Jeremy Lin and Carmelo Anthony: Can They Coexist on the New York Knicks?
Since Carmelo Anthony has been out of the New York Knicks lineup, Jeremy Lin and Linsanity have taken over New York, (and the NBA, for that matter) and the Knicks have won seven straight games. Now with their superstar closing in on his return, the question Knicks fans are asking is: Can Carmelo Anthony coexist with Jeremy Lin?
Jim Boeheim, who was Anthony's head coach while at Syracuse, thinks that question is "crazy." Here's Boeheim from ESPN New York:
"I’ve got to be honest with you, with all the things I’ve heard over the years, and you hear a lot of crazy things, this is the dumbest I’ve ever heard. [Carmelo] won a national championship playing with guys here and took shots, but didn’t dominate the ball. He won on the Olympic team and didn’t dominate the ball, so he’s proven he can play with guys. I think sometimes in Denver he was put in position where he had to make plays, but he’s always shot a good field goal percentage…
Nobody’s ever said Kobe dominates the ball, I guess, or LeBron or those guys. Of course they do. The best offensive players are going to have the ball. I think the point guard situation will help Carmelo and help Amar’e because it gives them somebody to make plays.
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Boeheim added:
"He’s already proven that he can play. Great players can play with anybody. I think that’s fairly common sense and he is a great player. I think his defense has gotten better. I think the whole key for the Knicks is going to be their defense getting better. … Their offense is fine. They’ve got to get the defensive end better…
The one thing looking at Jeremy Lin, is his defense going to be good enough when he plays the Derrick Roses and the Westbrooks and the Chris Pauls. That’s the question that’s got to be answered.
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Boeheim on any chemistry issues between Anthony and Lin:
"No, that’s what point guards do. This is what I don’t understand. He’s got another weapon coming back. This is a great thing. Instead of passing the ball to a guy that’s a questionable shooter, he’s passing it to a guy that can shoot and score. I think an overlooked thing is I think Novak has helped this team because he gives them another shooter…
There will be no chemistry issue on offense whatsoever. Jeremy Lin’s a good point guard. He sets people up, and the fact that he can score makes him a better passer.
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I have to agree with the Hall of Fame coach from Syracuse. Lin's a point guard. His job is to distribute the basketball. He's got a superstar joining the lineup, one of the best scorers in the game today. I can't see it not working.
Lin thinks this question is crazy too. Here he is on WFAN in New York this morning:
"I’ve been hearing reports, can Jeremy coexist with Melo and everything like that. I’m just confused because he was the one who vouched for me in the first place. So, we want to play together and want to work together and are buying into that. Some people call Melo selfish and he doesn’t buy into the team. That’s just tough for anyone to hear, especially when we don’t think it’s true.
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Lin went on to say that he sees himself taking fewer shots and dishing out more assists once Carmelo returns:
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Yeah, I mean, I think that’s the job of a point guard. I don’t want to come out here and shoot 20 shots a game, but if that’s what the defense gives me, then I those nights that’s what I’m going to have to do.
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People are worrying for no reason. Sure, there will be an adjustment period once Anthony returns to the lineup; that is to be expected. The Knicks have learned to play without him.
But that adjustment period will be short, and once Anthony is reintegrated into the offense with Lin running it, watch out. This is going to be a scary team come playoff time.
This article is from The Hair of the Dog Sports Blog.
Follow me on Twitter @coldy4goldy.
