Is There Something Wrong With Jeremy Lin?
By Yoni Pollak
Feb 25, 2014; Sacramento, CA, USA; Houston Rockets point guard Jeremy Lin (7) takes a shot over Sacramento Kings point guard Ray McCallum (3) during the second quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Houston Rockets defeated the Sacramento Kings 129-103. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Since the All-Star break, many Rockets fans have been dogging Jeremy Lin for his recent play in the last five games. Some think he has been atrocious as he is going through a “mini-slump” of sorts. However, if you look at his numbers, is he really going through a slump right now? Let’s take a look at his last five games.
For the season, Lin has been shot 45% from the field, 34% from three, and averaging 12.7 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 4.4 apg, 2.7 tpg. The Rockets have played in five contests since the All-Star game. Here are his numbers over that time:
All stats via Yahoo Sports.
Date |
Opp.
Score
Min
FG
FG%
3PT
FT
Reb
Ast
TO
Stl
Blk
Pts
+/-
Feb 26
@LAC
18:37
2-8
25.01-31-2332206
+2
Feb 25
@Sac
21:58
3-7
42.90-15-63330011
+9
Feb 23
@Pho
20:00
1-6
16.70-00-036200
2
+1
Feb 20
@GS
33:55
3-8
37.51-22-254200
9
+8
Feb 19
@LAL
20:57
3-11
27.32-61-2324109
+4
His average numbers over those 5 games: 30% from the field, 33% from three, 75% from the FT line, 7.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.6 apg, and 2.6 tpg.
I’d be willing to bet many readers are a bit surprised right now seeing those numbers. If you have been on Twitter during the last few Rockets games, I’m sure you have seen the “WTF LIN?!?” tweets or something else to that degree. Why though?
In his last five games he has been in a bit of a shooting slump, but otherwise he’s been the regular Lin. His shots aren’t quite falling and some of that has to do with getting passed the ball with under 6 seconds on the shot clock, but it’s not like Lin has been playing horrendously as of late.
Feb 19, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Houston Rockets guard Jeremy Lin (7) is defended by Los Angeles Lakers center Robert Sacre (50) at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Lin has been on the court for close to 23 minutes over the last five games and the Rockets have outscored their opponent in every single game when he’s on the court. Both the Lakers and Kings games were blowouts so I’ll throw those out, but in the three other big games, the Rockets were much better when Lin was on the court than when Patrick Beverley was on the court.
In the Warriors game, Lin was a +8 whereas Beverley was a -8. In the Suns game, Lin was a +1 whereas Beverley was a -1. In last night’s Clippers game, Lin was a +2 whereas Beverley was a -10. You are a bit surprised, aren’t you?!?
Yes, Lin can get frustrating at times when he seems to dribble for 15 seconds and end up with nothing, but that’s his game. Sometimes it ends in an air-balled jumper, but more times than not he’ll find a way to the basket for a layup and a foul. It just seems like we have seen more of the former than the latter as of late. It happens. We just have to learn to live with his style.
Lin’s shot isn’t falling over this five-game stretch, but we see that with all players. Eventually his shot will fall, but in the meantime let’s cut him some slack.
Note: I’m NOT a Lin “fanatic”, just a simple Rockets fan
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