Jeremy Lin's Clutch Play Shows Progression as NBA Star

For those of you that were hoping the Linsanity was over, it may actually be just beginning.

New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin's 16-point fourth quarter last night in Philadelphia helped lead the Knicks to an 82-79 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, moving the Knicks to within three games of the Atlantic Division lead.

In the process, Lin's clutch play continues to show the progression of becoming an NBA star.

Everyone knows about his numbers once the Linsanity began under Mike D'Antoni, but many also felt that Lin was a product of D'Antoni's system. Once Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire got healthy, things didn't exactly work out.

It's only been five games under interim coach Mike Woodson, a very small sample size, but Lin has shown the ability to not only adapt to a new system, but the ability to lead as well.

Most importantly, the Knicks have won all five games.

In the past five games under Woodson, the Knicks have shown the ability to share the ball and commit to playing defense. Both Anthony and Stoudemire have been involved, but it's Lin who has raised his game the most.

His play has been very steady, averaging 17 points, five rebounds, six assists and most importantly only 2.5 turnovers throughout the past four games.

More importantly, Lin's getting it done when the Knicks need him to do it.

Even after having a brutal day from the field last night through three quarters, missing 10 of his 11 shot attempts, with the game hanging in the balance, Lin scored 16 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter.

One key for Lin under Woodson has been his shot selection. He's getting Anthony and Stoudemire more involved, so the desire to take bad shots isn't there as often.

In the six-game losing streak that led to D'Antoni stepping down, Lin combined to go 34-for-89 (.382) from the floor. Yet in the first four games under Woodson, Lin has cut down his shot attempts drastically, but is making more in the process, going 15-for-31 (.484).

What he's doing is playing the game like a good point guard and getting his shots within the flow of the offense. Lin's taking smarter shots and in the process having more success.

In the last five games he's looked more and more like a point guard who you need on the floor in the fourth quarter of tight games. It was initially thought Woodson could turn to Baron Davis in such situations.

There have been plenty of factors leading to the recent success of the Knicks, but the progression of Lin is as important to their future success as any other factor.

He's growing up as a player. After his initial success, it's easy to forget how little experience Lin truly has as a point guard. If he continues the progression, the Knicks are going to be very good and he's going to make himself a star in the process.