The Knicks have won their last two games, with both Jeremy Lin and Amare Stoudemire on the bench.
The Knicks have won their last two games, with both Jeremy Lin and Amare Stoudemire on the bench. Reuters

When Amare Stoudemire went down with a back injury last week, many feared that the Knicks could be without the star forward for the rest of the season.

Then, word came that Stoudemire would miss between two and four weeks with a bulging disc, just in time for the star to be back for the playoffs.

Jeremy Lin has missed the past few games with a knee injury, but many have assumed it was a minor issue, one that would keep the point off the court for just a few days.

According to Mike Woodson, there's a chance neither Stoudemire nor Lin will suit up for New York the rest of the year.

Al Iannazzone of New York Newsday is reporting that the Knicks coach isn't sure when the two will return.

I have no idea when these guys are going to return; if they're going to return. I just don't know.''

It would be a huge blow for the Knicks to lose Stoudemire and Lin for the team's remaining games. Both players have been an integral part of New York's recent winning streak.

The Knicks have been praised for being one of the deepest teams in the league. That depth would take a huge hit if the two stars can no longer play.

Baron Davis has done a competent job filling in for Lin, but he can't give New York the type of production that the second-year player can. Woodson said Davis can't play more than 30 minutes a night, which Lin often did.

The loss of Stoudemire makes the Knicks a lot smaller in the frontcourt. STAT stands at almost seven feet tall. Iman Shumpert has replaced him in the starting lineup during his absence. Shumpert is six inches shorter than Stoudemire.

The Knicks have been able to withstand the loss of Stoudemire and Lin so far. New York beat both Milwaukee and Orlando this week with the two stars watching from the sidelines.

It's probably more likely that Stoudemire will miss more games than Lin. There was speculation that Lin could be active for Saturday's game against the Cavs, but Woodson's comments make that seem like a longshot.

New York visits Atlanta on Friday night. The Knicks are 8-1 in their last nine games.

After Woodson's comments, the Knicks sent an update on Lin's status, saying he is aiming to return this upcoming Tuesday or Thursday.

Court New York Basketball New York