Jeremy Lin: Remarkable Week Foreshadows Strong Season and Future for NY Knicks

Twitter, Facebook and ESPN buzz with each swish, spin and win. Jeremy Lin has officially ignited the 2011-2012 NBA season.

Since Christmas Day, the Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder have separated themselves as top teams in the league, but there has been relatively little excitement across the league. Although fans, players and the media are happy there is a season after all the turmoil, there has been desperate anticipation of a feel-good, did-that-just-happen headline in the NBA. Meet Jeremy Lin.

Against all odds, Lin has had a streak of four excellent performances where he has carried his team to victory. More importantly though, he plays into the New York Knicks system and makes his teammates significantly better. On a team with three All-Stars and a bunch of young talent, Lin has separated himself as the unsung hero and catalyst.

While the Knicks remain on the outside looking in if the playoffs started today, it is clear that a handful of early-season Cinderella teams (Philly, Indiana, Milwaukee) will drop down in the rankings. That paves the way for the Knicks to potentially take the Atlantic Division in the East.

Although the re-emergence of Carmelo Anthony will disrupt Lin’s meteoric rise, it is clear that this Knicks team has found its point guard of the present and future. Will Lin be a perennial All-Star guard for the rest of his career? Time will tell. But will he be the floor general of Tyson Chandler, Amar'e Stoudemire and 'Melo, and continue to be the most popular Knick in Madison Square Garden? Absolutely!

The wacky nicknames will keep coming. I expect an upcoming gig with Nike and Gatorade. Maybe a late-night appearance on Letterman, too. Who knows, maybe the country will being "Linning" similar to the ubiquitous Tebowing that took place during football season. Lin has an infectious team-oriented playing style that has certainly made for an interesting basketball season.

Let the Linsanity continue.