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Jeremy Lin fans race to defend Jeremy Lin from Jeremy Lin

Jeremy Lin fans attack a simple statement, unaware that it came from Jeremy Lin.

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Jeremy Lin Rockets Blazers 2014 playoffs

“Why do you hate Jeremy Lin so much?”

If you’ve ever suggested the Rockets point guard should come off the bench, or disagreed that he’s the next Steve Nash, you’ve likely been asked this question.

Jeremy Lin’s fans are a rabid bunch, large in quantity and not very accepting of criticism of their player. What you say, what you don’t say — they try to extract meaning out of all it. Tweet that Lin turned it over and they’ll ask why you didn’t mention James Harden’s turnover last week.

So with rhetoric ramped up at a high level after Jeremy’s huge swing from Game 4 low to Game 5 high, we decided enough was enough. It was time for a little social experiment.

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Yesterday evening, I posted a simple thread in our Rockets forum with nothing but these words: Before Game 5, Jeremy Lin hadn’t done a great job of being an offensive spark this series. It included a poll question asking if this was a true or false statement.

There was just one catch that I didn’t include.

The summary wasn’t mine. It was Jeremy Lin’s.

“I felt like I needed to be more of a spark tonight,” said Lin after scoring 21 points on 9-15 shooting in Game 5. “I haven’t done a great job of that this series.”

Unaware of the source of the comment, Jeremy Lin fans responded immediately to defend Jeremy Lin from Jeremy Lin, even going so far as to claim the statement proved that Jeremy Lin was biased against Jeremy Lin.

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  • your statement just shows your bias
  • So, you and lot of your texas rednecks don`t like Lin? Fine, what can one do about that. He will have to go to one of the bigger cities, multicultural ones, like nyc, boston, la or similar
  • All I can say is that Clutch is a (Lin hater)
  • I’ve seen Clutch post on here about how he’s not biased… that notion is pretty laughable at this point.
  • What’s up with Clutch trollin/going at Lin so often?
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  • I guess there wasn’t enough F**k Lin threads
  • No wonder there is so much hate on the board when the site moderator trolls the most controversial issue in (the Rockets forum).
  • This post shows clearly Clutch is a biased person.
  • I do think Clutch is quite biased…
  • I’m a bit surprised that Clutch would do this (actually, not really)
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  • I think at this point ‘the numbers are clear’ Clutch doesn’t care for Lin.
  • To say Clutch is not biased is definitely ignorant…
  • I think this situation is akin to someone running a political forum that was a strong democrat, who acted neutral then every once in awhile would post some passive agressive pro democrat agenda on the front page.
  • Now everybody on the net is going to use this thread as an example to why ClutchFans is cancerous… I think Clutch emotionally made a mistake by making this poll.
  • expect better from a moderator, boy was i wrong.
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  • What puzzled me even more is why an Internet-based forum with tens of thousands of members from dozens of countries can’t or won’t stay neutral for every one.
  • Clutch IS biased… (He) may spend a LOT of time watching basketball, but does he commit anywhere near the amount of time necessary to break down the play of ANY player on the Rockets? Let alone the Bulk of the players on the team?
  • Now I understand why this board has so much hate on Lin. Very biased and unprofessional indeed.
  • Even if its borderline racist, pure hate and unreasonable judgement Clutch and the mods will keep it.
  • Clutch is simply adding to the decline of this board
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    Others found a deeper meaning in the statement, believing it meant that Jeremy Lin was blaming Jeremy Lin for the Rockets being down 3-2 in the series. Unable to believe that Jeremy Lin had the nerve to even talk about Jeremy Lin, they wondered — why wasn’t Jeremy Lin focusing on James Harden’s failings?

  • How about a new poll: “James Harden has been crap all 5 games”? Hilarious how much scrutiny a backup PG off the bench is getting.
  • What’s the point to single out Lin? … I honestly don’t get why any genuine Rockets fan would throw the kid under the bus like this.
  • If you seriously think lin has this much an impact on our series and fail to see who is truly underperforming at a historic level…then it’s very sad to see people being so ignorant.
  • It’s not classy to single out our BACKUP POINT GUARD to be the scapegoat especially after the great Game 5 victory.
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  • Why single out a role player for not “providing a spark” when our star is shooting 35 percent?
  • The bigger question for me is, ‘Why single out a single player?’ Why not apply this to all the players? … Clutch did this for a player possibly #7 in the pecking order.
  • Why don’t you man up and tell to Lin and Harden to their face that they have not done good job being an offense catalyst?
  • Even more interesting? The results of the poll, with over 1500 members voting, showed that nearly three-quarters felt that Jeremy Lin’s own summation of his play was wrong. “Absolutely and Empirically false,” said one member of the board.

