Lin won't be ready for Game 4
Jeremy Lin turns over the ball in the second half against the Nets. (Feb. 20, 2012) Credit: Jim McIsaac
Jeremy Lin all but ruled himself out of Sunday's Game 4 and sounded as iffy for Wednesday's Game 5 as the Knicks are of getting that far.
Lin said his surgically repaired left knee felt sore after he played three-on-three Wednesday and added that he's not at the point that he can trust the knee. Returning against a team that plays as fast and forceful as the Heat might not be prudent.
"I'll probably get one more day of contact maybe in between now and the next game and I haven't been able to load it or jump or explode or drive by somebody the way I want to," Lin said. "So it's going to be longer than that."
Lin had his knee scoped April 2 and was expected to miss about six weeks. In between Games 1 and 2 in Miami, Lin said he hoped to return by the end of this week.
Lin finished fifth in the NBA Sportsmanship Award voting won by Jason Kidd.
Amar'e doubtful
Mike Woodson isn't expecting Amar'e Stoudemire to return for Game 4. Stoudemire, who had surgery to repair a small muscle in his left hand from hitting a glass-enclosed fire extinguisher after Game 2, said "there's a great chance," but the Knicks still call Stoudemire doubtful. "That's going to be a doctor's decision," Woodson said.
One defender to another
Tyson Chandler was presented the Defensive Player of the Year trophy before Game 3 by former Knick and four-time winner Dikembe Mutombo.
No surgery, Davis hopes
Baron Davis hopes he won't need offseason surgery on his back. After it stiffened in Game 1, he said, "This definitely is a problem." He said he will see what needs to be done after his back calms down. He needed about 10 months to recover from a herniated disc he suffered last season.
