Jeremy Lin News: ‘Linsanity’ Won’t Change Style of Play to Please LA Lakers Coach Byron Scott
Jeremy Lin and Byron Scott are having a rocky relationship in their first season together with the Los Angeles Lakers as the veteran coach has been critical of the point guard's inconsistencies this season.
Lin, who was acquired by the Lakers in an offseason trade with the Houston Rockets, was benched by Scott during their 108-105 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Monday after committing costly turnovers.
Scott said in a recent interview that Lin was thinking too much in running their offense, which is contributing to his struggles this season. Sources also said that the first-year Lakers coach dislikes Lin's style of play because the 26-year-old is committing too many turnovers.
Lin, who started in their first 19 games this season before being replaced by Ronnie Price in the starting lineup, is averaging 2.2 turnovers. Against the Warriors, the former Harvard University standout committed five in 23 minutes.
When asked about his struggles in protecting the ball, Lin told Mark Medina of Los Angeles Daily News that Scott has yet to talk to him about what "Linsanity" coined as his "high-risk, high-reward" style of play.
"I haven't talked to him about the turnovers," Lin said of Scott. "He hasn't given me feedback on what he wants me to do to be better."
And if Scott talks to him and asks him to be more mindful of avoiding turnovers, Lin said that he is capable of playing it safe, but he pointed out it will also change him as a player so he'd rather stick to his playing style.
"I won't be myself as a player," Lin said of changing his approach. "I won't be making plays that I make. I drive to the rim and to the basket really hard and put my head down. The majority of the time, I feel like something good will happen. But there will be times it won't. To some degree, you have to live with some of those risks."
Lin, who is averaging 10.9 points to go along with 4.7 assists and 2.6 rebounds this season, is playing in the final year of his contract and will become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
The Lakers are expected to make major changes in the offseason after failing to make the playoffs for the second consecutive season. It remains to be seen, though, whether or not Lin will be offered a new deal or will just be allowed to walk away and sign with a new team.
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