    But it was just getting good. Conspiracy theories began to sprout from the benign statement.

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  • Small theory, but could this be like (the Rockets) are using Lin as a scapegoat and blaming him for games 1-4? And saying this was a fluke game for Lin? Could Les/Morey make a push to have Clutch, and other Media write negative things about Lin, so that Lin decides to buyout with the Rockets, so the Rockets can achieve a Max player next season?
  • This thread shows Clutch’s desperation to use as many of Lin’s threads to make as much money as he can from advertising in anticipation of Lin’s possible departure from Houston next season.
  • Others felt the way it was phrased made it biased. Another wondered how I, as media, must behave around Jeremy, with another suggesting my behavior would be “like Donald Sterling”, the racist owner of the Clippers.

    All this because of Jeremy Lin’s own summation of his play.

    And that, my friends, is why an honest Rockets discussion is hard to find. If Jeremy Lin is playing very well, then Rockets fans and Lin fans are in sync, but if he struggles, and he has often, then Lin fans and Rockets fans are oil and water. When Jeremy Lin finds consistency or another team, normalcy will be restored, but until then, we’re just left with one question.

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    Why do Jeremy Lin fans hate Jeremy Lin so much?

    Armed with a bizarre fascination for Mario Elie and a deep love of the Houston Rockets, Dave Hardisty started ClutchFans in 1996 under the pen name “Clutch”.

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    Analysis

    As Houston’s point guard, Amen Thompson draws praise from Jason Kidd for his offense

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    HOUSTON — Amen Thompson may not look like a traditional point guard, but he’s filling in capably for the Rockets in the absence of veteran Fred VanVleet.

    The Rockets (3-2) entered Monday’s home game versus Dallas (2-4) on a three-game winning streak, and their 22-year-old rising star was +77 when playing during those games.

    For the season, Thompson is averaging 15.0 points (46.7% FG), 6.0 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 2.6 turnovers per game, and the versatile 6-foot-7 prospect remains best known for his defense (Thompson earned NBA All-Defensive First Team honors last season).

    Yet, in pregame comments from Toyota Center, Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd — a Hall of Fame point guard from his NBA playing days — went out of his way to praise Thompson’s abilities on offense.

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    When asked about Thompson’s defense, Kidd replied:

    He’s playing the game at a very high level, not just on defense but on the offensive end, too. Driving the ball, and putting a lot of pressure on the defense at the rim.

    I know everyone talks about his defense, but the way he’s handling the ball, it puts a lot of pressure (on the opponent).

    Houston continues to rank No. 1 in the NBA in offensive rating, so Thompson’s individual contributions are clearly making it work for the Rockets as a team, as well.

    The Rockets are without Jabari Smith Jr. (right ankle sprain) in Monday’s game, so Thompson started alongside Kevin Durant, Josh Okogie, Tari Eason, and Alperen Sengun.

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    Analysis

    Rockets rout Raptors as Houston becomes NBA’s No. 1 offense

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    With Wednesday’s 139-121 victory at Toronto, the Rockets (2-2) secured their first winning streak of the 2025-26 campaign and are now NBA’s top-rated offense of the young season.

    Featuring Dave Hardisty, Ben DuBose, and Paulo Alves, our “ClutchFans Live” postgame show recaps all the key storylines from that showing against the Raptors.

    Discussion topics include big scoring games from Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr.; a dominant rebounding performance, led by interior strength from Steven Adams and Alperen Sengun; a subpar shooting night by Reed Sheppard; and potential concerns on defense, where the Rockets currently rank in the bottom half of the league.

    In the win at Toronto (box score), Durant, Smith, Sengun, and Amen Thompson combined for a whopping 92 points, with each shooting at least 50% from the field.

