Jeremy Lin: The Return of Amar'e and Melo Spells Disaster

Jeremy Lin has held down the fort for the New York Knicks while Carmelo Anthony was out with a groin strain and Amar'e Stoudemire coped with the death of his brother.

But now that the stars are returning, the Knicks' chemistry that has developed while Linsanity has swept through the Big Apple might dissipate.

You see, Lin is a developing star, at least as much as one can be after four games. And Anthony and Stoudemire are black holes that absorb passes, shots and even developing stars such as Lin.

Still, Lin thinks the team will make it work. From Marc Berman of the New York Post:

"

“They’re our teammates,’’ Lin said late Saturday night in Minnesota after his go-ahead free throw with 4.9 seconds left extended the hysteria surrounding the Knicks.

“When they come back, I don’t know how long or even if there will be an adjustment period, but I think obviously they’re two of the top players in the league. We just have to find a way to quickly come together and ride this momentum.

“We all come together, it’s crazy. We don’t know how good we’ll be. The potential is there.’’

"

My concern isn't about Stoudemire fitting in with Lin. He played with an effective point guard, Steve Nash, under Mike D'Antoni back in their Phoenix Suns days, and Lin and Stoudemire should be frightening together running the pick-and-roll.

My concern is how Anthony will fit into the offense when he returns. 'Melo is one of the most talented scorers in the game, there isn't any question about that. But he can also be a dead-end street for offensive flow.

Passes come to him, but they don't regularly come from him. When the ball comes his way, he's more likely to shoot it than look for another alternative.

That's what you get with 'Melo, and when he is dominating a game with his scoring, you're happy to have it.

But it might also stunt the good thing the Knicks have developed with Lin, and in the process make the Knicks a far less effective team.

Because as Lin notes, if these guys all buy into the same system and play together, look out—the Knicks will be a difficult team to beat.

So my advice to 'Melo?

Just Lin, baby!

Hit me up on Twitter—I'm #Linning.