Jeremy Lin News 2013: Is Linsanity's NBA Starting Role On Houston Rockets Threatened By Rising Star Patrick Beverley?

Jeremy Lin entered training camp as the clear-cut starting point guard for the Houston Rockets. However, with the kind of numbers Patrick Beverley is putting up in the first two games of the preseason, the starting nod appears to be still up for grabs.

Lin averaged 12.5 points and 4.5 assists per game while Beverley has also been producing solid statistical lines as he also averaged 12 points and 4 assists over the past two preseason outings.

But the interesting part was the distribution of minutes at the point guard spot. Lin logged in 21 minutes per game while Beverley had more action on the court with at least 23 minutes per outing.

In the Rockets' first preseason game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Lin chalked up 11 points, 4 assists and 3 steals in 19 minutes of playing time. Beverley had 12 points and 5 assists in 21 minutes, but his tenacious play on the defensive end - including four steals - stood out in the game.

In the Rockets' 116-96 win against the Indiana Pacers in Manila, Lin tallied better stats with 14 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Beverley, who started the game, recorded 12 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists in 27 minutes of play.

Is Beverley really a threat to snatch Lin's starting point guard role?

Beverley made a name for himself in the first round of the NBA playoffs last season when he inadvertently injured OKC Thunder point guard star Russell Westbrook. A rookie at the time, Beverley then ignited a stagnant Rockets offense into winning two games, making the then-defending Western Conference Champion Thunder sweat it out over a tough six-game series, which the Thunder won, 4-2.

By contrast, Lin underperformed in the start of that series before he sustained a bruised chest injury that gave Beverley more playing time in the series.

Five months later, Beverley continues to improve and will surely put pressure on Lin throughout the season, but there's no way the former Knick Lin won't start on opening night. Lin is a much better distributor and scorer, while Beverley is a stud on the defensive side of the floor, as he showed when he played against All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday.

But for Lin to continue as the Rockets' premier ball facilitator, he has to limit his turnovers. Over the past two games, Lin turned the ball over at least three times. Beverley, meanwhile, did a solid job protecting the ball with just two turnovers in two games.

Lin might have improved his level of play going into this season, but he needs also to make sure that he will no longer be the turnover machine he was before.