Los Angeles Lakers point guard Jeremy Lin didn't hesitate in saying they will make the playoffs at the end of the season despite their dealing the worst start in franchise's history.
Lin, who was recently relegated back to the bench after starting for the Lakers in the first 20 games of the season, is surprisingly optimistic about the Lakers' playoff chances this season.
The Lakers (5-16) are currently one of the worst teams in the league, and it seems there are no immediate answers to their struggle, even though Lakers head Byron Scott already tweaked his starting lineup by dropping Lin and Boozer out of the starting lineup in favor of Ronnie Price and Ed Davis.
"People probably think I'm crazy, but I don't really care. I think this team can make the playoffs," Lin said in an interview via Slam Magazine. "I believe in that and I know other guys believe in that as well. It's very early. People will laugh. That's fine. But I've always been a big dreamer and believe in miracles. I feel like God has performed miracles in my life."
Acquired by the Lakers in an offseason deal with the Houston Rockets, the 26-year old Lin was projected to have a breakout year this season because of an increased role he would have with the Lakers, especially with two-time MVP Steve Nash going down with a season-ending back injury in training camp.
Unfortunately for Lin, inconsistency and lack of familiarity with Scott's Princeton offense, not to mention the trouble he had with a shot-happy Kobe Bryant, put him in the situation he is right now.
Still, Lin is hopeful that his team will somehow click together as a team and make that furious push towards the playoffs.
"That's not what we have here, but that's OK. I feel like I'm further in my progress as a player where I can be effective in different ways," Lin said in an interview.
"It's just a matter of seeing what your team has and what is your personnel. A spread run-and-gun, open floor pick-and-roll system might not be what's best for us given our personnel. It's just learning to play and be effective within whatever system Coach puts me in."
