Lin hoping for long playoff run so he can play again

Jeremy Lin has almost full range of motion in his surgically repaired left knee, but he said the Knicks likely will need a long postseason run for him to play again this season.

"It depends on how far and how long it goes," Lin said Sunday. "Obviously, I want to get to 100 percent and then come back, hopefully see what I can do. By then it'll be a different team identity, chemistry, so it gets tricky, too.

"I'm doing everything . . . we're doing everything we can to get back as soon as possible."

Lin had arthroscopic surgery to repair a small tear in his meniscus last Monday. He said the tear was "as minor as it could be." The timetable was that he would miss about six weeks, but before the procedure, Lin said he hoped to be back sooner.

He's already riding the bike and thinks that if all goes well, he could run late next week. But he's not comfortable saying he's ahead of schedule.

"Scared to say that right now because all the doctors are saying this is normal," Lin said. "After about 11/2 to two weeks is when you can see how well you're doing. Everyone said they pretty much walk out of meniscus surgery. I'm trying to be cautiously optimistic, I guess."

But Lin isn't optimistic enough to say he'll be ready when the playoffs start in less than three weeks.

"I think unless something goes really well, I wouldn't get there," Lin said.

The undrafted point guard from Harvard was cut by the Warriors and Rockets and nearly waived by the Knicks but ended up turning their season around. Lin averaged 18.2 points and 7.6 assists in 25 starts and led their surge back into playoff contention.

But the wear-and-tear on Lin's body from playing more than he ever had, combined with the lockout-compacted schedule, might have led to his knee injury.

"The games came so fast," Lin said. "Playing three, four games a week, there was really never a week [to rest] except for All-Star . . . I don't know if that was the exact cause. I don't know if I would have still gotten hurt if it was a normal season."

Lin's value on and off the court likely will earn him a new contract with the Knicks. A restricted free agent this summer, Lin can get a maximum of about $5 million per season based on rules in the collective-bargaining agreement. It's doubtful the Knicks would let him leave. "We'll talk to them July 1," Lin said. "I'm just going to let it happen the way it's supposed to happen and not going to worry about it too much right now."