The Los Angeles Lakers are hoping Linsanity makes an appearance out on the West Coast in the upcoming NBA season. The Lakers will need it. Entering training camp, Steve Nash was reportedly healthy and looking better than he has in a long time. Byron Scott was feeling confident until Nash removed himself from a preseason game because he "didn't feel right." The pressure is now on Jeremy Lin to make an immediate impact and that could come in the form of a starting role.
Lin has also been out a few practices due to a minor ankle sprain. He has only gotten a handful of playing time in the first two preseason games for the Lakers, but apparently Scott likes what he sees last year. Considering the injury history of Nash and the preseason incident, Lin has reportedly earned the starting point guard spot. Lakers beat writer Mike Trudell is reporting that Lin will likely wind up as the starting point guard simply because of Nash's health and his reduced minutes, but the team feels confident Lin can handle the pressure.
Lin has been improving in each game with the Lakers. In his first game he went a miserable 1 of 6 from the field, but he put out 10 assists while directing a successful pick-and-roll. He then stepped things up in the second game, appearing much more aggressive and confident, knocking down a solid 3-point shot. He also looked better in spacing and on defense. Lin is proving that he can be the starting point guard not just because of circumstance, but because of talent as well.
The Lakers need Lin. Right now, the team is without Nick Young for the time being. They could also be without Nash. Kobe Bryant is hoping the Lakers can shock the NBA this season and be competitive. That comes more down the Lin's play than Nash's. At this point, Lakers fans will be happy with anything Nash can give since he has barely been seen over the past two seasons.
The starting lineup for Los Angeles is far from decided. The team has Wesley Johnson who looks like a strong candidate, but Xavier Henry is the younger and more athletic player of the bunch and he is versatile enough to make an impact immediately. There is also rookie Julius Randle who thinks he is the best option.
"A lot of the league is going to small ball, but the good thing about me, I'm interchangeable. I can play small ball because I can guard multiple positions because I can really move. But I think it's going to be an advantage for me to be able to take a smaller guy inside but also take a bigger guy on the outside," Randle said, via Lakers.com.
