Has Jeremy Lin finally found his stride with the Charlotte Hornets?

Well, based on his performance so far, it isn't hard to notice the changes. After failing miserably with the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers, Lin has somehow proven his worth with the Hornets as he has become a reliable player off the bench of head coach Steve Clifford.

Lin normally comes off the bench, although injuries have forced Clifford to call on Lin to fill in at times. So far, he has managed to impress and has been showing that he can do whatever the team needs when called upon.

Lin may not be among the leaders in statistics, but he does contribute in different ways. He can score or create situations when needed, a flexibility that makes Clifford and his teammates look pretty good.

The Hornets are now 16–13 in the Eastern Conference and are in a good position to make the National Basketball Association (NBA) playoffs if they keep up their performance. Considering the manpower woes the team has been dealing with, that is an impressive feat so far.

So would Lin's efforts be enough to snag him the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award?

His small contributions may not be glaring, but the results are obviously showing for the Hornets. He has become a valuable addition and as long as he keep ups and does those "little things," it won't be surprising if he becomes a leading and serious candidate for the said award.

For now, other names he has to contend with include Victor Oladipo (Orlando Magic), Ryan Anderson (New Orleans Pelicans), Will Barton (Denver Nuggets), and Enes Kanter (Oklahoma City Thunder).

Of course, it is still too early to tell; but if the Hornets are to make the post-season wars, the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award should be a great cap to Lin's rebirth and resurgence from a career that many felt was faltering in previous years.