Carmelo Anthony Meshing with Linsanity?
Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony has been sidelined for the past five games with a groin injury. While many expected him to return to play tonight, the Knicks released a statement that, according to the Associated Press, said it is doubtful Anthony will play in tonight's game against the New Orleans Hornets. The Knicks are hopeful he will be healthy in time for Sunday night's game against the Dallas Mavericks.
But, regardless of when Carmelo Anthony returns to play, the big question is, how will he mesh with new sensation Jeremy Lin? Before getting hurt and before Linsanity hit, Anthony was the Knicks' top scorer averaging 22.3 points a game.
However Lin has recently taken over that honor, averaging 26.8 points per game as well as eight assists per game. Many Knicks fans are worried about Anthony's ability to mesh with Lin, and fear that his return will put a stop to the Knicks' winning streak.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
As Fox Sports analyst Mike Kriegel says, Anthony's successful return does not depend on simply "accepting a point guard. It's about playing team basketball. It's what Anthony never learned under Jim Boeheim at Syracuse. It's what he refused to learn under George Karl in Denver. It's what he hasn't had to learn under [Knicks' coach] Mike D'Antoni."
Despite his reputation, Anthony is confident he will be able to adapt to and join in with the New York Knicks. "When I get back, Jeremy will have the ball in his hands and I'm playing off that," Anthony said, according to Fox News. "I know what I bring to the game. I know what I bring to this team. My teammates know that."
And though Fox's Kriegel is skeptical, Ian Thomson of Sports Illustrated believes Anthony and Lin will be a winning combination. He wrote that the Knicks' momentum Lin is spurring "is exactly what Anthony needs to elevate his career. Instead of fighting the progress of the Knicks, Anthony is likely to embrace it and become better than ever."
SEE VIDEO OF JEREMY LIN BUZZER BEATER VERSUS TORONTO RAPTORS
WATCH VIDEO OF JEREMY LIN'S TESTIMONY
WATCH VIDEO OF JEREMY LIN PRAISING GOD FOR A VICTORY
WATCH VIDEO OF JEREMY LIN BEING COMPARED TO TIM TEBOW
