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Bah, humbug.
Knicks interim coach Mike Woodson did not sound keen on the idea of playing point guard Jeremy Lin in tomorrow’s Game 5 in Miami, admitting apprehension over a Linsanity return.
In a conference call yesterday, Woodson said he’s “not counting’’ on Lin making his comeback against the Heat and expressed concern about Lin’s conditioning. Lin has not played since March 24 because of a torn left meniscus that required arthroscopic surgery.
However, the Knicks are desperate at point guard in the wake of starter Baron Davis’ possible career-ending knee injury Sunday that will cause the 33-year-old to miss at least 12 months.
Woodson said he will start Mike Bibby tomorrow, and the Knicks listed Lin as doubtful. On Friday, Lin said Game 5 was a possibility. The final call will be made by Lin and team doctors after today’s practice.
“We’ll gauge it [yesterday] and [today], but I’m not counting on Jeremy Lin to play,” Woodson said. “So we’ve just got to continue where we’ve been with the guys in uniform. But I’m not counting on him to play.’’
The Knicks did not practice yesterday, but Woodson said Lin participated in a 3-on-3 scrimmage with fringe players and staffers. Lin will scrimmage again today.
“[He] is not in great shape,” Woodson said. “Playoff basketball you have to be at an all-time high, and he hasn’t played in a while. I don’t know if that’ll be the determining factor with the doctors.’’
If Woodson had a flair for the dramatic, he would want a dose of Linsanity in Miami with the Knicks against all odds trying to rally from a 3-1 series deficit.
Amar’e Stoudemire, playing with a bandaged left hand, made a miraculous return from hand surgery and a posted a 20-and-10 double-double in Sunday’s season-saving Game 4 thriller. The karma is there for Lin, and it’s an option with more upside than turning to reserve Toney Douglas.
But the more Woodson talked, the more wary he sounded. Woodson would not concede Lin can give a jolt to the stagnant Knicks offense.
Lin’s penetration could ignite struggling bench sparkplugs Steve Novak and J.R. Smith, who need to get on track from the 3-point line, even if he is doing it for just 15 minutes.
Woodson privately is concerned about Lin’s lateral movement on defense, especially with possible matchups against LeBron James or Dwyane Wade if the Heat go big at point guard. Without Davis, Woodson prefers to have Smith and Carmelo Anthony share the backcourt.
“If we had an opportunity to practice and go 5-on-5 and can see him banging, cutting, moving and getting knocked on his [butt], I’d feel more comfortable,’’ Woodson said. “But we haven’t had the chance to practice at a high level to do those things. I am a little apprehensive about him possibly coming back. But if the doctors say alright, they might put him a minutes [cap] on him. They got to make that decision, not me.’’
There’s an impression Woodson is not a big fan of Lin, who is expected to be re-signed as a free agent this offseason. On Woodson’s first full day as head coach after taking over for Mike D’Antoni, he called Lin a young player and said the offense would run through veterans Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire. Anthony said Sunday he was looking forward to playing with Lin, but not until “next season.’’
“Don’t get me wrong, I would love to have him, he’s a big piece to our team,’’ Woodson said. “If doctors say we’re taking a chance and he shouldn’t be out there playing, I can’t be that selfish.’’
Woodson has experience with Bibby, who was a stalwart of Woodson’s Hawks teams. Bibby played well after Davis went down Sunday, and he does not commit many turnovers. Woodson said Game 5 will come down to the team making fewer turnovers, and the last time Lin faced the Heat, in Miami in February, the second-year guard had eight giveaways and shot 1-of-11.
“I’m very comfortable with [Bibby],’’ Woodson said. “He’s not as fast or crafty as he used to be. He’s still capable in short minutes running a basketball team. Sometimes it doesn’t look pretty. He knows the offense and getting the ball where it’s got to go, and he’s still capable of hitting the big shot.’’
marc.berman@nypost.com