Jeremy out Lindefinitely

Jeremy out Lindefinitely

John Angelillo/Landov

Jeremy Lin has 'soreness' in left knee and may need arthroscopic surgery after the season, according to a team source.

ATLANTA The mystery surrounding Jeremy Lins sore left knee took an unexpected turn on Friday when head coach Mike Woodson said he didnt know when or if both Lin and Amare Stoudemire would play again this season.

Lin missed his third straight game last night against the Atlanta Hawks after starting the previous 25. When asked early Friday about Lins status Woodsons told reporters hes out.

Still day to day, Woodson added. Amares out. Had his epidural shot yesterday. Hes day to day with Lin. I have no idea when these guys are going to return, if theyre going to return. I just dont know.

Woodsons off-the-cuff remark created a media firestorm that the Knicks tried to control by informing hand-picked media outlets that Lin was hoping to return to the lineup sometime next week either against Indiana on Tuesday or Orlando on Thursday. The Knicks play again on Saturday against the Cleveland Cavaliers at MSG.

The Knicks are calling Lins injury knee soreness and a team source revealed there is a possibility that Lin may need arthroscopic surgery after the season. Woodson later revealed that Lin had an MRI on his knee but that he didn't know the results. For now, however, Lin is receiving treatment for his injury and the team is optimistic that the second year point guard will be healthy enough to make it through the season as well as the playoffs. "He was out shooting today," Woodson said. "We just hav e to take it a day at a time and see how he's feeling. When he tells me he's ready to go that's going to put a big smile on my face."

Lins sudden secrecy has also raised questions about the severity of the injury. Lin wasnt available to speak with reporters on Friday morning and then went out of his way to avoid the press 90 minutes prior to last night's game. Lin did not make himself available before and after Wednesdays win over the Orlando Magic as well. Baron Davis will continue to start in place of Lin.

Stoudemire, who has been diagnosed with a bulging back disc, has yet to address the media as well since the team announced he will be shut down anywhere from two to four weeks. Stoudemire did not accompany the Knicks here but presumably will attend Saturdays home game.

After the Knicks gave a medical update on Stoudemire prior to Mondays win over Milwaukee, it was Woodson who mentioned that if surgery were needed Stoudemire was stil l young enough to make a healthy return. The Knicks, however, insist that Stoudemire will be treated with non-surgical methods including the aforementioned epidural.

Woodson has been on the job less than the weeks but has refreshingly honest in his appraisal of the team including Carmelo Anthony. The organization, however, may not appreciate his honesty especially since it Woodson raised the possibility on Friday that both Lin and Stoudemire could be finished for the regular season.

Either Woodson knows something that the organization doesnt want out there or was he just being careless during an interview session with the media and misspoke? Hes still learning on the job and will soon understand that words like surgery and expressions such as if theyre going to return carry a lot of weight.