The Lakers kick off a critical back-to-back Friday in San Antonio, and presumably LeBron James will be on the floor, hopefully for both ends. In his absence, the Lakers have found a little rhythm offensively (albeit against weaker competition) and Anthony Davis has gone bananas, in terms of his overall production. So the question for the team becomes figuring out ways to keep Davis in the space he's in with James back on the floor. Because the overall numbers for LeBron this year, offensively speaking, aren't great. His rating isn't high, relative to teammates. The team has performed better in his absence, with a lot more efficiency. Is that all on James? No, but his personal numbers speak to that type of inefficiency, as well. And overall, the all just seems to have been a lot less sticky over the last week-plus. Players are moving more, and are being rewarded for it. In a perfect world, a dominant Davis will help make space for LeBron, lighten his load, and make his decisions easier on offense. That hasn't been the world the two of them have shared to this point this season. Two games against the Spurs provide a chance to make it a reality. Meanwhile, Patrick Beverley was suspended for three games after trucking Phoenix center DeAndre Ayton in the back during the second half of Tuesday's loss to the Suns. Seemed excessive to some, but the NBA pointed out this isn't the first time Beverley has done this sort of thing. Heck, it's not even the first time he's done it to a member of the Suns. So what do the Lakers lose when Pat Bev isn't available? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Pat Bev is gone for three games. Is this just part of the Beverley Experience? SEGMENT 2: Are the Lakers better or worse without him? And what about LeBron's return? SEGMENT 3: What has been LeBron's impact on the offense this season? And how can it improve, with Davis now dominating? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBA PrizePicks First time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That’s PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDON SweatBlock If you or someone you love is experiencing embarrassing sweat or odor try SweatBlock. Save20% with promo code Locked On at sweatblock.com. Also available on Amazon. BetterHelp This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. As the world’s largest therapy service, BetterHelp has matched 3 million people with professionally licensed and vetted therapists available 100% online. Learn more and save 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices