Jeremy Lin: Point Guard's Flaws Will Show Away from New York's Frenzied Hype

The Houston Rockets found their new starting point guard when they signed restricted free agent Jeremy Lin away from the New York Knicks, but they are heading for severe disappointment. 

Lin's meteoric rise to success was expedited by New York's bright lights. The Big Apple has ruined many athletes who couldn't handle the incredible pressure of playing in the world's harshest media market, but not Lin.

He used New York to generate frantic buzz. It even had its own name ("Linsanity"), but for Lin, New York's value didn't lie solely in the marketing cash cow he created.

The frenzied hype that enveloped Lin's entire 2012 season completely overshadowed his obvious flaws. He's a turnover machine. I'm not talking a few here and there. Lin averaged 3.6 turnovers per game in the only significant sample size we have to go by last season.

That's a major problem. In the midst of New York's disappointing season, Lin was a bright light at the end of the tunnel. Those turnovers were noticed, but fans shrugged them off because they had no choice. 

Houston doesn't offer that same opportunity. Lin is making "face of the franchise" money. He's taking on a much larger role, and the expectations are out in the open. If he turns the ball over with his new team, fans will see their new point guard for what he really is. 

I'm not saying Lin is a bad player. He's fine without being the "star" that many have made him out to be. He plays well with talent around him, but his turnover issues cannot be overstated. 

Lin runs the risk of being that guy in Houston. His improbable rise to the top played out perfectly with the Knicks' franchise last season, but he won't have that to hide behind this time around. Houston will expect much more from him, and they will be disappointed unless Lin's turnover-prone play has suddenly taken a turn for the better.

He is going to generate hype next season simply because of what he did last season, but Lin is on his own now.

Houston can't offer New York's version of "Linsanity." They can only offer basketball.