The Houston Rockets’ night could be summed up in a single statistic: only one player on the team’s entire roster had a positive efficiency rating in Saturday’s contest against the Oklahoma City Thunder. As a result, Houston and Jeremy Lin ’10 were blown out by the Thunder, 124-94.
The game, which came on the second night of a back-to-back, remained close well into the second quarter. After three consecutive points from Lin, the Rockets were within two of Oklahoma City, 52-50, with four minutes remaining in the half. And then it all went wrong for Houston.
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As the year winds down and we prepare to enter 2013, the Back Page recalls the top five monumental moments in sports for the Crimson in 2012. From historic postseason play to NBA fame, it was a big year for Harvard athletes in all disciplines.
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With the game clock winding down, the Houston Rockets found themselves in an unfamiliar position. For the first time in almost two weeks, Jeremy Lin ’10 and his squad were on the wrong side of the score as the buzzer sounded, losing to the San Antonio Spurs, 122-116.
Whereas in Houston’s last game the team thrived while Lin struggled, it was the opposite Friday as the point guard racked up stats as his teammates faltered. Lin had a hand in three of the Rockets’ first four scores, totaling five points and an assist in the first five minutes and 16 seconds.
Despite Lin’s early offensive success, San Antonio controlled the game from the tip, pouring in 41 points in the opening period. Lin’s counterpart on the Spurs, Tony Parker, was a large part of that offensive onslaught, notching 13 points in those first 12 minutes. Parker would go on to tally 31 points and 11 dimes in the game.
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It wasn’t one Houston will brag about, but after 48 minutes Jeremy Lin ’10 and the Rockets came out on top for the fifth straight game, defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves, 87-84.
After playing less than 24 hours before, fatigue might have been a factor for Lin who scored just eight points on three-of-nine shooting, a 42 percent drop in field goal percentage from Tuesday’s performance. Reminiscent of his play after the initial rush of Linsanity last season, Lin also turned the ball over seven times, comprising 44 percent of his squad’s total mistakes. The Harvard alum managed to tally only one dime, which came on a pass to teammate James Harden for a three with 1:21 left in the first half.
With Lin unable to find a flow, Houston turned to Harden to carry the team’s load. Harden scored 17 out of his 30 points in the final quarter, enabling the Rockets to sneak past their opponents.
Lin may have put it best when, following the night’s contest, he tweeted: “Definitely an ugly one and lots to learn from but glad we got the W and 5 in a row!!! #RedNation”
Houston’s schedule only gets tougher in the rest of 2012 as it plays the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City, last season’s number one and two teams in the Western Conference, respectively, on back-to-back nights this weekend. To be able to take down those two elite teams, the Rockets may need more production from their point guard. Otherwise, Lin’s New Years resolution might be to re-garner some of the magic that he exhibited during Linsanity last season.
On a night supposed to be filled with holiday cheer, Jeremy Lin ’10 and his Houston Rockets played the role of Grinch to the Chicago Bulls Tuesday in Chicago. Lin and co. defeated the Bulls, 120-97, marking the team’s fourth straight double-digit win.
Four players scored at least 20 points as Houston shot 50 percent from the field. Lin, one of those four, also notched a double-double with a game-leading 11 assists. The Harvard alum shot 75 percent from the field while recording only two turnovers.
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