Linsanity: When Will Injured Jeremy Lin Return to the Knicks?

Jeremy Lin announced on Sunday that he feels pretty good, after knee surgery but his pre-surgery hopes to beat the six-week recovery time are likely not going to come to pass.

Lin had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee on April 2, which gave him four weeks to heal up before the playoffs. Now, he's not so sure that he will make it back in time.

I think unless something goes really well, I wouldn't get there, Lin said to the Associated Press before the Knicks beat the Bulls 100-99 at Madison Square Garden.

It depends on how far and how long it goes, he said of his chances to return to the Knicks for the playoffs. But obviously I want to get to 100 percent and then come back, hopefully see what I can do. By then it'll be a different team identity, chemistry, so it gets tricky, too. Yeah, I'm doing everything, we're doing everything we can to get back as soon as possible.

Basically, Lin is realizing that the six weeks projected recover time is realistic and will likely cost him participation in the first round of the playoffs. If the Knicks manage to upset a team in the first round, Lin could possibly rejoin the team this year.

At this point, just over a week after the surgery, Lin has begun working out on a stationary bike but has yet to begin running or doing any basketball activities.

Lin took over as the Knicks starting point guard in early February and set the league on fire as he scored more than 20 points in six consecutive games after getting the starting gig.

In 35 games this season, Lin averaged 14.6 points, 8.2 assists and 4.1 rebounds and set career highs in every single statistical category as he blossomed into an NBA regular in a matter of days.

The spark he gave the Knicks propelled them back into playoff contention, a position they still occupy. The Knicks are eighth in the East and will almost certainly have to get past Chicago or Miami in the first round to allow Lin a chance at a return.