Jeremy Lin has taken a big step forward during the 2012-13 season, helping the Houston Rockets land a playoff spot. (Photo Credit: panamericanonline.com)
Following his departure from the New York Knicks and move to the Houston Rockets, Jeremy Lin has begun to blossom into a legitimate point guard.
We all know the story of how Lin took the NBA by storm with the Knicks during the 2011-12 campaign, but his play has certainly improved since joining the Rockets—the same team that waived the point guard earlier in his career.
In 35 total games with New York, the 24-year-old averaged 14.6 points and 6.2 assists per game while turning it over 3.6 times per game, which was an issue that was well-documented regarding Lin’s play in New York. While he could definitely score the basketball and find the open man, he was often times careless with the basketball and committed far too many turnovers.
But this season, Lin has trimmed that turnover per game mark down to 2.9, which is a huge improvement, while still averaging six assists per game and posting eight double-doubles.
Check out what he did against the Chicago Bulls on Christmas Day, when he went for 20 points, 11 assists and just two turnovers in a 120-97 win.
The Rockets’ point guard is also averaging 13.2 points per game, meaning that his scoring and assist numbers are still the same as they were with the Knicks, but he has cut down on his turnovers.
In my opinion, one of the biggest changes in Lin’s game is his shot selection. He’s shooting the exact percentage that he did last season from the field (44 percent) but has improved in the 3-point department. Whereas Lin took more than five 3s per game last season and shot it at 32 percent, he’s shooting just a bit over three of them a game in 2013 and is knocking down 34 percent of them.
For what it’s worth, Lin’s field-goal percentage this season is higher than notable point guards like Russell Westbrook and Deron Williams.
The mark of a true point guard is the ability to get your teammates involved, take care of the basketball and be selective in your shot selection and these are all areas that Lin has improved in as fans watch him develop into a true NBA point guard.
Of course, having a player like James Harden alongside you doesn’t hurt, but Lin’s maturity has been evident in Houston. Harden has been largely responsible for the Rockets’ 44-34 record and seventh seed in the Western Conference, but the improvements that Lin has made in his ball security and shot selection are a big reason why Houston will be competing for an NBA championship this season.
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