New York Knicks: Jeremy Lin Hype Is Overshadowing Knicks' Total Team Effort

During the New York Knicks' five-game winning streak, Jeremy Lin has certainly been the story that has grabbed everyone's attention in not only New York, but around the world as well.

But the one story that hasn't gotten much traction is the play of the other guys around him in the absence of Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire.

I don't blame people for focusing all their attention on Lin as his historic play has earned it to say the least. It's easy to ignore the "smaller" things because of all that attention on one man, but as fans of basketball, we all know that one man can't do it by himself.

Down by three and in need of a big shot down the stretch, the Knicks ran a successful inbound play that got Steve Novak the ball, and he was able to drain a clutch three to tie the game at 98. Novak has made clutch three-point shooting an every game occurrence and has stepped up his game, flashing the range we all heard about when the Knicks signed him at the start of the season.

Tyson Chandler has begun to show why New York spent so much money on him and ended their possible pursuit of either Dwight Howard or Chris Paul. Chandler came into tonight's game as the league leader in field goal percentage and has been a big presence in the paint for New York on both sides of the ball.

He had a few huge plays on the offensive boards tonight, extending Knick possessions by giving New York second chances with rebounds and tip-outs.

Jared Jeffries, often a victim of the boo birds at Madison Square Garden, has been playing the best basketball of his semi-disappointing career. Ever since the playoff series with the Boston Celtics last season, I've been impressed with the way he plays defense. Jeffries has abused himself lately, taking charges at a painful pace.

Landry Fields has flourished in a more team-oriented approach for Mike D'Antoni's squad. Fields has attacked the basket with success, shooting 80 percent from the field tonight. On top of that, Fields played great defense on Kobe Bryant on Friday night, causing Kobe to have to earn every one of the 34 points he scored.

Perhaps, the one benefiting the most from the "Jeremy Lin era" is Iman Shumpert. We've learned this season that the rookie isn't ready to run the point, if ever, and is better served as a two-guard in the Knicks' offense. Lin allows him to do that.

And while his jump shot and ability to attack the basket is still coming along, Shumpert has displayed explosive offense and a pesky defensive approach. He had sticky fingers Saturday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves with four steals.

While their contributions have been major and can't be ignored, all of the Knicks' role players mentioned above will see decreased minutes this week, and in turn, decreased production with the return of Stoudemire and Anthony.

But that won't erase the importance of what they've done these past five games.

It appears the Knicks as a whole minus their two "best" players are coming into midseason form.

Now all that's left is for Anthony and Stoudemire to join the party to complete a team that can compete for a NBA championship.