New York Knicks: Regular-Season and Playoff Predictions Without Lin

With Jeremy Lin out for the next six weeks with a partially torn meniscus and a subsequent surgery in the upcoming week, many fans are doubting the Knicks' ability to make a serious push for the 2012 playoffs.

While the Knicks are undoubtedly a better team with Jeremy Lin in the starting lineup, there's no doubt that they still have enough talent and depth on their roster to make an appearance in the playoffs as long as certain players step up their game.

The Knicks need guys like Carmelo Anthony, Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith to step up not only their offensive production, but also the efficiency with which they play the game.

If those players can make up for Lin's production, the Knicks will have a legitimate shot at finishing the year strong and making a run at the playoffs at the end of the month.

The Knicks have a tough challenge ahead of them in trying to make a playoff push without Lin, but oftentimes, challenges help teams grow and gel together, and hopefully for the Knicks, that's what this challenge is going to do for them.

Final Regular-Season Prediction: 35-31

The Knicks have 13 more regular season games, and they aren't all that easy, with their next four games against the Pacers, Magic and the Bulls twice.

They will easily top the Pacers, but go on to lose three in a row to the Magic and Bulls (twice), which will put them at an even 28-28 overall.

After that stretch, the Knicks face off against Bucks, Wizards and Heat. The Knicks will get back on track with two wins against the Bucks and Wizards, but they will lose to the Heat, much like they did before the All-Star break, putting them at 30-29 overall.

Next up is a home game against Boston, which the Knicks will win, to even the season series at two games apiece. The Knicks then head on the road against the Nets and the Cavaliers, which are both winnable games, as both the Nets and Cavs won't be playing for much of anything. After winning those three games, the Knicks will be sitting pretty at 33-29 overall.

The Knicks' final three regular-season games are against the Hawks, Clippers and Bobcats. The bad news for the Knicks is that they will lose to the Hawks and the Clippers, as both teams will be playing for serious playoff positioning. The good news for the Knicks is, they end the season against the Bobcats, which is a guaranteed win.

The Knicks will end the regular season with an overall record of 35-31, which will be enough to earn them the eighth seed in the East, which will most likely put them in a first-round matchup with the Chicago Bulls.

Playoff Prediction: Bulls over Knicks in first-round (4-1)

A first-round matchup with the Chicago Bulls is the most realistic possibility for a "Lin-less" Knicks team, but it also happens to be the worst possible first-round matchup too, as the Knicks don't match up will the Bulls.

The Bulls beat the Knicks by an average of four points in their first two meetings, which isn't all that terrible, but the Knicks will be at a serious disadvantage without Lin in the starting lineup against Derrick Rose.

Rose, assuming he's back from his groin injury by this time, will be able to dominate Baron Davis and Toney Douglas at the point, and if Iman Shumpert is placed on him, that will leave a defensive gap at the shooting guard position on Ronnie Brewer/C.J. Watson.

While it's realistic that the Knicks would make this first-round matchup competitive, there's no way, without Lin, that they will be able to take down the mighty Chicago Bulls.

The Bulls bench is too deep, and their starting five is much more efficient than the Knicks' starting five, which will be the ultimate difference-maker.

Without Lin, the Knicks' biggest weakness is their lack of leadership, and that will be the ultimate reason why the will fall short in the 2012 playoffs.

Just making the playoffs will be an accomplishment in and of itself for the injury-depleted Knicks, but it won't be enough to satisfy the championship-hungry Knicks fans.