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Lakers' Scott, Bryant tell Lin to be more assertive

Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports / reuters

The Los Angeles Lakers have fallen flat on their faces to start the season. 

The Lakers have lost both their games by a combined 38 points, in addition to losing rookie Julius Randle and veteran Steve Nash for the season due to injury.

Although much of the Lakers' struggles have centered around their woeful defense, newly added point guard Jeremy Lin has also struggled, averaging just 6.5 points and 3.5 assists per game on 30 percent shooting from the field. Lin's struggles prompted the Lakers' head coach and their superstar to speak out.

“He’s used having to look over his shoulder all the time and playing with players who like controlling the ball a lot,” Kobe Bryant told Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News. “I told him that’s a big urban legend of me. I want to score. That means coming off of picks, catching and shooting. You handle the ball and you run the show.”

Head coach Byron Scott echoed similar sentiments. “He has to go out and play his game,” Scott said of Lin. “He’s thinking too much about the game. Just go out and play basketball.”

Lin was acquired by the Lakers through a trade with the Houston Rockets this summer. Lin averaged 12.5 points and 4.1 assists per game last season.

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