Just as when Jeremy Lin was starting to put up big numbers, rookie point guard Jordan Clarkson delivered another excellent performance to make his case to be the Los Angeles Lakers starting point guard for the remainder of the season.
After scoring nine points in Sunday's 118-111 overtime victory over the Boston Celtics, Clarkson bounced back in an emphatic way as he racked up a new career-high 22 points on 10-for-16 shooting along with three assists and four rebounds in efficient 34 minutes, helping the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Utah Jazz 100-97 for their second straight victory.
Clarkson, a second-round draft pick out of Missouri, has been putting up great numbers ever since head coach Byron Scott inserted him into the starting line right after Kobe Bryant suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. His strong play piqued the interest of several teams prior to trade deadline, but the Lakers quickly turned down offers as they look to keep the budding point guard for a long haul.
"I'm just trying to prove people wrong," Clarkson said following his career night via ESPN. "I've got a chip on my shoulder every time I step on the court. I was just playing aggressive. We were getting stops on the defensive end and getting out and making plays in transition. Just kind of one of those days where it was going for me. I was getting to my pull-up jump shot and it started falling for me."
Clarkson's latest big outing could spell trouble for Lin as much as the competition for a starting job is concerned. With Scott promising to make another change in his starting lineup for the homestretch mark of the season, Clarkson and Lin are expected to duke it out for the lion's share of playing time allotted at the point guard spot.
After averaging just 10 points and 4 assists before the All-Star festivities, the 26-year old Lin had his best scoring nights with the Lakers in the first two games off the break, scoring 18 points against the Brooklyn Nets and following it up with a season-high 25 points against the Celtics. He also shot 67 percent from the field and played more tenacity on both ends of the floor. Lin looked to stay hot against the Jazz, but couldn't muster enough playing time because of Clarkson's big game and another poor shooting night (8 points on 3-for-12 shooting).
As free-agency looms large for Lin, every minute between now and the final game of the regular season counts as he attempts to turn things around after a listless first three months. But as long as Clarkson continues to impress, it will be hard for Lin to gain significant playing time off the bench.
