Two games into his return from a hamstring injury, which spanned 17 of the Brooklyn Nets’ tilts, Jeremy Lin is injured again.
Per Basketball Insiders’ Michael Scotto:
Jeremy Lin (lower back tightness) is inactive tonight. Isaiah Whitehead will start at point guard in his place for the Brooklyn Nets.
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) December 14, 2016
Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson informed reporters ahead of the game that Lin was a gametime decision with lower back tightness. He apparently showed up to shootaround Wednesday morning with the discomfort, which would explain why he wasn’t available to a throng of reporters.
Clearly, this sucks for the Nets. They look so much better with him on the court it’s not even funny. The issue isn’t one game against the Los Angeles Lakers. It’s the future. Is this lower back tightness a thing? Or just something that crops up from time to time? Did Lin maybe suffer it because he was compensating so much for his healed hamstring?
Atkinson didn’t seem too sure about Lin’s prognosis when pressed about it before the game. It’s still early in the injury process. We can’t draw any sweeping conclusions after one absence.
Still, as a precaution, it might be a good idea to start relishing in Sean Kilpatrick- and Isaiah Whitehead-led pick-and-rolls. Get yourself acquainted with the newly-signed Spencer Dinwiddie. The Nets have treated and will continue to treat Lin with kid gloves, so don’t be surprised if he misses more time.