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    Houston Rockets

    Rockets crush Nets, get first win of 2025-26 season

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    Houston Rockets vs Brooklyn Nets 10/27/2025

    It’s been a bumpy start, and it wasn’t exactly the 1996 Bulls on the other end, but the Rockets got their first win of the season Monday night.

    Tari Eason broke out with 22 points — 20 in the first half — as the Rockets pulled away late first quarter and never looked back.

    Alperen Sengun scored 21 points, hitting a pair of triples, Kevin Durant added 19 and Amen Thompson was a +33 in 25 minutes, handing out eight assists to zero turnovers.

    Ben DuBose and I talked Rockets after the game — starting Josh Okogie over the ‘Double Big’, Tari’s breakout and Amen’s solid point guard showing.

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    Houston Rockets

    Live Postgame Show after Rockets home opener vs Pistons

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    Houston Rockets vs Detroit Pistons 10/24/2025

    The home opener is tonight, with Kevin Durant playing a regular season game in front of the home crowd for the first time, when the Rockets take on the Pistons at 7:00 pm Central.

    Detroit is missing that shooter they had in Malik Beasley and Jaden Ivey (knee surgery) is out, but Cade Cunningham is always a tough out. They added Duncan Robinson this season who should theoretically provide that shooting pop, but he was a bust in their season opener.

    Come join David Weiner (@BimaThug) and I tonight after the game as we discuss what we saw and get live fan reaction. Subscribe to ClutchFans on YouTube to get notifications when we go live!

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    Houston Rockets

    One month post-surgery, Fred VanVleet moving without assistance or brace at Rockets’ practice

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    Photo via Houston Rockets, Rockets.com

    Less than a month after undergoing ACL surgery on his right knee, veteran Rockets guard Fred VanVleet is already walking without crutches, a limp, or a brace.

    VanVleet was seen by reporters at Houston’s practice on Thursday, where the Rockets (0-1) were gearing up for Friday’s regular-season home opener against the Detroit Pistons (0-1).

    Known for his vocal leadership, the 31-year-old has often functioned an on-court extension of the coaching staff. So, it should come as no surprise that he appeared to be taking on a similar role and guiding his teammates at practice.

    Citing a team source, the Houston Chronicle’s Danielle Lerner reports that VanVleet “might attempt to travel on the next road trip when the Rockets play Oct. 29 at the Toronto Raptors, VanVleet’s former team, and Nov. 1 at the Boston Celtics.”

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    As for VanVleet’s potential return as a player, a recent study found 9.8 months to be the average return timeline for NBA players who suffered ACL tears, and that would stretch into July 2026 — i.e. beyond both the regular season and any potential playoff run.

    Yet, Lerner notes that the Rockets “have not characterized his injury as season-ending,” and there are rare cases of elite athletes who returned from ACL surgery in as little as six months. Shedding the brace in under a month appears to be a bit faster than the norm.

    When VanVleet’s injury first occurred in late September, team sources insisted to ClutchFans that it would be premature to assume that VanVleet’s 2025-26 season is over. All indications continue to be that both the player and team are keeping the door open to an eventual return.

    Time will tell as to whether that proves to be realistic, as ACL recovery timetables can vary widely depending on many factors unique to each individual athlete. The severity of the original injury, as well as the progression of the rehabilitation process and any setbacks, are particularly important variables.

    History tells us that the earliest point at which a return-to-play protocol could potentially begin would be at around six months, which would come in mid-to-late March. So, there are many weeks and months of grueling rehab ahead, along with numerous checkpoints that VanVleet would need to clear.

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    The odds are certainly against it. Furthermore, even if VanVleet somehow did return, he would likely be on something of a minutes limitation.

    But one month in, things appear to be going as well as they reasonably could. At least for now, that keeps the door open to an improbable return for Houston’s floor general.

    It’s worth noting that VanVleet does have a $25-million player option for 2026-27, which gives him financial security beyond the 2025-26 season. That could perhaps mitigate some of the risk involved with an early return, though there are obviously many steps that would need to be cleared before that can become a consideration.

    For now, the Rockets are simply hoping for the best, and VanVleet is aggressively attacking his rehab each day. So far, so good, even if the ideal outcome remains unlikely.

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