The Lakers have only practiced twice, and Frank Vogel is learning a radically reshuffled roster that's, as he noted, at a "continuity disadvantage" compared to other contenders. Nothing he thinks they can't overcome, obviously, but it explains why he currently has no clue who'll start alongside LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook. He did, however, clarify that despite a well-established inclination to let defense break any ties, that won't automatically be the criteria. Instead, Vogel is leaning towards the players that provide the most optionality, with two-way skills a big plus. Who are the leading candidates?

From there, Westbrook, LeBron and Vogel have talked about what they want from Davis this season, and how to get the best version of their superstar big. Davis is coming off a season below his standards, and can sometimes feel like an enigma in terms of how to summon his most aggressive, dominant self. And to be fair, it's not always easy being the perceived number two option on an elite team. It's a tricky dynamic, even for great players. (Ironically, Davis' supreme talent makes it arguably harder to figure out.) We saw this push-pull in the past for the Lakers with Pau Gasol. And, in what was ultimately a misguided quest, Lamar Odom.

Hosts: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: How will Frank Vogel go about deciding his starting five?

SEGMENT 2: How do you get the best version of Davis?

SEGMENT 3: More on the dynamics of being a number two player, with looks back at the Kobe/Pau/LO era.

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