Jeremy Lin is ready for his close up.

For the first time in his six-year NBA odyssey, the veteran combo guard will have the luxury of having an entire offense centered on his talents.

Rookie Brooklyn coach Kenny Atkinson is already on record in asserting the Nets will only go as far as the versatile Lin is able to take them.

Nets to Play to Lin's Strengths

"The pick-and-roll is his strength," said Atkinson, who has big plans for the duo of Lin and star center Brook Lopez. "I know when I talked to him he was excited about playing with Brook. I said, 'Wow, two great pick-and-roll partners.' Brook is a great passer. Lopez was the sell to him."

Atkinson was on the bench as an assistant with the Knicks when Lin was at his best during the age of "Linsanity" in 2012 and his memories of it all are almost as distinct as they are for the player himself.

"Obviously we want him to play like he did when he was in New York for that brief stretch," Atkinson said of the 11-game stretch where Lin averaged 24 points and nine assists. "I'd love that. What I really loved about that part is how everybody remembers the scoring, but I remember him distributing the ball and really making a lot of plays out of the pick-and-roll for other people, too."

Lin Welcomes Challenge

For a team coming off a 21-61 season and with a lineup that only project Lin and Lopez as surefire starters for next season, the Nets will need Lin to be every bit the facilitator that he is the scorer. Lin insists he's more than up to the challenge.

"Now I have that chance to take a much bigger role and be a much bigger part," he said. "It is no surprise to anybody if you look at the numbers my whole career, when I have the ball in my hands, when I play longer minutes, when I am more comfortable, when I am empowered, I play better. And I am hoping I can take that next step as a player and hoping that I can help this team grow. I want to make my teammates better and make the game easier for everybody."

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