The Los Angeles Lakers are making a road trip to Houston to face Dwight Howard and the Rockets for the first time and point guard Jeremy Lin said that he is ready for the boos that Howard will face at the Toyota Center from LA fans and later when they are at the Staples Center for the first game.
Lin has been in the starting lineup since Patrick Beverley was injured and has helped the Rockets to a solid 4-1 start and they are coming off of a win against the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday before playing the Lakers on Thursday. The team is ranked fourth in the league in scoring through five games and they put up over 110 points in each of the last two games, although one of those was a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. The Rockets are ranked second in the NBA in rebounding with over 45 per game and while the defense has not been great, that should improve as the season goes on.
Lin was back in the starting lineup against the Mavericks and has been there ever since and now he could stay there when Beverley returns. Coach Kevin McHale put Beverley as the starter despite Lin being a high priced signing when the season started, but after suffering a rib injury, Lin was given his job back and so far the results have been solid playing alongside Dwight Howard this season. Lin had 12 points and four assists in the win over the Blazers and he added eight assists in the loss to the Clippers along with 14 points and he has been in double digits in all games so far this season.
Lin said that he is ready to handle the starting work load and that he understands if Beverley gets the starting nod once again when he gets healthy. Howard has been excellent for the Rockets after putting up 26 points in the opening game and 16 in his next game and he has been the leader in rebounding in four of the five games this season. James Harden has been excellent with 21 points in the first game and 33 against the Blazers on Tuesday and he had a season high 34 points in the win against the Mavericks.
The game against the Lakers will be at the Toyota Center on Thursday.