Jeremy Lin: Why New York Knicks Must Bench Linsanity

Jeremy Lin must be benched.

Ever since Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire returned to the New York Knicks starting lineup, the Lin Dynasty hasn’t been the same winning machine. Mike D’Antoni needs to sit the phenom point guard for the sake of the team. 

However, a reduced role wouldn’t result in the end of Linsanity—it would amplify it.

Mark Berman of the New York Post reported that when D’Antoni was questioned about his willingness to tinker with the starting five and even bring Lin off the bench, the head coach answered:

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It could [change]...I’m trying to find the right combos. But it’s got to be determined over time. It’s not going to be over one game. Not going to just throw people under the bus for one or two games. Over a length of time, if they prove they need to be out there, they’ll be out there.

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And making a change—moving Baron Davis to the starting lineup—would without a doubt be the right move. Davis isn’t the better player, but the fact is that he fits better on the court with 'Melo and Amar’e than Lin does.

Anthony and Stoudemire are scorers. So is Lin. That isn’t a combination that will lead to success—ever.

Davis has shown more of a pass-first mindset this season than Lin, and that's exactly what the Knicks need from their starting point guard right now. In his six games this season, "Boom" is averaging just 17.1 shot attempts per 48 minutes compared to Lin’s 20.8. Davis is also averaging 15.4 assists per 48 minutes next to Lin’s 11.6.

He isn’t the better player, but Davis is the better distributor. And again, that’s what the Knicks need next to 'Melo and Amar’e—not a penetrator that’s capable of putting the ball in the basket.

So where does that leave Lin? It allows the explosive ball-handler to come off the bench as a high-energy floor general for Linstant offense.

Alongside J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert, Steve Novak and Jared Jeffries, New York would without a doubt boast the best bench in the NBA. Instead of being restricted while struggling to find his place in an offense with two of the league’s most talented scorers, Lin would be free to run and run and run—the ability that ignited Linsanity in the first place.

Smith is a scorer, Shumpert is a slasher, Novak is a shooter and Jeffries is a hustler. Everyone on the Knicks bench knows their role and excels within it. Because of that, such a transition for Lin would be seamless.

The term "benched" carries more negative connotations than any other in the world of sports. In this particular case, though, that perception couldn’t be further from the truth.

New York will win nothing if it continues to play with its current rotation. If D’Antoni swaps the roles of Lin and Davis, then not only will the Knicks guarantee Spike Lee’s favorite Harvard grad the Sixth Man of the Year award, but a dramatic chemistry boost will take their play to another level, as well.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

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