Jeremy Lin scored 17 points, 4 assists and 3 steals in the Houston Rockets' 107-98 win over the Indiana Pacers in a preseason game in front of the Taiwanese crowd on Sunday at Taipei Arena. This performance might get unnoticed because of the glitters surrounding Lin's homecoming, but stat sheets don't lie - Linsanity could be upon us again.
After playing roughly 20 minutes per game over the first two preseason games, Lin was finally given a chance to log in more minutes in the Taiwan game.
In 35 minutes of playing time, Lin produced an efficient statistical line and he did this by making six of only eight shot attempts in the ballgame.
With the arrival of Dwight Howard and emergence of James Harden as the primary scorers for the Rockets, gone are the days when Lin would have at least 15 or more shots per game. In his second season with the Rockets, Lin is expected to be more of a ball facilitator than a combo guard.
In that game against the Pacers, Lin shot efficiently from the floor and showed his refined stroke from three-point territory. Lin's 3-for-4 shooting from beyond the arc is certainly impressive, but his impact on the defensive end shouldn't be overlooked.
Lin, who had 134 steals during the 2012-13 season, recorded three steals against Indiana and made things miserable for Pacers starting guard George Hill, who finished with 17 points on 4-for-10 shooting from the field.
Rockets head coach Kevin McHale also lauded Lin's solid outing and apparently recognized the hardwork he put in over the summer.
"He puts so much pressure on himself," McHale told NBA.com at the conclusion of the two-leg NBA Global Games in Manila and Taiwan. "There's an entire half of the world that seems to be pulling for him."
As the third key star on the vaunted Rockets team, Lin proved in the exhibition game that he can really make an impact if given enough time on the floor. Lin might not have to come up with the same production he had during his heydays with the New York Knicks, but a 17-point, 8-assist average would sure convince everyone that he's an All-Star caliber player.
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