Jeremy Lin: What to Expect from Linsanity with Amar'e Stoudemire in Lineup

If Jeremy Lin can successfully execute a pick-and-roll with Jared Jeffries and Bill Walker, I think he’ll be just fine once Amar'e Stoudemire returns to the court.

Stoudemire is expected to be back with the team on Monday according to Yahoo! Sports and will get his first opportunity to play with the most talked about player of the last week.

In his first five games in which he received actual playing time, Lin has guided the Knicks to a five-game winning streak after not having a single winning streak all season. He’s averaged 26.8 points on 52 percent shooting over that span and has single-handedly rejuvenated a fanbase that was losing hope.

Lin is terrific at getting a step on the defense and penetrating into the paint, which opens up lanes for his teammates. While Lin is no Steve Nash, he can set up Stoudemire with the ball in his hands right around the basket. In other words, he can make life a lot easier for him. This is just what the doctor ordered for Stoudemire.

The offense actually features ball movement and plays and doesn't just give the ball to Carmelo Anthony.

Lin will benefit from the additional freedom when he drives, with defenders staying at home, staying concerned with Stoudemire. Right now, teams are cheating off their man and helping when he beats the first defender off the dribble. It worked for the Minnesota Timberwolves, which is why he shot an abysmal 8-of-24 from the floor.

It’s no secret that the Knicks' woes at point guard were the main reason for their uninspired start. That poor play directly affected Stoudemire. However, Lin is now averaging eight assists per game during their incredible five-game winning streak, with guys like Steve Novak reaping the benefits. With a legit big man that has every offensive skill you could ask for in a center, the sky is the limit.

When Anthony comes back…well, that’s a different story. Is this the first time in history a team wants their franchise player to stay sidelined for an extra week or two to get a taste of a different looking lineup?

Just another reason why Linsanity is one of the craziest stories in recent NBA history.