Lakers’ Jeremy Lin doesn’t have anything against Rockets

Beyond Dwight vs. Kobe was Jeremy Lin vs. the entire Houston Rockets franchise.

That might be overstating it. Quite a bit.

Lin was traded by the Rockets after they embarrassed him, but, funny thing, he didn’t hold much rancor when facing off against his former team in a season opener Tuesday at Staples Center.

He hoped to bury the ignominy of the Rockets practically bribing the Lakers to take his $14.9-million salary by also including their 2015 first-round draft pick.

He tried to mentally push aside the well-publicized images the Rockets showed outside their arena while trying to impress Carmelo Anthony, the ones of Anthony wearing a No. 7 Rockets jersey (Lin’s number at the time).

“I think a lot of other people were probably a little more outraged than I was,� he said before Tuesday’s game. “I didn’t feel like it was probably the best idea, but it’s not like I was crying myself to sleep every night. I guess for me it kind of signaled, OK, you’re probably going to get traded soon.�

He started at point guard in the Lakers’ 108-90 loss and had seven points and six assists. He left before the midpoint of the first quarter after picking up his second foul and found no continuity in the second quarter as the Lakers trailed, 62-45. He was scoreless with two assists and two turnovers in the first half.

Not the best debut, obviously.

He lost his starting job to Patrick Beverley last season but should get plenty of time with the Lakers. The trick will be figuring out how to play with Bryant, who obviously prefers the ball in his hands.

Lakers Coach Byron Scott wasn’t too concerned before the game, suggesting Lin could play off the ball too, filling the role as the guy who brushes past screens and tries to get open while Bryant directs the attack.

“Jeremy’s young enough where he can do a lot of the running around so we can save Kobe’s legs that way,� Scott said.

Next for Nash

Steve Nash hasn’t been around the team or spoken to reporters since the Lakers declared him done for the season last Thursday because of chronic back problems.

Scott wanted him to “just relax a little bit and forget about everything that’s going on,� adding that he briefly asked Nash last week to spend time with the team down the road as an unofficial assistant coach.

“I would love for him to be around, especially with some of the young guys we have on this team. But that’s something that Steve has to want to do. Players sometimes just need that space and time to gather their thoughts on what to do next.�

Nash, 40, is in the last year of a contract paying him $9.7 million this season. He’ll have played a total of 65 games over three years with the Lakers.