Jeremy Lin News: Why Lin Could Have a Big April and NBA Playoffs Run With Patrick Beverley Injured

The thing about the NBA is that you have to be ready for just about anything, because at any given moment, disaster can strike. Or opportunity.

Sometimes, both at the same time.

Case in point, let's take a look at the surging Houston Rockets. Since the NBA All-Star break, the talented, high-scoring Rockets have been on a tear with a 28-9 record as they aim to dethrone the San Antonio Spurs from the top of the Southwest Division. Things have been looking great for Houston as they have been firing on all cylinders heading into a highly-anticipated NBA Playoffs run for them.

And then...this happened.

Patrick Beverley, the Rockets' starting point guard, looks like he might be done for the rest of the regular season, and possibly the playoffs, after suffering what appears to be a torn meniscus in his knee. For Houston, that news could not have come at a worse time. Beverley, who showed remarkable pluck in last year's playoffs with an impressive performance against OKC, is a good shooter and one of the Rockets' best defenders - a premium considering how low Houston ranks in team defensive categories - and his presence in the lineup added a different set of skills necessary for the Rockets' game plan to work.

And now, it looks like whatever plans the Rockets had regarding the postseason, they're going to have to go forward without Beverley, leaving them with a major problem at the point guard position as the playoffs loom.

However, one person's disaster can become another's moment of opportunity. And that concept is something that Jeremy Lin is quite familiar with.

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Time and again, the popular Houston sixth man has seemingly made a career out of shining in moments where he is asked to fill in while others are injured. It was on the injury-prone New York Knicks squad of 2012, after all, that Lin shot into the public eye after injuries to several Knicks stars resulted in him getting more playing time and more opportunities on offense. The result was the birth of a new star that drew in large numbers of international fans since. And now, it appears that Lin will get yet another opportunity to prove his worth as Beverley recovers and Lin picks up the slack on the floor.

Since being relegated to the bench role on the Houston roster this season, Lin has improved his shooting, but his minutes have wildly fluctuated. When he's getting 30 minutes or more on the floor, he's productive and makes an impact for the Rockets, be it on the bench or temporarily inserted into the starting lineup.

Want further proof? Let's take a look at the numbers. By the stats, Lin has put up 15.2 points, shooting 48.5 percent from the floor and 4.5 assists when he plays between 30 to 39 minutes, and when he's played 40 minutes or more, his offensive output jumps to 25.3 points and 7.0 assists off 50.0 percent shooting. By contrast, when he plays 20 to 29 minutes, which he has done for 26 games this season, his offense drops to only 10.6 points with 4.2 assists on 43.0 percent shooting. Average numbers, at best.

Between injuries and Beverley getting more playing time, Lin's output has understandably diminished. However, with the sophomore guard out of the picture for a while, Lin will be getting the opportunity to prove his worth to the Rockets once again. And if the numbers are any indicator, the Harvard grad should shine with more time on the floor as the playoffs loom for Houston. Lin certainly faired well last April when he had to pick up the slack due to injuries to James Harden and Chandler Parsons, averaging 17.2 points for the month last season.

However, it may not all be that simple. Lin has also struggled in the past when playing in the same lineup as Harden, as he had to learn to play off the ball with fewer offensive touches. And with Dwight Howard in the mix, that could be an even bigger issue. But at the very least, he still scores more as a starter than as a reserve. Coming off the bench in 36 games, Lin has only averaged 11.1 points with 3.9 assists this season, while he's managed to rack up 14.3 points and 4.8 assists in 25 games that he has started this year. It's not much of an improvement, but three points in the playoffs can mean the difference between a win and a loss. In the end, Lin might have his share of issues, but his offense and aggression can be great assets for the Rockets' revved-up offense as they gear up for the most important stretch of the season, and possibly of their entire rebuilding campaign.