Mike Woodson says that Jeremy Lin is the starting point guard for the New York Knicks. At least, right now. From ESPN radio transcribed by The New York Post:
“Right now, he is our starting point guard, without a doubt,” Woodson said. “I’ve always believed this: When a starter goes down he doesn’t lose his job because of an injury. You welcome him back with open arms when he gets healthy and you keep it moving.”
“That’s what we’re going to do when we get [Lin] signed,” Woodson said of the unsigned restricted free agent. “We’ll get him back in uniform ... and get him ready for practice and camp and throw the ball in his hands and say, ‘Let’s go.’ ”
via Mike Woodson, New York Knicks coach, says Jeremy Lin is starting point guard - NYPOST.com.
Should the Knicks convince Steve Nash to take the veteran's minimum and deal with the media circus at MSG, that could change. But as it stand, Lin remains starter.
The question is, does it matter? Magic Johnson could magically time travel from 1981 and Lin's still not getting the ball. That's what hiring Woodson was about. That's what everything has beeen about. Getting Melo the ball and keeping him happy. That's the reality. Lin will help, but if he's put into a position where he has to give the ball to Melo and go sit in the corner, that's a waste of Lin's talents.
Lin will be a restricted free agent this summer, but the Knicks are expected to match any offer for the sophomore sensation. The other big question is how Lin will respond after knee surgery kept him out of the end of the regular season and the playoffs. But at least he's not getting job snaked out from under him. Yet.
