It seems that Jeremy Lin is getting in good shape. The Hornets guard scored a season-high 35 points to defeat the Toronto Raptors, 109-99, in overtime on Thursday night in Charlotte, N.C. Some basketball fans believe this could be a sign that Linsanity is coming back.
The recent matchup against Raptors was Lin's best game of the season so far, but this is not the first time that he helped the team win. In his six years in the league, he is making solid numbers every game. However, his impact at the team level is very little than the one he's enjoyed in past years.
The Hornets are better on defensive and offensive departments when Lin is playing. The team have outscored opponents by over nine points per 100 possessions. Moreover, good things happen when Kemba Walker and Lin is on the court.
Lin's ability to play alongside Walker has been a surprise for Charlotte's coaching staff. The Lin-Walker combination is making good plays every night for the team. They can beat opponents by almost seven points per 100 possessions.
In the recent game against Raptors, the Hornets have an advantage of 12 points for about 39 minutes when the two were on the court. Moreover, the Charlotte shot 50% from the field (22 of 44) over the first two quarters and made 7 of 18 3-pointers. On the other hand, Toronto made just 16 of their 41 shots (39%).
Lin's numbers this NBA season are not close to his Linsanity days, but he's playing more under control. His assists are down, but his turnover percentage is at a career-low. Also, he has a unique ability to find ways to score against bigger players.
According to SB Nation, the Hornets guard has become a more well-rounded player in Charlotte, someone who can hold his own on defense and offer versatility on offense.
The Linsanity era began on 2012, according to Bleacher Report. During that time, Lin came out of nowhere to put up impressive stats for one of the NBA's most storied teams.
Jeremy Lin's underdog story and the way he carried himself -- confident on the court, unassuming off it -- made basketball fans happy. The undercurrent to his career is racism. With his trust in the Lord, he becomes one of the best players in the league.
In a game against Kobe Bryant, who hailed as one of the greatest basketball players, Lin scored 38 points to lift his team. One of the highlights of Linsanity era is a game-winning triple against the Toronto Raptors.
With less than 10 seconds left on the clock, Lin hit a three-point shot to win the game. Watch the replay below:
