Which Jeremy Lin will we see during Houston Rockets pivotal game against the Los Angeles Lakers? Lin and the Rockets take on the Lakers with a chance to eliminate their playoff hopes in the final game of the NBA season, Lin's first in Houston. It will be Rockets' playoff appearance since 2008-2009, but which Lin will show up tonight against the Lakers?
So far in his career, for some reason or another, Lin has been able to play his best against the Lakers. In what many considered his first real test in the NBA as Linsanity took control of the league and the world, Lin dropped 38 on Kobe Bryant and L.A. along with seven assists, two steals and four rebounds.
However, despite the impressive performance last season, he combined for just nine points against the Lakers in his first two games against them as a Rocket. He shot a 4-17 from the floor in those first two games despite totaling just five turnovers in both of those games. Turnovers were a concern for Rockets fans as Lin continuously turned it over in New York.
Lin snapped out of this early funk in the season. At the beginning of 2013, Lin rose to the occasion and scored 19 points on 7-13 shooting. He finished with seven turnovers, but had four steals, five assists and six rebounds, pretty solid numbers despite the turnovers. Bryant didn't hesitate to comment on Lin's performance that night as the Lakers lost 112-125 at home to the Rockets. "I don't know what that's about. He seems to play extremely well against us."
Yes, call Lin a Laker Killer, beating the Lakers at home isn't easy as they have finished the season 28-12 in 2013. Right now, the Rockets are trying to make that record 28-13, and Lin will surely play a big role in getting the victory. The Rockets have been scuffling as of late, losing two of their last three and allowing the Lakers to creep closer and closer. If the Rockets lose to the Lakers, they get pushed back to the eighth place in the Western Conference standings and will play the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs.
With no Steve Nash and probably Jodie Meeks guarding Lin, the Rockets will have to get open since it'll be a little tougher for Lin to get past the younger defender.
Game time is at 10:30 p.m. ET and it will be the Rockets' last regular season game.
