Jeremy Lin: Epic Clutch Display Is Great Sign for Knicks' Postseason Chances

Jeremy Lin is intent on outdoing himself. This is no easy task considering he has turned the NBA on its ear in just six games. 

In those six games he is averaging 26.8 points and 8.5 assists per game. Even more importantly, New York is 6-0 in that span. 

That is especially remarkable considering the Knicks had lost 11 of 13 heading into that stretch, and for the majority of those games, New York was playing without the services of Carmelo Anthony or Amare Stoudemire. 

All of this has been a fantastic sign for the Knicks and their postseason chances, but the most promising thing happened on Tuesday night, when Lin drilled the game winning three-point shot to beat the Toronto Raptors 90-87. 

Lin Pops the Clutch

Lin netted that three with less than a second to play. He scored the final six points for the Knicks to cap off their amazing comeback. 

The other three points of those six came the old fashioned way, when Lin drove the lane, got fouled, and made a close range shot with an impressive display of body control.  

He wasn't fantastic for most of this game, and he finished just 9-20 from the field with eight turnovers. He was stumped by the Raptors defense, but he adapted, and then rose up to take the game over in the late stages. 

This is going to serve the Knicks well going forward. 

Eyeing the Postseason

Playing in the Eastern Conference, the Knicks are a virtual lock for the postseason even though they are just 14-15. That record currently has them seeded eighth in the East, and the way they are going, they will only climb up those seedings. 

Once they get there, they are going to be a load to handle. One of the biggest assets to any team in the playoffs is having a closer, and Lin has shown he can do just that. 

This is a player that can play with the ball in his hands when the game is on the line and come through in the clutch. 

Brightening the Knicks hopes even more is the fact that Carmelo Anthony is no slouch in crunch time. These two are going to have to learn to play together when Melo returns from injury, but once they find a rhythm, they will be a deadly duo—especially in the late stages. 

Opposing teams are not going to be able to pay too much attention to Lin when the clock is winding down. If they do, he will simply find a neglected Anthony ready to deliver a dagger. 

Less than two weeks ago the Knicks' season seemed dead in the water. Now it is anything but that. This is truly an exciting and "Linsane" time to be a Knicks fan.