New York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin likely to miss out Game 5 against Miami Heat – NBA Update
An source with close knowledge of Jeremy Lin`s injury has revealed that the New York Knicks guard is very unlikely to make a comeback in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round series against the Miami Heat on Monday night,
when the series returns to South Beach.
Lin was expected to return as early as the second round of the playoffs after undergoing surgery on his left knee to repair a small meniscus tear on April 2. However last week, Jeremy himself speculated that he may be available
to play in Game 4. That never happened though and now it looks like; he will not be able to participate in Game 5 as well.
"Wednesday is probably too soon,” – said the source.
Even though Knicks are heavily dependent with the current injury crisis they find themselves in, especially in the back court.
Woodson was however still hopeful for a miracle in order for Lin to make a comeback but he did contemplate that the final decision of his fitness is completely in the hand of the team doctors/physicians.
"We'll gauge it today and tomorrow, but I'm not counting on Jeremy Lin to play," Woodson said. "So we've just got to continue where we've been in terms of guys in uniform. But I'm not counting on him to play. ... That's how it's
been here in the last month and a half and that's how I'm preparing."
Even though Lin has been able to get some amount of workout and has been able to put some weight on his newly repaired knee, however, he has complained of soreness after these workouts.
Woodson has taken note of that fact and has even come out to say that the player in question is not in good playing fitness condition.
“I've watched him shoot and run up and down, he's not in great shape," said Woodson. "You know as well as I know, playoff basketball, you've got to be (in peak condition). And he hasn't played in a while, so I don't know if that's
going to be a determining factor with the doctors."
As the current situation stands, Knicks find themselves on the brink of elimination from the playoffs and did themselves a huge favour by winning their last game to end the worst losing streak in the post season at 13. However,
the win in Game 4 did have its set back which was losing, veteran point guard, Baron Davis to a season ending knee injury.
The injury to Davis leaves Woodson with limited options at the point guard position, Mike Bibby who is already past his prime at age 33, likely to start Game 5 and Toney Douglas who did not get any kind of playing time in Knicks
last outing.
This puts the team from the ‘ Big Apple ‘ in a tricky situation and being undermanned on the night would mean that Woodson would heavily rely on the likes of Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith to take most of the responsibility of
ball handling in the game.
Tags: