Jeremy Lin: Reality Check

Anthony, Stoudemire and D'Antoni/ AP Images

Stoudemire's and Anthony's returns may pose a threat to Linsanity.

By Matt Rose

Jeremy Lin has been nothing short of spectacular in his first five NBA games. On Monday, he was deservedly crowned Eastern Conference Player of the Week after averaging 26.8 PPG, 8.0 APG, and 4.2 RPG. On Tuesday, Amare Stoudemire will return to the lineup after a week of mourning the tragic death of his brother Hazel. Carmelo Anthony’s return is soon to follow. Anthony and D’Antoni assure the stars, Lin included, can coexist. Personally, I don’t think anyone can coexist with Anthony, let alone Anthony and Stoudemire.

The Denver Nuggets are 34-14, since shipping Anthony to the Big Apple. The Knicks? 27-29. Lin is largely responsibly for five of those 27 wins, and five of thirteen this season. The records paint a pretty clear picture: Anthony’s natural scoring ability does not equate to wins. 

Another problem: the Knicks don’t have enough basketballs. On average, Anthony and Stoudemire attempt 18.8 and 15.5 field goals per game. Over Lin’s miraculous stretch, he has taken 19.4 shots per game. If all three players continue their pace, they will combine for 53.7 shots a game; the Knicks average 80.4 field goal attempts per game. Thus, there are just fewer than 27 shots to go around with all three in the lineup. Something has to give.

Several things could happen, but these are the four most likely scenarios. First, all three stars could take fewer shots per game and their statistics will suffer equally, but nobody experiences a great drop off. Second, Anthony could continue to carry the offense, continuing to adversely affect Stoudemire and begin to affect Lin. Third, the players surrounding the gunners shot sparingly, finding other ways to contribute.

Lastly, and in my opinion most likely, the “Linsanity” will end, but not because Lin’s play has been an apparition. Lin’s style of play commands the ball, freedom to penetrate, and freedom to shoot at will. When Stoudemire and Anthony return, they will demand touches: they are two of the more selfish players in the league, averaging a whopping 4.6 APG combined for their careers. The isolation plays are going to be called for Anthony, not Lin. D’Antoni will run post plays for Stoudemire. Lin will be the third wheel. 

The Knicks seem to have found their answer for their point guard problems; however, in doing so they have discovered a more pressing issue: Anthony and Stoudemire are not players that can lead the Knicks to the Finals. Anthony never got close in Denver and Stoudemire never got there in Phoenix. Putting the two together has illustrated one thing: basketball is a team game—much larger than two players. Denver and Philadelphia have illustrated that, posting two of the best records in the league without a bonafide star. Miami has found success with their Big Three because they are all unselfish. New York is between a rock and a hard place. They traded half their team for Anthony last year and invested a fortune in Stoudemire. One of them has to go, because Lin is here to stay. And he is a winner.