Los Angeles Lakers Coach Byron Scott Now A Believer Of Linsanity?Jeremy Lin Joins Starting Lineup

Is Los Angeles Lakers coach Byron Scott finally buying into Linsanity?

Byron Scott announced that he's inserting Jeremy Lin into the starting lineup for the Los Angeles Lakers along with rookie Jordan Clarkson, probably for the remaining games of the season. The squad is not expected to make the playoffs.

"I'm going to change the lineup. As a matter of fact, I'm going to start Jeremy and J.C. together. They don't even know it yet. Ryan will be at the four," he said,referring to Ryan Kelly, the 6-10 forward.

"That was something I had planned on doing. It had nothing to do with last night, but last night made it a little bit easier to throw him in there, because he played so well," Scott said.

He was referring to the 29-point outburst by Jeremy Lin as he gave the Philadelphia Sixers a taste of what Linsanity is all about.

Talking to LA Times, Jeremy Lin welcomed the move as he said of Clarkson, "I think we'll be able to help each other. I don't necessarily always see it as you're the point guard, I'm the shooting guard. ... It's a tandem."

According to Real GM, Jeremy Lin has upped his stats since the All-Star break as he averaged 14 points, three rebounds and five dimes per game. He's also among the top in the NBA at 22.2 PER during that period.

"He's had his ups and downs this year," Byron Scott said of Jeremy Lin, "but he's definitely an NBA player. We all know that. It's just a matter of what happens in the draft and everything else that determines what we're going to do with the free agent market."

Jeremy Lin has butted heads with Byron Scott, particularly on Linsanity's penchant to play pick-and-roll as opposed to the coach's preference for a more freestyle offense where the defense will dictate the play.