New York Knicks Don't Need Overrated Jeremy Lin for Deep Postseason Push

It's impossible to deny the value Jeremy Lin adds to the New York Knicks' roster—it's even harder to deny the value he adds to the franchise's net worth.

That doesn't mean, however, that he's essential to a successful playoff run.

Lin suffered a knee injury in March, and the team is preparing to go without him for the duration of the season—and postseason. Since the untimely injury, the Knicks have gone 7-4 and New York has watched Carmelo Anthony return to elite form.  

In his last 10 games, Anthony is averaging 30.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.6 steals. If Carmelo had been playing like this all year, he'd have to be part of the MVP conversation. 

Of course, a number of factors have complicated Anthony's opportunity to do that—Linsanity among them. Anthony has been sidelined by injury for 10 games this season, but that might have felt like a vacation given the madness infecting New York's chemistry.

Mike D'Antoni was determined to play his style of ball. That meant a lot of pick-and-roll action for Jeremy Lin and plenty of quick shots from Amar'e Stoudemire.

Carmelo's unique capability to take over a ball game was curtailed by this dysfunctional team concept, and the Knicks often looked like a team without a leader when Lin, Anthony and Stoudemire all stepped foot on the court at the same time.

Replacing Lin's ability to run the team hasn't been easy, but the situation is less grim than it looks.

Baron Davis is still struggling to score, but he is averaging 4.2 assists in just over 24 minutes a game in his last 10 outings. The more impressive story has been rookie Iman Shumpert, who's racked up 12.3 points, 3.8 boards and 1.9 steals over his last 10 games.

While Lin was a solid defender, there's no question that the 6'5'' Shumpert gives New York's backcourt a different look, and his on-ball defense is tenacious.

Even J.R. Smith is starting to play better basketball—he's averaging 16.2 points in his last five games and sharing shots with Anthony nicely. 

The Knicks may be better with Lin, but they were also saddled with a crowded backcourt rotation and a confused identity. Under interim coach Mike Woodson, there's been no question this is Carmelo Anthony's team.

And that's the kind of team that can pull a postseason upset. At his best, Anthony remains one of the league's most electric scorers and resolute closers. 

If the Knicks can slow their games down, play Coach Woodson's brand of defense and get Anthony his touches, New York has a fighting chance. For all Lin's brilliance, he was prone to turning the ball over and at times was playing beyond himself.

Lin will solve those problems in time, but he might have struggled to do so in the postseason—especially outside of D'Antoni up-tempo system and its greater margin for error.

Anthony has been there before, and we know he can rise to the occasion. If Amar'e Stoudemire can fit into the equation without detracting from what the Knicks have going, there's no limit to what this team can do.