Jeremy Lin: Why Carmelo Anthony's Selfishness Won't Ruin Lin's Hot Streak

Unselfishness. Ball movement. Energy. A pure, unadulterated joy for the game of basketball.

These are just some of the things that have allowed Jeremy Lin to parlay what was a "right place, right time" opportunity with the New York Knicks into a bona fide NBA phenomenon, the likes of which Tim Tebow has never seen.

Unfortunately for Lin and the Knicks, it's the opposite of these very same qualities that Carmelo Anthony seems to tote around in dubious abundance these days. The All-Star forward has been out of action since suffering a groin injury after playing just six minutes in New York's 99-88 win over the Utah Jazz nearly a week ago.

That game also happened to feature the first start of Lin's now-burgeoning pro career, in which the Taiwanese-American sensation scored 28 points and dropped eight dimes, albeit with eight turnovers thrown in. Disconcertingly high giveaway totals aside, Lin has been nothing short of a revelation for the Knicks, leading them to five wins in a row while averaging 26.8 points and eight assists per game.

Lin's enthusiasm and flare for sharing the ball have morphed into a crowd-pleasing contagion in the Knicks locker room, though there remains a certain uneasiness about how "Linsanity" will adapt to Carmelo's return. In many ways, 'Melo is all too easily cast as Lin's foil—he's the guy everyone expected to be a superstar savior, he's a "ballhog," he doesn't fit in well with his teammates in New York, even fellow franchise centerpiece Amar'e Stoudemire.

But as simple as it would be to slot Lin and 'Melo in as mortal enemies on the basketball court, let's not forget that Anthony has had plenty of success in the past playing alongside competent point guards (e.g. Chauncey Billups, Andre Miller, Allen Iverson). Less than two weeks ago, the Knicks were playing shooting guards (Toney Douglas and Iman Shumpert) and basketball zombies (Mike Bibby) at the one with alarming regularity.

All the while hoping and praying that Baron Davis, at the tender age of 32, would defy the overwhelmingly obvious pattern of poor conditioning and injuries that's plagued him throughout his 12-year NBA career and lead Mike D'Antoni's point-first offense like Steve Nash once did.

Or that (fingers crossed!) Steve Nash might play himself on Broadway.

In any case, 'Melo wasn't working with much and too often found himself having to work to create his own shot. If anything, Anthony will (or at least should) be all too happy to cede control of the rock to Lin, who can find 'Melo in his sweet spots for easy buckets early and often.

Anthony is still among the best pure scorers in the NBA today, but, like any player whose modus operandi is to put the ball in the basket at all costs, his game is much better served with a ballhandling guard, be it Lin or someone else, who can do much of the dirty work for him.

And say what you want about 'Melo, but he wants to succeed wherever he is, especially in the Big Apple playing for the team that he grew up idolizing. The last thing he wants is to let down his fellow New Yorkers and to become a pariah in his hometown.  

There may well be some growing pains, some moments wherein Anthony struggles to adapt to "Linsanity" while Amar'e Stoudemire blends brilliantly into Lin's pick-and-roll game.

But as much as Anthony has to gain from playing with a guard like Lin, it's the Harvard grad who figures to make out best. His scoring will drop, though his assist and turnover numbers should improve while sharing the ball with an elite scorer who can more readily convert Lin's passes into hoops.

What's more, Lin should find plenty of open shots and easy opportunities with opposing defenses throwing double and triple teams at Carmelo.

As such, with some time and (dare I ask?) patience, the 'Melo-Lin partnership may yet be a winning one for everyone involved when Anthony returns to the floor for the Knickerbockers.  

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