Based on the fans' votes, Jeremy Lin could very well be starting for the West when the NBA All-Star Game comes to Houston this February.
The tough stretch of games that the Rockets face in the coming two weeks may very well test whether Lin belongs there.
Beginning on Sunday, the Houston Rockets (11-11) will begin a grueling eight-game, 13 day stretch where they face a slew of teams with above .500 winning percentages.
For Lin, that means he will have a chance to go one-on-one with some of the NBA's best point guards:
Sun, Dec. 16: Rockets vs. Toronto Raptors
Point Guard Match-up: Lin vs. Kyle Lowry
Lowry has been having a solid season, averaging 15.8 points and 5.8 assists for the Raptors. But Lin outshined Lowry in Houston's 117-101 win over Toronto on Nov. 27, Lin putting in 16 points and 10 assists in a sensational game while Lowry only scored 7 points on 3-of-10 shooting.
Athletic and swift, Lowry can hurt a team on offense if he is allowed, as his 34-point night against Sacramento on Dec. 5 attests. Lin will have to have a similarly good-if not better-game against Toronto on Sunday if he wants to help his team win.
Mon, Dec. 17: Rockets vs. New York Knicks
Point Guard Match-up: Lin vs. Raymond Felton
All eyes will be on Madison Square garden as Lin makes his return to the place where he became a household name last season during the birth of "Linsanity."
Lin has a solid night against New York with 13 points and three assists as the Rockets handed the Eastern Conference-leading Knicks (17-5) their worst loss of the season thus far with a 131-103 thrashing in Houston on Nov. 23. But Felton also had a good night with 17 points and eight assists. More importantly, Felton, who replaced Lin in New York after the latter signed with Houston in free agency, is having a stellar season, with 18.7 points in December and actually in the running for All-Star consideration.
The crowd reaction to Lin's return could be a difference maker for Lin, and will definitely test his mental toughness playing as a visitor in one of the NBA's most rowdy crowds against one of the best point guards the East has to offer.
Wed, Dec. 19: Rockets vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Point Guard Match-up: Lin vs. Jrue Holliday
At 12-11 and with a young, talented lineup that went to the semi-finals in the NBA Playoffs last season, the 76ers also boast a dynamic point guard in Holliday, who can score and spread the floor as well as any point guard in the NBA.
With 18.4 points and 8.9 assists on the season, Holliday has scored more 20-plus points three times this month and will be a challenge for Lin to guard as he plays Holliday and the Sixers for the first time this season.
Sat, Dec. 22: Rockets vs. Memphis Grizzlies
Point Guard Match-up: Lin vs. Mike Conley
Defense is the name of the game for Memphis, who have the second-best defense in the NBA, allowing opponents only 91.1 points a game. As if that wasn't enough of a problem for Lin, he'll have to contend with Conley, who continues to improve for the Grizzlies on offense and is third in the NBA in steals with 2.47 picks this season.
With turnovers being a huge problem for Lin this season (2.7 per game this season, among the 30 worst in the NBA), Conley's tendency to steal the ball could make it a long night for Lin if he doesn't protect the ball.
Wed, Dec. 26: Rockets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Point Guard Match-up: Lin vs. Ricky Rubio
Lin vs. Rubio.
The match-up speaks for itself. And the parallels between both of these explosive players run deep. Both players took the league by storm last season during the winter. Both players have explosive steps and savvy pass ability that get teammates involved. And both of their seasons ended with leg injuries.
Now, the returning Rubio, who finished second in the NBA Rookie of the Year voting last season, will have the chance to match up head-to-head against Lin for only the second time in their careers. When these two played for the first time last season on Feb. 11, Lin gave a 20-point, eight assist effort to help the Knicks beat the Wolves in a 100-98 thriller at the Target Center, while Rubio has 12 points and eight assists.
Same town, different team this time around for Lin. Will it have the same result for Lin? Or will Rubio flip the script on "Linsanity"?
Fri, Dec. 28: Rockets vs. San Antonio Spurs
Point Guard Match-up: Lin vs. Tony Parker
Marking the third time this season that these Southwest Division rivals have sparred, Lin had his finest performance of the season Dec. 10 against the Spurs, torching Parker and San Antonio for 38 points, but ultimately falling short as Parker posted his first career triple-double with 27 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists to lead the Spurs to a 134-126 overtime win.
However, James Harden was out for that game. Since returning this week, Lin's production has since regressed to regular levels. Lin has a chance to make a statement against Parker again, however, and prove that his Dec. 10 explosion was no fluke.
Sat, Dec. 29: Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Point Guard Match-up: Lin vs. Russell Westbrook
Capping the stretch for Lin and the Rockets...a home game hosting the team with the best record in the NBA (19-4) with one of the league's most dominating point guards in Westbrook.
Westbrook is having a sensational season thus far at 20.8 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. He had a bad shooting night, shooting only 40 percent from the field for 14 points in the Thunder's 120-98 blowout of Houston on Nov. 28, but had nine assists. Lin only took seven shots for six points on the night, though he nearly matched Westbrook with eight assists.
Both of these players have their defensive issues, but Lin must be aggressive with Westbrook on defense and reach double digits in his shooting if he wants to get the better of this match-up...and maybe help Houston avoid a repeat blowout this time around.
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