The Lakers finished off the preseason Thursday night in Palm Springs, losing to the Phoenix Suns, 123-100. The score? Doesn't really matter. As it is with virtually everything in the exhibition games, it's much more about process and how certain players—and combinations of players—look on the floor. And for the Lakers, there was again much to like. Anthony Davis was huge defensively in the early going, racking up five blocks in the tirst eight minutes of play. Davis looks very much like a guy who is ready to elevate his team, and understands the obligation he has to be great.

LeBron James looked smooth and spy over the course of 22 minutes, with 19 points including three triples.

D'Angelo Russell continued his run of great play, piling up six assists in short order and showing really high end chemistry with the team's centers, whether Davis or Jaxson Hayes.

But it's Hayes who has been the most surprising person in the exhibition games. Hopes in this space at least for a breakout year, or even anything that would be considered consistent, above-level performance, were relatively low. He's simply not shown any consistency at all through the first part of his career.

Of course, now Hayes is in a situation where his role is very narrow and easy to define. Nobody in LA is trying to make a star out of him, or justify a lottery pick. The pressure is pretty low, and the situation far more stable. And thuse far, it's a combination that suits Hayes well. Christian Wood, however continues to struggle. He looks slow and unsure, which of course could be related.

Anything in here to be worried about?

HOSTS: Andy and Brian kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Reactions to the final preeason games, and the preseason in general. The good, the bad and the ugly.

SEGMENT 2: Davis and Russell continue to thrive.

SEGMENT 3: Does it matter that Hayes is outplaying Wood?

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