MIAMI – Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin broke his silence and offered a ray of hope today. Lin said at today’s Knicks practice he still hopes he can come back and rejoin the desperate team during their Miami first-round series as he’s picked up the pace on his rehab.
Lin has not ruled out a return Sunday. Lin participated in much of practice today at AmericanAirlines Arena. The Knicks need him moreso now with the series-ending knee injury to guard Iman Shumpert and starting point guard Baron Davis developing a bad back during yesterday’s game. They trail the series 1-0 after losing by 33 points yesterday and things don’t seem on the way up.
Lin said he’s extra motivated by the fact last time he faced the Heat he had a miserable outing after facing a ferocious Heat defense designed to stop him. “My last game against Miami, I was 1 for 11 and a bunch of turnovers, that’s obviously in my mind too,’’ Lin said. “I don’t want that to be my last game.’’
However, the soonest he feels he can be back from his torn-meniscus surgery is Sunday in Game 4 at the Garden, though he expressed less optimism after feeling soreness following yesterday’s big 1-on-1 workout with assistant coach Kenny Atkinson.
The Post reported in today’s editions Lin had refocused his goal and felt the first round was still attainable.
“I don’t really want to make a promise because I just don’t know,’’ Lin said about Sunday. “If I felt good today, then that would be more of a possibility. But I don’t feel that great today.’’
Lin, mobbed by reporters yesterday for the first time since Linsanity, said yesterday was the first time he felt the first round was doable. In the last two weeks, Lin and coach Mike Woodson said Lin would most likely be ready in Round 2 if they got there.
“Yesterday I felt pretty good, I could do a lot more than I thought I could,’’ Lin said. “It was just two days ago I just started running. It happened really fast. But today I took a step back. We’ll see. When I come back I want to create energy and be aggressive,’’ said Lin, who had knee surgery one month ago.
If he’s back Sunday, that means he’d beat the six-week timetable by one week – which was his initial goal entering surgery.
Meanwhile, Tyson Chandler stayed back at the hotel to rest as he is still battling the flu. A flu-ridden Chandler was scoreless with 7 turnovers and ignited LeBron James with a flagrant foul on a hard pick.