Lakers' Lin to start in NBA opener against Rockets

Jul 24, 2014; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak introduces Jeremy Lin during a press conference at Toyota Sports Center. [Photo/Agencies]

"You kind of show up and it's like those Tuesday night rec-league games," Lin said. "It's like, 'Which one of my teammates is here today? Who's able to play today?'"

Lin averaged 12.5 points and 4.1 assists last season for the Rockets but lost his starting job to Patrick Beverley. Houston liked Beverley's defense better and also moved Lin away from All-Star shooting guard James Harden, who preferred to play with the ball in his hands, leaving Lin as a spot-up shooter (not his strength). Sliding Lin down to the second unit allowed him to assume his more natural point-guard role.

It doesn't seem to greatly bother Lin, who will make $14.9 million this season, though he pauses when asked a simple question. Did he get a fair chance with the Rockets?

"I don't know," he said slowly. "I'll have to think about that."

The Lakers didn't practice Saturday and had light workouts Sunday, an about-face from the previous few weeks in Scott's first season as coach. "One thing I can say is I'm pretty sure our training camp was the hardest one of the 30 NBA teams," Lin said…. Henry returned from Germany after having Regenokine knee treatment and was expected to start running Monday. He won't play in a game until he goes through a "couple of full practices," Scott said. Henry averaged 10 points last season.