Jeremy Lin: New York Knicks Cannot Topple Miami Heat Without Star PG

The New York Knicks need Jeremy Lin if they are going to unseat the defending champion Miami Heat. At this point, the defending champions don’t look beatable.

How did the Knicks fare without Lin in Round 1 of the 2012 NBA playoffs?

Wisely, the Knicks are putting the heat on the free agent to re-sign as quickly as possible. Reports from multiple outlets have detailed the Knicks' management are putting on a “full-court press” in order to retain the star point guard.

For a team that is full of distractions, ranging from Amar’e Stoudemire’s fire extinguisher accident and recent Twitter infraction to Carmelo Anthony’s “ball-hog” problems, the last thing it needs is a drawn-out courtship of Lin this offseason.

Lin was a level-headed and role model-type player amid the heat of the Big Apple. It never got to Lin.

One thing became very clear over the past week: The Miami Heat are the gold standard in the NBA. If the Knicks have any prayer of toppling that team, it is going to need the explosive and dynamic element that Lin brings to their team.

But is Lin enough?

Lin brings a unique skill set to the floor that the Knicks just don’t have without him out there. He’s a “creator.” His excellent perimeter game opens up lanes that he exploits in order to find open teammates.

An impressive stat line of 14.6 PPG, 3.1 RPG and 6.2 APG in only 25 starts helped coin the phrase “Linsanity” last season. While he may have flamed out after an impressive start, he has shown that he has the ability to play at a high level in the NBA.

Don’t forget his late-game heroics. Lin has the “it” factor that coaches look for in every NBA-caliber player. Some never reach that point—they don’t have to worry about that with Lin. He’s already there and will only continue to get better with time.

The point guard position is one of the perceived “weaknesses” of the Heat’s otherwise impressive lineup. With Lin in the game, the Heat will likely be forced to rotate LeBron James to defend him on defense (as they did in the regular season). This will free up Carmelo Anthony to do to what he does best: score buckets.

Hopefully, the Knicks’ front office sees the importance of Lin as they attempt to build a team capable of beating the “Dream Team” down in South Beach.

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