Point of reentry
Lin could return vs. Houston
HOUSTON — During his five-week absence, the injured Jeremy Lin has been limited to being a mentor, teacher and cheerleader from the Nets’ bench. Now he’s on the verge of reclaiming his position as team leader, surprisingly listed as probable Monday against the Rockets.
“When I come back, I want to bring a lot of leadership,’’ Lin said before Saturday’s game against Spurs. “I understand better how I think certain units and certain players work together, and what plays and sets to be in primarily with that lineup. I just want to bring stability more than anything, stability and leadership.”
Lin returned to practice Friday, and the Nets essentially cancelled practice Sunday in San Antonio before flying to Houston. Still, the team estimates he has a 75 percent chance of facing his former team.
“It’s been hard, more than hard at times,” Lin said.
“Jeremy, he wants to play 40 minutes the first game; he’s already told me. But I don’t think that’s happening,” coach Kenny Atkinson said.
The Nets have struggled without that leadership on the court, 2-3 with their starting point guard in the lineup but just 4-13 without him. The Nets are 10.3 points better per 100 possessions with Lin on the floor.
Lin has been out since Nov. 2, limited to giving pointers from the bench or tips at practice to rookie Isaiah Whitehead and off-guard Sean Kilpatrick.
“Sean and Isaiah did a great job filling in, and they’ll continue to do a great job,’’ Lin said. “It was really big for them stepping up to the plate and getting that experience and constancy. So for me just talking to them, it depends; each player is a little different.
“With Isaiah, just trying to teach him how to manage a game, and trying to teach him to find the balance of being a point guard and facilitating, but also being yourself. And with Sean I’m going to try to help him with Xs and Os of the game. We were putting him in point guard position-ish at times, and that’s not always what he’s played in the past, so talking through what that means, helping him lategame situations, how do you manipulate the defense.”
He’s also taken rookie combo guard Caris LeVert under his wing and tried to help newly acquired point guard Spencer Dinwiddie get up to speed.
“Jeremy, obviously I’ve only been around him for two days, but he’s great leader,’’ said Dinwiddie, 23, who arrived Friday. “He’s doing everything he can to put bugs in guys’ ears and really try to tell them what he sees from the bench.”
Lin likely didn’t anticipate being on that bench for so long. But his rehab wasn’t just about getting his strained hamstring back to where it was, but better, stronger than before. It was about building his core and glutes and hips, so he won’t get injured again.