Jeremy Lin: Knicks' Only Hope Is to Unleash Linsanity

Such a move is potentially Linsane enough to work.

The New York Knicks are down 3-1 to the Miami Heat in the first round. South Beach is already celebrating a second-round playoff berth. But one player possesses the ability to call off the party.

Allow me to reintroduce the phenomenon of the 2011-2012 NBA campaign: Jeremy Lin.

Lin hasn’t played since March 24^th. But his penetrating ability is game-changing enough to provide the Knicks with the spark necessary to ignite a comeback. According to CBS Sports’ Royce Young, though, a Lin comeback sounds almost as questionable as a Knicks comeback.

Mike Woodson failed to shed light on his popular point guard’s status leaving reporters hanging saying: "Don't know. I really can't answer that. I'll be back in the gym tomorrow and talk to doctors and see where they are physically and we'll make some decisions."

Lin himself sang the same tune. He didn’t sound confident in his knee either saying before Game 4:

"

"I haven't been able to load it or jump or explode or drive by somebody the way I want to, so it's going to be longer than that. I really don't want to say I am or am not [returning]. I just want to take it day by day. Game 4 doesn't look great. Game 5, I have no idea."

"

But unlike Woodson and Lin, HoopsWorld’s Alex Kennedy is willing to make a prediction as he tweeted:

"

I expect Jeremy Lin to return for Game 5. His camp is optimistic that he'll be able to play in Miami.

— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) May 6, 2012"

In order for the Knicks to have the slightest chance to comeback against the Heat, Lin must fulfill Kennedy’s prophecy. Miami slaughtered New York three times and it took a 41-point effort from Carmelo Anthony to steal a game. With Baron Davis out with a dislocated right patella, Lin is their only starting-caliber option at the point.

But even though Lin is a major upgrade over Mike Bibby and Toney Douglas, he struggled against the Heat in the regular season. In his one meeting with the Big Three, Lin went 1-11 from the field and dished out just three assists compared to a whopping eight turnovers.

Knowing all that, is it worth sending a player who’s arguably the future of the franchise out to overcome seemingly impossible circumstances after recovering from knee surgery?

Yes.

As difficult as it is to come back from down 3-0 in a seven-game series, it isn’t impossible. New York accomplished the hardest part—winning one game. One more win and all of a sudden, all the pressure shifts back to the Heat.

Do you believe in miracles?

If Woodson and the Knicks do, they better play Lin just in case he has any magic left in his finger tips.

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

Follow @TheRealDDaniels