GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Carmelo Anthony can only laugh. He actually let loose a chuckle when asked about the rising anxiety of Knicks’ fans who openly question how he’ll fit into Linsanity when he returns to the lineup from a groin injury — likely later this week. “No, actually it’s funny to me,” Anthony, who has been out since the first quarter of last Monday’s win over the Utah Jazz, said Monday at the Knicks’ training facility. “When I’m reading the stuff, it’s more funny than anything because at the end of the day I know what I bring to the game, I know what I bring to this team. My teammates know that. But to say is it going to work? How can I fit in? It’s easy; give him the ball and space out. I get back to doing what I know how to do best. So we’ll see.” The Knicks have gone 5-0 since second-year point guard Jeremy Lin began playing meaningful minutes Feb. 4 in a win over the Nets, and they are 4-0 since he entered the starting lineup. He was recognized as the NBA’s Eastern Conference Player of the Week after averaging 27.3 points and 8.3 assists during the 4-0 week. Lin didn’t practice Monday because of a sprained right ankle but said he’s “fine” for Tuesday’s game in Toronto. “[Sunday’s] day off was good,” Lin said. “So I’m good to go.” Amar’e Stoudemire will return to the lineup Tuesday after a four-game absence while he mourned the loss of his older brother, Hazell, from a car accident. Anthony said he hopes to get back on the court Tuesday or Wednesday, but there is no precise date set for his return. Lin said he understands the concerns about Melo’s return but thinks they can coexist. “I can see why they’re questioning it just because he’s a playmaker as well and he has the ball in his hands a lot,” Lin said. “I think when he comes back, we’re just going to continue to run what works for us and he’s actually in my opinion an underrated passer. “At least he’s been improving a lot and the way the chemistry he’s built with Tyson Chandler I think is undervalued, a lot of their alley-oop passes. So I think he’ll be fine once he gets back.” Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni agrees and says Melo’s return won’t mess things up. “He’s not going to mess it up,” D’Antoni said. “I mean, I think that’s ludicrous. But I know that until you prove it, it’s like anything else. “This should only enhance what we’re doing, and we’ve talked about it all year. If we had a point guard that really could set people up then we’re going to be better off.” The offense has flowed much smoother with Lin facilitating and traditional role players like Jared Jeffries and Steve Novak benefitting. When Anthony was in the lineup, the offense often stalled as he held the ball on isolation plays and let the shot-clock wind down before making his move. Still, Anthony said he can adapt and is excited about playing with Lin. “It will be a minor adjustment that I’ll have to make, and that adjustment is not bringing the ball up the court every time, getting the ball in his hands, running the wings, getting out in the open court,” Anthony said. “Maybe our transition game gets better with me running the wings. Maybe, well not maybe, but I’ll have to score in other areas rather than just coming down posting up, iso-ing. We have another guy who can play pick and rolls as well as me. Like I said, I’m super-excited and I think everybody on this team and in this organization is super-excited to see us with a full team.” Theoretically, Stoudemire should benefit from Lin’s return because of his ability to flourish in the pick and roll. According to Basketball Reference, Stoudemire is suffering through his worst season since his rookie year in 2002-03. He’s averaging career-lows in scoring, shooting percentage and player efficiency rating. “I think we’ll help each other,” Lin said. “I think he commands a lot of attention, but at the same time you can give it to him anywhere and he’ll be able to make a play, so it’s going to be fun. It’s definitely going to be fun. We’re looking forward to it. It’s my job to get him going, to get him shot, get him the ball where he likes it, and opportunities where people are closing out to him.” Magic Johnson has said that Lin’s scoring output will likely go down once Stoudemire and Anthony return, and believes both guys have to just “jump on his back.” Stoudemire said Lin appears to be the answer the Knicks were seeking at point guard after experiments with Toney Douglas and Iman Shumpert failed.
“We all were looking for answers from the point guard position so far this season,” Stoudemire said. “We tried every point guard that we have. Saved the best for last I guess.”
Stoudemire even buys into the comparisons between Lin and his former Phoenix Suns teammate Steve Nash.
“I see similarities in their games,” Stoudemire said. “Lin is finding guys out there. He’s playing totally unselfish. He’s taking what the defense gives him. He’s studying, which is what you want from your point guard, a guy who wants to be that facilitator and get guys involved and get guys open shots. He’s passing the ball right on the numbers where guys can catch and shoot.”
Yet for all the attention he’s getting, Lin plays down the Steve Nash comparisons.
“Very careful not to compare myself to a two-time MVP and Hall of Famer,” Lin said.
D’Antoni’s offense flourished with Nash in Phoenix, and now he may have an approximation of Nash in Lin.
Anthony thinks there might be a more apt comparison for Lin.
“He’s Rudy,” he said. “People love the underdog. I don’t see why fans wouldn’t like me. I don’t say I wouldn’t care, or I don’t care because I do care if fans like me or not. But at the end of the day I’m here to do one thing and that’s win basketball games. If people don’t like it then they don’t like it. I move on, I go on.”
And Knicks fans hope it’s moving on to some more wins.
