Jeremy Lin: New York's Newest Star Gives Woeful Knicks Slight Glimmer of Hope

This time last week, we were all whining and complaining about how badly the New York Knicks needed an answer at the point guard position.

They seem to have found one in the person of Jeremy Lin, a Harvard grad who the Knicks picked up off the scrap heap after he was cast off by the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets.

What Lin has managed to do in New York's last two games is nothing short of remarkable. He had barely played at all this season before Saturday's game against the New Jersey Nets, and suddenly there he was scoring 25 points and dishing out seven assists to help lead the Knicks to a 99-92 win.

On Monday night, Lin proved Saturday's game was no fluke, scoring 28 points and dishing out eight assists against the Utah Jazz. The Knicks won, 99-88.

Fans inside Madison Square Garden were chanting "MVP" for Lin, and the man himself couldn't help but smile and nod after knocking down a three-pointer as the shot clock expired towards the end of the game.

Let's be honest about what's going on right now. If this was happening in Houston or back in Oakland, nobody would care. But since this is going on in New York, Lin is basically Jerry West, Derek Jeter, Tim Tebow and Jesus all rolled into one.

Spoiler alert: This is not going to last. It's simply too good to be true.

More to the point, Lin is not this good. I love the guy, but he's no different from the hundreds of other bench players who have stepped up and had a couple of great games throughout the course of NBA history. A very small percentage of these players turned out to actually be worth a damn.

In addition, let's not overlook the fact that neither the Nets nor the Jazz qualify as elite basketball teams. We also shouldn't overlook the fact that Lin has exploded within the friendly confines of MSG.

A reality check is coming for Lin and the Knicks, and it will be here sooner rather than later.

Until then, the Knicks may as well keep riding the hot hand. It's not as if they have a choice, really. Lin has gotten an opportunity to shine because New York's other point guards were bad enough to force Mike D'Antoni's hand, and because Baron Davis isn't ready to return quite yet.

And who knows? Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe Lin is the answer to the Knicks' prayers. Maybe he is the guy to be the third member of a holy trinity featuring Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire.

If he is, Lin won't be a fluke. He'll be a miracle.