What’s so big about playing in the Big Apple?

Easily the best story in a shortened, rushed NBA season. And probably the sports story of the year — so far, anyway.

But I thought it was interesting a couple of games ago how Lin talked about what a thrill it was to not only be playing in the NBA, but to be playing specifically in New York. Because of the great tradition and what a great basketball town it was. And I was like, “Hmmmm.”

Of course, this has been said before. In fact, it was a selling point — to play in the Big Apple — when they were trying to land big names like Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire. (LeBron James was understandably more into sunshine.) But, fact is, the Knicks haven’t been relevant for quite some time.

In fact, the team that plays in the largest market — in the storied Madison Square Garden — hasn’t won a championship since 1973. Which, by my calculation is, ah...

That isn’t exactly Chicago Cubs bad, but it’d be Cleveland Indians bad were it not for the Patrick Ewing teams that at least made it to the finals a couple of times in the 90s. But since the last Knicks championship, the Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics have each won six, while the Los Angeles Lakers have won ten. Heck, even the San Antonio Spurs have won four.

But the Knicks have been shut out like Spike Lee at the Oscars. (But, seriously, “Do The Right Thing?” Great flick.)

But now, suddenly, the Knicks have won seven in a row — when was the last time you heard that? — creating actual excitement in New York for the first time since the Reggie Miller wars. That didn’t happen when Carmelo or Amare came to town. It happened when Lin finally got in the box score.

Will Linsanity last? Not to the level we’ve seen. The teams they’ve beaten during the streak haven’t exactly been powerhouses. But for a supposedly heralded franchise that desperately needs to be relevant again, Lin offers hope – something that left Madison Square when Ewing became a SuperSonic.

In fact, since the Ewing era, not only have the Knicks not won championships — they’ve actually just plain sucked. Last year’s 42-40 finish — not exactly stellar considering the hype over Amare and Carmelo — was the first season over .500 in a decade. And this season started out looking much like the others in recent memory.

So when this team is fully healthy, Lin had better have a spot, even if it means trading someone else.