin sighting, even if it's just a few minutes. It would get everyone SO juiced.
Woodson needs to keep making adjustments...the less healthy bodies we have, the easier it is for the Heat to gameplan. One particular issue I'm concerned about is the Heat gameplanning to force Amar'e to his left, causing even more turnovers for Turnover'e Stoudemire.
