Jeremy Lin Update: Lin’s Decline Due to Little Playing Time & Bad Back

Jeremy Lin is currently having an up-and-down season in his second year with the Houston Rockets.

Despite assuming a lesser role as the team's primary scorer off the bench, Lin is still having a rough time consistently putting up solid numbers.

Head coach Kevin McHale has been very particular in allotting playing time for the 25-year-old Lin as of late, and one of the main reasons behind the move is Lin's declining shooting efficiency.

Averaging just 12.5 points and 4.1 assists this season, Lin's production went south over the last three weeks, as coaching decisions and a nagging back injury seem to have helped muddle his play.

"Since January, the star player has been averaging just 9.8 points in each game, and in February his shooting percentage was just at 40 percent, way below his 45 percent season average, and in March it was only at 22 percent,"  The Inquisitor reported. "Lin has also been spending less time on the floor, from an average of 32.9 minutes per game in January, to 27.1 in February, and finally clocking in at an average of only 20.2 minutes in March."

After playing hurt in the Rockets' six-game first round playoff exit against the Oklahoma City Thunder last season, Lin must deliver a solid performance for Houston towards the end of the season for him to land a big role in McHale's regular rotation as the playoffs approach.

Lin is capable of putting up big stats, as proven by his 26-point explosion against the Portland Trail Blazers and his 17-point, 9-assist game against the Utah Jazz. However, NBA analysts believe consistency will be the key for Lin to finally have extended playing time in the playoffs.

"Rockets coach Kevin McHale would have to rethink his rotations, and give the floor to the players who can bring the team to victory. If Lin wants to be part of that, he needs to get back to his former self, the one that generated a global following that became known as Linsanity," Inquisitor noted.

Lin must regain the trust of McHale, who has been panned by several critics—including Houston Culture Map analyst Chris Baldwin—for misusing the former Harvard standout.