New York Knicks: Why Carmelo Coming Back Will Hurt Jeremy Lin and the Team

Jeremy Lin has been the prevalent story on every NBA fans' mind over the last week. He has exploded in the last few games, including a career day against the Lakers with 38 points and seven assists in the fourth consecutive Knicks win. With superstars Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony poised to come back soon, it seems that the Knicks can now start thinking about contending for a championship, right?

Wrong. What we are forgetting is the root of the problem in the Knicks' game plan all season: Carmelo Anthony. For his whole career, Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni has run a system that is predicated on transition, quick decision-making and high point-guard control. For his whole career, Carmelo Anthony has been a slow methodical half-court player. 

When 'Melo came to the Knicks, we knew something had to give. With 14 players on the roster understanding that the coach wants to run, you would expect Anthony to mold his game in order to fit the needs of the team. However, Knicks fans' worst fears have come to fruition, as 'Melo has forced the whole team to mold to him. While this is a system that worked in Denver, the Knicks don't have the personnel to be able to pull off an offense centered around watching 'Melo go to work. 

So what about the Knicks now? Why have they been successful? It's because they have played to their game plan; what they were coached and what the personnel were brought in to do: run. Jeremy Lin has been the main catalyst in this change, as he has not been shy to push the tempo and attack the lane. The introduction of Lin has been invigorating to the Knicks lineup, and they have rattled off four straight wins. 

Amar'e Stoudemire will return at some point to the Knicks lineup as well. However, I think that the reintroduction of Amar'e will actually help Lin's game. STAT has experience working off of a ball-dominant point guard, and I believe that Lin plays to the strengths of Amar'e in terms of running and decision making. Amar'e should only make the Knicks better. 

However, Carmelo will do exactly the opposite for the Knicks when he returns. He will take the ball out of the hands of the point guard and try to get his, instead of focusing on the needs of the team. This is what he has done his whole career.

The one time he was most successful was when he played next to Chauncey Billups, who did not necessarily need the ball in his hands and could create space with a deadly three-point shot. For all of Jeremy Lin's strengths, spot up three-point shooting is not one of them. Fact is, 'Melo will take the ball out of Jeremy Lin's hands, and the team performance will suffer once again. 

So what can the Knicks do? They have $60 million tied up in a player who just does not fit with the team. This will be a much-debated question throughout the season and for the rest of Carmelo Anthony's tenure in New York.