Jeremy Lin and Patrick Beverley Competing to Start for the Rockets


There’s no clear indication regarding who will be the starting point guard in Houston this season — for the time being, Jeremy Lin and Patrick Beverley are working to convince head coach Kevin McHale that they deserve the job. Per the Houston Chronicle: “I have two starting point guards,’ McHale said. That answer does not seem to satisfy the masses, however. Online message boards and social media continue to fill up with comments from fans who want to know which player will be dubbed the starter. ‘As a player, I always found it irrelevant,’ McHale said. ‘I came off the bench in a lot of games. What is the big difference in playing 271/2 minutes off the bench and playing 26 minutes as a starter? I guess it is a big deal to some people.’ It doesn’t seem to be for the players in the starting point guard battle. Lin and Beverley have the same goals this season, and neither mentions the starting job when discussing those goals. Both talk about playing for wins and eventually championships. Lin said that because the Rockets boast two strong point guards, it makes them a tougher challenge. ‘We have different strengths,’ Lin said. ‘(Beverley) is such a good defender and shooter. I am better with the ball in my hands, attacking. I think that makes us tough to scout, and it gives us the opportunity to give a lot of different looks.’ […] As questions continue to swirl about who the Rockets’ starting point guard is this season, Jeremy Lin and Patrick Beverley played several minutes together Monday night. Lin started at point guard and played 33 minutes. Beverley came off the bench and played 26. ‘I thought (Lin) did a lot of nice things,’ coach Kevin McHale said. ‘He broke people down; he had eight assists. Between he and (Beverley), they had 13 assists and four turnovers. I liked when they were both in the game.’ Lin finished with six points, eight assists, four rebounds and three steals. Beverley had 10 points, five assists and two rebounds. McHale praised both for their defense. ‘I thought they were both really solid,’ he said. ‘Any mistakes that they do make are mistakes because they’re trying really hard and getting after it. They stay in place. They use their hands. They’re both diligent guys.'”