Jeremy Lin: How Meshing with Amar'e Stoudemire Will Determine Knicks Fate

Jeremy Lin and Carmelo Anthony might be getting all the attention in terms of how they will work together and what that will mean for the future of the Knicks. The real future of the team may rest in the pick and roll, though. 

In fact, the best thing for Anthony may well be the development of a good chemistry between Stoudemire and Lin in the pick-and-roll offense. 

It's not that they haven't already begun to establish a good chemistry—they have. So far, Lin has connected with Stoudemire 2.4 times per game. That's the most per game of any Knick. Of the 17 total times they've connected, 14 of the field goals have been at the rim. 

The most total field goals have come from Steve Novak, who has hit 26 shots off of Lin passes, 20 of those coming from deep. 

The key here is the inside-out game. While the Knicks have been extremely effective, scoring 1.14 points per play in going to the roll man in the pick and roll, they've only done it five percent of the time. 

Last year, 63 percent of Stoudemire's shots came from the paint. This year, only 56 percent of them have come from the paint. Anyone want to wager a guess as to why his field-goal percentage has fallen from .502 to .445?

That's not all his fault. He didn't have the kind of point guard who could feed him the ball on the pick and roll. Now he does. 

In fact, Chandler has benefited as well, as he has gotten 22 field goals off of Lin assists, another major recipient. That's come down a bit since Stoudemire has come back, though. 

Essentially, Mike D'Anoni's offense works best from inside-out. Without a pick-and-roll point guard, they had become outside-in, and that's why they were struggling.

The more Lin ad Stoudemire develop chemistry, the more opportunities that's going to create for the rest of the team. Lin will be able to kick the ball to J.R. Smith or Novak, or dare I say it, Carmelo Anthony. 

Anthony, though, doesn't require Lin to set up offense for him. He can create his own, and in that sense, it's not so important for him to have great chemistry with Lin, only to blend into the system, which he is making every effort to do.

It takes time for chemistry to develop, but if this team gels together quickly, they could become a major threat in the Eastern Conference come playoff time, particularly with Indiana and Philadelphia falling off lately.