For a half, at least, it looked like the Lakers were going to run away with Friday's game in Toronto. After a 43-19 first quarter, the Lakers entered the half with a 25 point lead, and given how shorthanded the Raptors currently are, an easy win seemed inevitable.

Clearly that's what the Lakers thought. Toronto came out hard in the third quarter and brought themselves back, making it a much more competitive game than it should have been. Still, the Lakers got the win. That's the good part, but after Anthony Davis made it clear the Lakers need to be much, much better if they expect to be among the best teams in the West. On the defensive side, particularly, which is where they were particularly lax as the game went on. (A sloppy start offensively to the second half didn't help, either.)

On an individual level, there were many positives. LeBron James and Anthony Davis were both great. Austin Reaves and D'Angelo Russell had nice games. Max Christie, in short minutes, had probably his best game of the year (low bar acknowledged). But broadly the game was a wasted opportunity to sit the stars down early and get some rest for the final two games of the trip.

One interesting wrinkle - JJ Redick went back to a rotation more like last season's, pairing Russell and Davis together more with bench players, and putting James and Reaves together. It's a shift from the first five games, and something likely to continue going forward.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

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Generally speaking, the sixth game of the season isn't a "must win," under any circumstances.

This sixth game, however? Could be the exception to the rule. The Lakers are in Toronto tonight, playing a shorthanded, likely lottery-bound Raptors squad missing its best player (Scottie Barnes), probably it's third best player (Emmanuel Quickley) and a valuable role player (Kelly Olynyk).

So yeah, if you're a Lakers squad that is coming off its worst performance of a young season, looking to legitimize the first three games of the season after two straight losses? Gotta win this one.

All hands will be on deck. Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves aren't on the injury report, and D'Angelo Russell is listed as probable.

In other news, the Lakers reportedly won't pick up the third year option on last season's #1 draft pick, Jalen Hood-Schifino. This is, unquestionably, an unusual move. Teams will sometimes choose not to pick up fourth-year options, but a third year? It doesn't happen often. So why are the Lakers going in this direction? First and foremost, it seems to be about roster flexibility. Perhaps over the summer, where not having $4 mil or so guaranteed for JHS makes it significantly easier for the Lakers to shed enough salary to use their full mid-level exception. Likely, the Lakers are thinking about this season, and the ability to move JHS as part of a trade. Clearly they're calculating that dangling him on an expiring contract will have more value than the opportunity for a team to take a chance on his talent.

That, to say the least, is not a ringing endorsement of JHS's development, but is it also a commentary on the state of the roster more broadly? If the Lakers thought they had appealing pieces to package, would they do this? If Gabe Vincent had appeal? Or Max Christie? Certainly they're familiar with the (lack of) market for D'Angelo Russell. Jarred Vanderbilt hasn't played in a while. And so on.

And what does this mean about the team's recent track record in drafting? Or the grand plans around player development?

It's an interesting move for the Lakers to say the least, but one that raises some red flags.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers need to win tonight in Toronto.

SEGMENT 2: The Lakers won't pick up the option on Jalen Hood-Schifino.

SEGMENT 3: What does this say about future moves?

Gametime
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FanDuel
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FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Monday in Phoenix, the Lakers lost their first game of the season.

Wednesday, they played their first horrible game of the season, losing to the Cavaliers in Cleveland 134-110. Everything about this game, from the flow of the offense to the work of the defense to the hustle and focus of the team overall was well below par. The Cavs were, from the jump, more aggressive, more focused and sharper. They buried the Lakers early under a barrage of 3-point shooting. They were more physical than the Lakers, who spent far too much time (particularly Anthony Davis) looking for, and then complaining when they didn't get a call.

Teams can play well and lose. This wasn't that.

So now what happens? The Lakers seemed to be a different team leaving the floor Wednesday, with Davis and Austin Reaves limping. The shots still aren't going down, and now the team is sitting on a two-game losing streak heading into the very winnable portion of the trip (Toronto and Detroit). JJ Redick was visibly ticked after the game, and he can hardly be blamed. Whatever decent individual performances the team got (statistically, at least, LeBron James bounced back from Monday's clunker, just to name one) were completely undone by a completely lackluster effort defensively.

So the Lakers now have...

• Health questions, as AD was limping around a lot before exiting the game. Austin Reaves, also banged up. So is D'Angelo Russell.
• Vibes questions.
• Bench problems. Dalton Knecht finished with 18, but most of that came late.

How do the Lakers respond? We could learn a lot about this team over the next two games.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers get rocked, and look awful in the process.

SEGMENT 2: Is the shine off the apple? Two critical games coming up...

SEGMENT 3: Bronny gets his first points and it's a cool moment.

Gametime
Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.

FanDuel
You can start the season with a big return on FanDuel. New customers can place aFIVE DOLLAR bet and you’ll get started with ONEHUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS - if you win your first FIVE DOLLAR BET!Visit FANDUEL.COM to get started.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)