Now that the Knicks are down 2-0 to the Miami Heat, and they've lost Amare Stoudemire and Iman Shumpert, its time to shut down the “Lin might return” rumors for good. I know that the Knicks

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management hates “thinking ahead” and “making smart business decisions,” but this is one that they cannot drop the ball on.

I'm not saying that the Knicks should mail it in, book their tee-times and enjoy the off-season just yet. There are at least two games left in this series and they better be played out at 100%. That said, there is no way that this beat up, banged up and simply inferior team is going to come back and win the series at this point. The Heat are too prolific on offense and too well coached on defense. So, if there is no hope of advancement, it would be pointless and fruitless to rush the young star point guard back from knee surgery to try and make some sort of comeback.

Imagine this scenerio: Game 4, Knicks trailing 3-0 in the series. Young Jeremy is announced as the starting point guard for the Knicks, as the Madison Square Garden faithful go wild. With the world watching his every move Lin navigates the floor flawlessly, dropping dime after dime and sinking timely buckets as LeBron cowers beneath his aura. As the final buzzer sounds, and the Knicks leave the court victorious, one thing is apparent to all those witnessing: the Knicks are going to win this series.

Now, imagine this one: Jeremy Lin comes off the bench in the middle of the first quarter to a rousing ovation. Stiff and tentative on his knee he is taken to task by Dwyane Wade on multiple occasions and even crossed up by the doughy eye-d Mario Chalmers. Not trying to disappoint all of his fans, Lin begins to press, putting increased stress on his recently repaired knee. It gives. Lin is carried off the floor in pain, with a second surgery and a long rehabilitation awaiting him. Two quarters later, the Knicks are swept.

I am not a fortune teller, but I can tell you this: there is a much better chance ofthe second scenario happening than the first. So, as an avid Knick homer, and fan of Lin, I beg you Glen Grunwald, keep him out of this series. For the Knicks, there's always next year, but if you rush him back, there may be no next year for Lin.

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