No, the honeymoon isn’t over.

We’re still right in the middle of the whirlwind that is Linsanity and it’s not going away. Jeremy Lin’s story is for everyone who was ever told they couldn’t do something. His heart and perseverance in the face of obscurity is the reason why we love sports. But as much as New Yorkers love a great underdog story, we love winning even more.

More than anything, Lin’s talent level and ability to win have won the fan base over. He’s the real deal, he’s legit, he’s Tim Tebow minus the first three quarters. So having won eight of the last nine games, including a statement victory against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, Knicks nation is faced with a gripping question: Just how high is the ceiling for this revamped, Linspired team?

Lin, the Asian-American Harvard graduate who was cut twice before making a sensation of himself on Broadway, has already proven that he is capable of putting a squad on his shoulders to beat championship-caliber teams. In the nine games he’s started, Lin is averaging 24 points, 9.5 assists and hundreds of Steve Nash comparisons. At this point, it’s clear the basketball gods decided it was time for the New York Knicks to be good again.

But the only player capable of putting this team alongside the likes of the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat is Carmelo Anthony. This week, New York’s prodigal son returns to the lineup, and we’ll get to see just how dominant this team can be.

You’d have to be absolutely crazy (Linsane, even) to think that this New York Knicks team is better off without Anthony. While the chemistry between players right now is arguably the highest it’s been in 39 years, adding one of the game’s top-three scorers to that can only benefit the team. Having said that, the way Lin meshes with Melo will be pivotal in New York’s ultimate success.

In a recent interview with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, Anthony said that he could play with anybody. While it’s true that Melo can play with anyone, he can’t necessarily win with anyone, as seen earlier this year. What this Melo-centric team is dependent upon to win is a true point guard.

Mike Bibby hasn’t worked because it’s not 2004. Iman Shumpert hasn’t worked because he’s a shooting guard. Toney Douglas hasn’t worked because he’s a shameless chucker. But where those three have failed, Jeremy Lin has thrived. Lin is a pure, unadulterated point guard. We’ve witnessed how the offense can run through him, but that’s not what New York is asking for. The Knicks need a PG to facilitate the offense, who can spread the floor and create open looks. That’s where Lin (potentially) completes the puzzle.

Melo, Lin and Amar’e Stoudemire will all have to accept slightly lesser roles. It won’t happen overnight, but if this team can adapt, suddenly, you’re looking at a very dangerous team. The most dynamic part of Lin’s game is that he makes everyone around him better. Landry Fields has played his best ball since the emergence of Lin. Tyson Chandler and Stoudemire are already finding some fluidity with Lin on the pick and roll. Steve Novak, who could always knock down a shot but wasn’t getting any opportunities until Lin-mania, practically owes Lin a part of his contract. And with a bench that is bolstered by the addition of J.R. Smith and recovering Baron Davis, the hype for this Knicks team is real.

In the hearts of New Yorkers, Jeremy Lin can do no wrong. He’s shown us that even a nobody can become a somebody in the greatest city in the world.

Still, the bottom line in New York has always been winning and Knicks fans can’t help but speculate: When does the Linderella story end? In May or in June?