Asian-American star point guard Jeremy Lin is gearing up for what could be a career-defining playoff run with the Houston Rockets. With pressure mounting, the originator of "Linsanity" wants to regain his groove before he plunges into NBA postseason action.

The 25-year-old Lin is averaging at 12.6 points and 4.2 assists per game in his second year with the Rockets. Despite spending most of the season as a backup point guard, he's now assuming a crucial role as the Rockets compete for playoff positioning with starting playmaker Patrick Beverley out at least for the remainder of the regular season due to a knee injury.

Since getting back his starting role, Lin has provided fine numbers, though his impact hasn't been a major factor for the Rockets, who have lost five of their last eight games. Lin is averaging 14.3 points and 4.1 assists this April and shooting 41 percent from the field (46 percent from the three-point line) in 31 minutes per game.

Lin, who's set to enter the final year of his three-year contract with the Rockets, has been rumored to be a potential trade chip for general manager Daryl Morey in the offseason. Several NBA insiders predicted Lin would be traded this summer, as the championship-aspiring Rockets try to add more solid pieces to their roster.

However, Lin can still dodge the seemingly inevitable move with a strong performance in the postseason. And that is why he wants to find his rhythm as soon as possible before the regular season concludes so he can deal with the immense pressure of the postseason.

"It was really important just for me to be able to try to get back to how I was playing early in the season," Lin said in a Thursday interview with the Houston Chronicle. "That was big. That was big for me."

Over the past five games, Lin has put up 13.6 points and 4.2 assists per outing. He had a great showing on Wednesday, producing 18 points and 6 assists in a Houston loss against the Denver Nuggets.

Still, it may not be enough for Lin to secure major minutes in the postseason, as head coach Kevin McHale demands more consistency from him as a scorer and facilitator. Time is ticking as J-Lin braces for the toughest stretch of his career.