How Linsane a Knicks Victory over a Hot Miami Team Would Be

The Jeremy Lin-led Knicks are 9-2 after starting the season 8-15, standing at an even 17-17 record.

They are second in the Atlantic Division, trailing the Philadelphia 76ers by three games (who themselves are on a five-game skid).

If the playoffs started today, the Knicks would be the seventh seed playing the second seed Chicago Bulls.

With Carmelo and Lin both in the lineup, they are 2-1.

In their last 10, they are 8-2 (mostly due to the emergence of Lin) and have become a viable threat in the Eastern Conference (with two solid wins over the Lakers and Mavericks).

All signs are pointing to good things for the Knicks this season (obviously, providing they are healthy among the important factors).

They have tremendous depth on their team when you factor in the additions of Baron Davis and J.R. Smith (Smith had a great showing on Sunday against Dallas where he scored 15 points in his debut).

Guys like Steve Novak and Tyson Chandler get a boost when Lin is in the game (Novak, the beneficiary of open threes, and Chander, for his wide open lanes to the basket, not to mention pretty alley-oop plays).

The Knicks have the potential to go far, but before they take the weekend off, they have one more test to go through, and that is a very hot Miami Heat team.

The Heat have won seven in a row and are 9-1 in their last 10 games. The Big Three in Miami is playing like we expected to, with all the stars getting theirs and playing very good basketball.

Thursday's nationally televised game will be a must-see for hoops fans everywhere.

If New York is expected to do anything this season, they will have to most likely go through Miami.

A win would give them a huge momentum boost going into the All-Star break (not to mention all the great publicity surrounding the team since the insertion of Lin).

They will be playing on Miami's home floor, but more importantly, can this Knicks team show that is can beat the best of the best?

Miami advanced all the way to the NBA Finals last season before losing to Dallas in six games. They have started this season on a tear, going 26-7 through 34 games (they are tied with Oklahoma City for the best record in the NBA).

If this Knicks team is for real, they will need to be on their A game if they want to get over D-Wade, Bron Bron and Chris Bosh.

The formula may be simply good team basketball and good defense. It could be something else. But the Heat are not an unstoppable force, as they do have seven losses on their record. Can the Knicks conquer their long-time rivals?

We'll see if it happens tomorrow night.