The Los Angeles Lakers wrapped up their preseason schedule with a tough matchup with the rising Phoenix Suns, who boast a big center rotation of Tyson Chandler and Alex Len as well as an explosive backcourt with Devin Booker and Eric Bledsoe. For the Lakers, the game presented a final opportunity to tinker with their lineup before the regular season begins. Timofey Mozgov was out of action with a bruised tailbone, and his absence was certainly noticeable as the Suns largely dominated inside, collecting 17 big offensive boards to go along with 44 points in the paint.
The Lakers were also without Luol Deng, which means it was in the hands of the young players to dictate pace and control the flow of the game. Coach Luke Walton used this final preseason game as an audition for the last roster spot, with the one of Metta World Peace, Yi Jianlian, or Thomas Robinson getting the nod.
All of that, plus much more in this edition of the Lakers Nation podcast: