Jeremy Lin Returns Against the Phoenix Suns
Jeremy Lin was back in the starting lineup for the Brooklyn Nets in their victory against the Phoenix Suns on March 23, but he has spent more time on the sidelines this season than on the court and it has been frustrating for him.
"It's the story of my season. Every time we're about to hit our stride, get into a rhythm or we start to figure things out, something's happened," Lin told Ryan Lazo of the New York Post after he went down with another injury during their game against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday.
Fortunately, it was just an ankle injury and it wasn't anything serious.
"I'm thankful it was just an ankle and not a hamstring or something like that. This is more of my comfort zone. Every basketball player has gone through ankle injuries," he continued.
He has only played in 25 games with the Nets this season mainly because of the hamstring injuries, but the team has actually been playing well in the last few games with Lin and Brook Lopez leading the way. In fact, Lin managed to score in double digits for eight straight games before he went down against the Mavericks.
"I do think we started seeing enough of a glimmer and got enough of a sample size that we know Jeremy and Brook could play together," Nets coach Kenny Atkinson told the New York Post.
Before the game against the Suns, Atkinson told SB Nation's Kristian Winfield that Lin was very important to the team and he compared the guard to a starting quarterback in football. Well, he certainly helped his team win. Against the Suns, Lin had 13 points, three rebounds, and five assists in 21 minutes. The starters didn't really have to play heavy minutes because it was a blowout victory.
The Nets are already out of the playoff race, but they will be in better shape next season with Lin around.