Jeremy Lin will likely return to the starting lineup in the final 10 games of the Los Angeles Lakers this season.
Lin, who started at point guard earlier in the season before being moved to the bench, will regain his old spot in the starting lineup after having a string of impressive performances in the past few weeks.
Los Angeles coach Byron Scott was appreciative of the improvement shown by Lin on both ends of the floor, and the first-year Lakers coach wants to know if 'Linsanity' will continue to excel in a starting role.
"I want to see how much of a difference it is now as opposed to the start of the season," Scott said of Lin. "He knows the offense better and he knows what I need from him every single night on both ends of the floor. Now to see him in a starting role, it would be a little bit of a change. He was thinking so much back earlier in the season."
Lin was named a starter before the season started after Steve Nash went down with an injury. But after starting in their first 10 games of the season, Lin was bumped out by Ronnie Price as Scott was disappointed out with the inconsistent play of the former Harvard University standout.
In seven games this month, Lin averaged 13.1 points to go along with 4.6 assists and 2.4 rebounds per game - enough to get the attention of Scott.
Lin might be more comfortable in a starting role later this season compared to earlier in the season because of the absence of superstar Kobe Bryant, who went down with a season-ending shoulder injury. But for Scott, he is unsure if Bryant's absence will be an advantage or a disadvantage for Lin.
"I want to keep it as simple as possible," Scott said. "But anytime you don't have Kobe on the floor, it will be different. You can play without the ball a whole lot more since he draws so much more attention, he draws easier shots. When he's not on the floor, it makes it tougher."
Lin, who was acquired by the Lakers in a trade with the Houston Rockets in the offseason, will be an unrestricted free agent in the offseason. While there are speculations that he might move to another team this summer, Lin clarified that he is not yet thinking of free agency, but will his impending return to the starting lineup be a factor?
