Rockets road trip takes Lin to roots of his stardom

mr. 13 in 33 · Dec 16, 2012

TORONTO — When the Rockets blew out the Knicks at Toyota Center last month, Jeremy Lin celebrated with a sigh of relief and a realization.

“This is just the first time,” he said. “We’ll do it all again next month.”

He knew that for all the hype and attention inspired by his first meeting with his former team, the second would bring a brighter spotlight and greater pressure. Yet, in some ways, Lin seemed that night to look forward to that homecoming.

“When I think about last year, the first thing I think about is playing in the Garden,” he said. “It will be good to be back.”

Weeks later, however, he sought to downplay the significance of his return to New York. It will be a quick visit, with the Rockets playing a road back-to-back against the Raptors and Knicks that brings him to Toronto and its large, basketball-loving Asian community and New York, the heart of Linsanity.

“It will be wild,” Lin said. “It will be fun. I don’t really know what will happen, exactly. We’re going to go out there as a team. It’s not about me or any individual. I’m going to go out there and try to play as hard as I can, have some fun. Whatever the crowds are like, I’m sure there will be a lot of energy.

“It will be good to get back to MSG. That’s where for me a lot of it began. I’ll be thankful and glad to be back.”

Lin had 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists in the Rockets’ 131-103 rout of the Knicks last month, a win he considered another step in growing accustomed to being the center of attention. More than used to the spotlight, he said he hopes to use it, in some ways as he did last season when his breakthrough inspired the mania about him and his story.

“It’s over time, you get used to it,” Lin said. “It’s not like anything personal. It helps me. If people are gunning for me, I have to be better. I wouldn’t want it any other way, to be honest.”

Memories of Toronto
The Knicks split Lin’s games in Toronto last season, but his fame soared when he ran down the clock and hit the game-winner in Air Canada Centre, with much of the crowd seeming thrilled to have seen his success even in the home team’s loss. While his triumphs against the Lakers and Mavericks stood as high points of his run to international celebrity, the win in Toronto kicked it into another level, setting the stage for those moments.

“That was a great memory for me,” Lin said. “I enjoyed that game. I’ll be able to look back on that and appreciate that further on down the road.”

Lin said he could not guess how he’ll be received in New York and said he could not concern himself with that. When James Harden returned to Oklahoma City for the first time, he was cheered loudly before the game and booed during, but he said fan reaction or media attention is beside the point.

“Just go out there and play the same way he’s been playing, scoring the ball and making plays for his teammates,” Harden said. “We don’t get carried away with where we’re playing. He’s going back to Toronto and New York. Obviously, the media is going to hype that up. He’s just trying to find a way. I think we’re all going to try to find a way to play amongst each other in a better way.”

Taking their shot
Still, Lin knows the Knicks, especially, will want to defeat not just the Rockets but their former point guard. His fame brings that to many games, but perhaps to none more than the ones he will play this week.

“It’s pretty much what it’s going to be every night,” Lin said. “I’ve kind of gotten used to that. Ever since the whole thing in New York, the whole Linsanity thing got blown up, and there is so much attention and media, that just makes you a natural target among the league. I think that’s what I’ve been used to. Everybody wants to get their best shot. It’s not just me. There’s other people. You look at Miami or big-market teams like L.A., everybody looks forward to play against those teams. They want to give them their best shot.”

Lin will have that waiting for him again, making “just another game” like few others.
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http://blog.chron.com/ultimaterockets/2012/12/lin-ready-to-return-to-where-it-all-began/

Da_Spark · Dec 16, 2012

Found this good post on the comments section in the article..

"Lin as a package is a rare talent in the NBA . He has the 'It" factor as evidenced by his immense worldwide popularity and loyal fans support . The incompetent Rockets are trying to suppress Lin cos of their own twisted agendas. A coaching team lacking in principles is nothing more than a SHAM. Despite this Lin has displayed restraint on the court and maturity beyond his years. A gifted player like Lin will not be denied ... and though the terrain is rocky for now I am sure he will find himself in a situation where he can shine again."

w00t · Dec 16, 2012

Da_Spark said: ↑

Found this good post on the comments section in the article..

"Lin as a package is a rare talent in the NBA . He has the 'It" factor as evidenced by his immense worldwide popularity and loyal fans support . The incompetent Rockets are trying to suppress Lin cos of their own twisted agendas. A coaching team lacking in principles is nothing more than a SHAM. Despite this Lin has displayed restraint on the court and maturity beyond his years. A gifted player like Lin will not be denied ... and though the terrain is rocky for now I am sure he will find himself in a situation where he can shine again."
Click to expand...

:grin: What so good about it? fangirl's farting, nothing more

RedNation · Dec 16, 2012

Da_Spark said: ↑

Found this bad post on the comments section in the article..

"Lin as a package is a rare talent in the NBA . He has the 'It" factor as evidenced by his immense worldwide popularity and loyal fans support . The incompetent Rockets are trying to suppress Lin cos of their own twisted agendas. A coaching team lacking in principles is nothing more than a SHAM. Despite this Lin has displayed restraint on the court and maturity beyond his years. A gifted player like Lin will not be denied ... and though the terrain is rocky for now I am sure he will find himself in a situation where he can shine again."
Click to expand...

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Rockets road trip takes Lin to roots of his stardom

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