Jeremy Lin and Carmelo Anthony Need Time to Find On-Court Chemistry

There is a lot being said about the relationship between Jeremy Lin and Carmelo Anthony on the court, as it relates to the overall success of the New York Knicks.

After Anthony returned from a seven-game absence in which his team went 6-1, the Knicks lost in his first game back to the New Jersey Nets in front of a packed house at Madison Square Garden.

With all of the discussion that this is now Lin's team and Anthony will have to learn how to fit in, it appears many are getting swept up in the phenomenon that is "Linsanity."

Let's remember one thing—Anthony is still the best basketball player on this team.

Despite the hyperbolic spin that Anthony's return disrupted the chemistry, the Knicks lost to the Nets because Deron Williams absolutely torched Lin and went off for a career-high eight three-pointers on his way to 38 points in a dominant performance.

A lot of people are looking to pin the blame unfairly on Anthony, but let's take a look at the overall approach the Knicks took with the two on the floor together.

Despite Lin playing just 40 fewer seconds than Anthony, the point guard managed to shoot the ball seven more times than Anthony and led his team with a whopping 18 shot attempts.

That's not a strategy that's going to work for the Knicks.

While Anthony was very obviously rusty after a lengthy layoff and someone had to produce the offense for the Knicks, Lin can't take more shots than both Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire and expect the club to win on a consistent basis.

Anthony has already displayed a willingness to move the ball.

There is nothing more that he wants to do than be seen as a winner in New York, and to believe the idea that he'd jeopardize New York's success in order to pad his own statistics is both foolish and laughable.

Evaluations aren't made after one game.

There were other factors at play against the Nets that need to be addressed.

The Knicks shot just 40 percent (34-of-85) from the floor, including a pathetic 5-of-21 from behind the three-point line.

The team received just 19 points from its bench, Tyson Chandler was clearly banged up with a bad wrist and versatile rookie defender Iman Shumpert was sidelined due to a knee injury.

But let's get back to the dynamic between Anthony and Lin, which so many people seem to be fascinated by because of its media-driven dramatic plot line.

Anthony tried (and failed) to play the point forward role in the offense before Lin burst onto the scene.

He is not suited for that, but because the Knicks had no other options at the time, it forced Anthony to take an isolation approach on the offensive end in an effort to create offense.

Now that he has Lin, who is capable of penetrating into the lane and finding the open man, Anthony has the chance to excel in the half-court set.

Lin, who credited Anthony for even getting a chance under Mike D'Antoni, hasn't had much of an opportunity to create chemistry with Anthony to date:

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"That's why I think it's funny right now," Lin said. "Some people are talking about, 'Oh, can Melo adjust into the system?' I mean, Melo wants to adjust to the system, and he doesn't want to shoot 30 shots a game. The fact that he vouched for me shows a lot about him."

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That doesn't develop overnight, nor will it come with the speed that many Knicks fans are hoping it does.

But that doesn't mean it won't ever come, as so many have already assumed:

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"I want Jeremy to have the ball. Hands down," Anthony said. "I want him to create for me. I want him to create for Amar'e. I want him to create for everybody and still be as aggressive as he's been over the past two weeks. I want that."

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Lin doesn't seem too concerned about his chemistry with Anthony despite many making it a focal point of emphasis:

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We are not in panic mode, because it is not like people show up and you have great chemistry. We both can make plays. ... We need to find a good balance. It’s a little tough with no practice time — it is Day 1.

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Both players have to adjust their games, and it's not just all on Anthony's shoulders to get it done.

Just like Lin said, the two are starting from square one to build a relationship both on and off the basketball court in order to benefit the team.

That's how chemistry is built. It's not bought, it's not rushed and it's certainly not compromised.

Nobody can build anything on a shaky foundation.

Heading into the All-Star break, that's where we stand with the Knicks.

That includes Mike D'Antoni, Lin, Anthony and everybody else wearing New York across the front of his uniform.