The Lakers, definitely without Anthony Davis and possibly without Austin Reaves and Russell Westbrook, face a Sacramento squad Wednesday that might be without star center Domantas Sabonis and veteran forward Harrison Barnes. So maybe the Lakers catch a break, maybe they don't, but either way the game represents the changing nature of the Western Conference, where upstarts like Sacramento, New Orleans and Utah are making unexpected noise early.

So what should Lakers fans make of the newly competent Kings? Is this a group with staying power? Assuming they have a full lineup, how will they attack the Davis-less Lakers?

Joining us to break it all down is Matt George, host of Locked On Kings.

We start with the team. What accounts for the turnaround? There are a few factors, but it chief among them is the play of Sabonis, who is the focal point on both ends and has been posting cartoonish numbers, particularly over the last month. Mike Brown, he of former Lakers head coach fame, has had an enormously positive impact as well. Not only by establishing a consistent identity on both sides of the ball, but instituting a larger culture change, bolstered by GM Monte McNair. For his part, George thinks this run of good play is sustainable, built on a legitimate foundation.

Which means the Kings are likely to be buyers, on one level or another, heading into the new year. That's one more team competing for stuff with the Lakers, one more team potentially driving up the price of a relatively few number of impactful players available. How does he think the market will play out? What would he do were he in LA's situation? The man covers the Kings, so he knows what it means to view a team that has dug itself a big hole, and must figure out how to climb out.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, with Guest Matt George!

SEGMENT 1: Why have the Kings been so competitive this season? Is it sustainable, and how will they attack the Davis-less Lakers?

SEGMENT 2: What has Mike Brown's impact been on the Kings? Is he a different guy than he was in L.A.?

SEGMENT 3: Are the Kings buyers this year? What does that do to the larger market, and does George think the Lakers should be buyers?

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