New Orleans Hornets vs. Houston Rockets: Postgame Grades, Analysis for Houston
Lin ran the offense well Wednesday night with 7 assists and 2 turnovers.Scott Halleran/Getty Images
Jeremy Lin's impact can't all be derived from his stats. Offhand, he had a very poor shooting night, just 3-of-10, but he impacted the game in a multitude of ways.
Lin ignited several fast breaks by pushing the ball in transition, and he kept the Rockets moving the ball with good penetration and kicks out to perimeter players. With just over five minutes left in the game, Lin had just seven points, but dished out seven assists and grabbed six boards. He finished with nine points (and the same number of assists and rebounds).
But yes, there was the poor shooting, which keeps Lin from receiving the highest of high grades. His defense was also poor when he wasn't playing passing lanes, as both Greivis Vasquez and Brian Roberts had big nights for the Hornets (combining for 26 points).
It's important to remember Lin is still less than 100 games into his pro career. Inconsistency will continue to be an issue until he's been in the league longer, and he's still going to make young players' mistakes.
Overall, though, Lin's impact went beyond what could be discerned just by looking at the stat sheet Wednesday night.
