Nets get leader back ‘Lin’ time

Think of it as the Nets getting their equivalent of Eli Manning back Thursday.

Coach Kenny Atkinson loves football analogies, loves the toughness and competitiveness of football players. That’s what he sees in a way when he has point guard Jeremy Lin on the court.

“More than his talent, more than his experience, I just think there is a confidence,” Atkinson said. “I compare it to football when you have your starting quarterback out there and he commands the huddle.

“He commands the respect of everybody: the coaches, the players,” Atkinson said of Lin, who returned for the Nets’ 126-98 shellacking of the Suns at Barclays Center after missing a game with an ankle sprain. “He just has a certain aura about him and it translates to the team, to the young guys. He’s a take-command guy. That was part of the reason I thought he could play point guard for us was his leadership abilities.”

Lin said he lobbied to play Tuesday versus the Pistons, but had no shot. He said he felt fine facing the Suns.

“I felt great. No issues, hamstring, ankle,” said Lin (13 points, five assists), whose battle with hamstring woes has limited him to just 26 games this season.

Despite the Nets’ 15-56 record, Lin likes what he sees of the team, which won backto-back games for the first time this season.

“On the outside looking in, you think that’s pretty sad. But on the inside, every step in the right direction we’ll continue to take,” Lin said. “We are raising our standards slowly.”

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson grabbed 16 rebounds in 15 minutes as the Nets held a 61-50 edge on the glass.