Mike Woodson 'not counting' on Jeremy Lin for Game 5

Jeremy Lin's status for Game 5 is up in the air. (Getty Images)

Down 3-1 on the road and in desperate need of some point guard play, Mike Woodson said on a conference call Monday that his is "not counting" on Jeremy Lin being available for the Knicks in Game 5 vs. Miami. From the New York Times: 

“I’ve watched him shoot and run up and down – he’s not in great shape,” Woodson said. “You know as well as I know that playoff basketball you’ve got to be at an all-time high and he hasn’t played in a while.”

via Knicks' Lin Has Hurdles to Clear Before a Return - NYTimes.com.

The decision for Lin to play will be up to Lin and his doctors, Woodson said, but there are bigger concerns for the Knicks. Risking rushing Lin back too early off knee surgery could have bigger impacts on his career, which the Knicks are no doubt preparing to invest in. Considering the short odds the Knicks face down 3-1, even after Game 4's miracle victory, it's hard to see the upside in bringing Linsanity back, as Royce Young discussed Sunday. 

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Also of note, Woodson said that Mike Bibby would get the start over Toney Douglas, which shows you just how far down the Knicks' starting point guard at the start of the season has fallen. Baron Davis suffered a dislocated knee Saturday and is having an MRI Monday. 

We'll keep you updated on the status of Linsanity.