FANTASY FURNACE

Jeremy Lin, it was announced on Saturday, will have surgery to repair a small tear in his meniscus on his left knee, and  will miss approximately the next six weeks, thus ending his stunning, yet short lived 2012 regular season with the N.Y. Knicks. The regular season will end on April 26th, and at this point it would be doubtful, at best, that Lin would be able to join the Knicks unless they were to go deep into the playoffs and his expected recovery time is shortened.

Knicks PG Jeremy Lin will have surgery on his left knee, seen here wrapped and iced, which will keep him off the floor for up to six weeks. Photo: angelillo/landov

Given that Amare Stoudamire is also out for the next 2-4 weeks with a bulging disc in his back, it will make it that much more difficult for the Knicks to advance into the playoffs; should they get there. This Knicks team has been a regular *M*A*S*H* unit over the past week or so with Carmelo Anthony’s sore groin, Tyson Chandler’s sprained wrist and groin pain, Jared Jefferies injured knee, and Baron Davis who, in all seriousness, just might implode on the floor from a variety of assorted injuries including hamstring, calf, and back.

As for Lin, these past six weeks or so have been grueling ones for the 23 year old who has been called upon to play high end minutes most nights, especially under ex-Knick coach Mike D’Antoni. However, one might question why someone who hasn’t played for a very long period of time and is the age that Lin is, would even have this type of injury in the first place. Only time will tell if he will end up having any chronic knee issues throughout his career. Meantime, the Knicks are hopeful that he will have successful surgery and return unscathed either in the playoffs this year or at the beginning of next season.

Lin has been in pain for several weeks as seen in this photo as he grabs his left knee after getting fouled by Pacer Darren Collison back on March 16th. Photo: AlBello