Step-by-Step Guide for New York Knicks to Succeed in Post-Jeremy Lin Era

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Jeremy Lin has officially been a Houston Rocket for nearly a week now and the sky is still falling for New York Knicks fans.

There have been countless Twitter critiques, analytical articles and even a parody song about Lin's heartbreaking departure.

Is there even the slightest ray of sunshine in all of this black despair?  Of course.  A sixth man isn't costing your franchise $43 million (including luxury tax) in 2014-15 and your general manager found a capable replacement for less than half of the cost.

I realize that isn't much solace right now.  But I do have something that can help you out.  Here's a complete guide for the Knicks to succeed in the post-Lin era.  

Get Good Guard Play from Raymond Felton and Jason Kidd

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The Knicks faithful have already talked themselves into getting the 17.1 points and 9.0 assists that Felton provided in his initial 54-game run in 2010-11.

Regardless of Felton, the true key to the Knicks' point guard situation is the level of play of possibly washed up 39-year-old Jason Kidd. We've already seen Kidd go from elite defender to turnstile over the past few years, but his offensive game departed this past season as well.

J-Kidd can no longer get to the rim or steal rebounds from the big men down in the paint. What's left is essentially a spot-up shooting caretaker who can still make the occasional pretty open-court pass.

The Felton-Kidd combination will likely never fully replace Lin, a 23-year-old dynamic scorer whose commitment could never be questioned. But if the Knicks can get even career-average play from Felton and solid contribution from Kidd, they will miss Lin far less than expected.

Pray Amar'e Stoudemire Stays Healthy

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Regardless of the heights anyone on the Knicks roster reaches, the Knicks cannot compete for NBA championships without a healthy (and elite) Amar'e Stoudemire.

If history is any indication, New York has about a 60 percent chance of that happening.  And that number is probably even lower if you want to account for injury history (a ton) and Stoudemire's age (approaching 30). 

The risks were apparent when the Knicks inked Stoudemire's five-year, $100 million contract, but the potential rewards are much greater. Fans reaped the rewards in his first season in the Big Apple and experienced the foils the second.

But the fact remains that if there is even one great season left in Stoudemire's body, it's coming next season.  How high that can take the team remains to be seen.  

Give the Ball to Carmelo Anthony

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For those who thought Carmelo and Lin's game could eventually fit together, here are Anthony's splits with and without Lin in the lineup.

With Lin: 16.9 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.0 SPG, 40.0 FG%

Without Lin:  29.1 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.3 SPG, 49.1 FG%

Call me crazy, but that's not a coincidence.  Carmelo plays his best basketball in a wind-down system where he works the clock down getting his own shot.  

Yes, that makes him the very definition of the dreaded "black hole" basketball player.  But he's also the best one we've seen since Kobe Bryant's prime.

Melo has a deadly top-key spin move that's almost impossible to defend and is stronger than every small forward in the game not named LeBron. Anthony also has an incredibly high basketball IQ for someone who is supposedly "selfish."

Maybe that's why the Knicks played more winning basketball during the MeloBall era than even the height of Linsanity. 

Play Committed Defense

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After three full seasons of running Mike D'Antoni's patented "seven seconds or less" offense, the Knicks re-committed to the defensive end this past season.

Opposing teams averaged just 101.86 points per 100 possessions against New York in 2011-12, the fifth best mark in the NBA.  That number should only improve with a full year of Mike Woodson at the helm.

Woodson has long been known as a coach who allows players to police themselves offensively so long as the other end is taken care of. That means if Carmelo Anthony wants a full-fledged commitment to MeloBall, he'll have to go full tilt on defense as well. 

If executed properly, this can only bode well for the Knicks.  

Eviscerate the Brooklyn Nets

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If the New York Knicks don't win the NBA championship next season, the franchise's drought will reach its 40th year.  That number is unacceptable for what is supposed to be one of the league's preeminent franchises.  

Whether Knicks fans want to admit it, their beloved franchise is about to embark on a war for the heart of New York City.

Don't get me wrong, the old garb will forever stay loyal to the blue and orange—It's the youth vote the Knicks need to be worried about.

The Nets come into Brooklyn with a beautiful new billion-dollar arena, rap mogul Jay-Z as a part owner and superstar point guard Deron Williams leading the charge. The team is also spending gobs of money, which is assuredly aimed at winning over the city's backpage sports section.

Only by defeating the Nets handily in the regular season and advancing farther in the postseason can the Knicks stymie Brooklyn's momentum.