The problem with Jeremy Lin’s fan popularity is that it doesn’t match his game. Lin, to his credit, is honest enough to acknowledge that he doesn’t deserve the votes he has gotten this season in All-Star balloting. At last count, Chris Paul only led Jeremy Lin by about 46,000 votes. Per NBA.com: “Jeremy Lin didn’t hesitate with an honest answer when asked if he feels like an All-Star. ‘Uh, no,’ he said softly after another choppy performance Wednesday night as the Houston Rockets lost for a fifth consecutive time, unable to claw all the way back from 15 points down despite several chances late to go ahead. Lin nearly redeemed a poorly played game with a 14-point fourth quarter, but he missed one of his two free throw attempts on two critical trips to the free-throw line in the final two minutes. A badly executed pass in the paint with Houston down three with 14.9 seconds to go for his fourth turnover essentially sealed a 105-100 victory for the suddenly surging Dallas Mavericks, who have won four in a row. ‘If I could hit a free throw,’ said Lin, who was 6-for-10 from the stripe, ‘it’d be nice.’ It’s been that kind of season for Lin with the Rockets, who also happen to be the host for the Feb. 17 All-Star Game at Toyota Center. While it’s James Harden – unable to salvage his own brutal shooting night with an aggressive fourth quarter that ended with two failed drives to the rim — who can make a strong case for consideration to be an All-Star starter (although he doesn’t have the fan votes), it is Lin who is being afforded the possibility. If enough Linsanity fans on at least two continents stuffed the All-Star ballot boxes in the final weeks of fan voting that ended on Monday night, the ex-New York Knicks player and the first American-born NBA player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent could be an All-Star starter for the West while bumping MVP candidate Chris Paul to the bench.”
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