Houston Rockets point guard Jeremy Lin put up solid numbers through the first three games this season. With a different type of pressure over his shoulders, the former Harvard hot shot is contributing well at an efficient rate.
Despite losing his starting job to the defensively oriented point guard Patrick Beverley, Lin is showing everybody that he's still a valuable component for this Rockets team.
Unlike many had predicted, Lin has become less of a ball facilitator, but rather more of a gunner for Kevin McHale's up-tempo style of offense. The Rockets point guard averaged 16.7 points, 3.3 assists, and 1.3 steals in 32.3 minutes per game.
The impressive part about Lin's game so far is his improved three-point and field goal percentage. Last year, Jeremy just shot 44 percent from the field and 34 percent from the three point line. After one full summer of offseason training, Lin is now shooting 55 percent from the field and 40 percent from three-point line.
Of course, it is way too early in the season to appreciate these numbers, but Lin has shown so far that he can thrive in a team where he's no longer the primary scorer.
James Harden and Dwight Howard might be the core, and Chandler Parson could be the third wheel for this club. But no contender wins championships without an X-Factor.
San Antonio Spurs had Manu Ginobili in their three championship runs, Miami Heat had Mario Chalmers in their back-to-back feat, and the Los Angeles Lakers had Robert Horry during their three-peat days. As for the Rockets, they have an excellent X-Factor in Lin.
"I'll still be the same player," Lin said of his return to the starting lineup, according to the Chronicle via ESPN. "Obviously, we need Pat, and we need Pat to play at a high level for us to be where we want to be. He has to get healthy. Other guys have minor injuries, too. Everybody needs to get healthy."
For more Jeremy Lin news, read more at Latinos Post Sports.
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