Los Angeles Lakers – Oct. 20, 2017
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The Phoenix Suns second game of the season should see a packed house as the Lakers come to downtown Phoenix. Phoenix will look to set the tone to start the season versus a Los Angeles team who have found their future at point guard. This is one of the main story lines surrounding this match-up.
During the 2017 NBA Draft evaluation process the Phoenix Suns were interested in former UCLA guard Lonzo Ball as a potential draft pick for the team. This happened to not be the case as the Suns dropped two spots in the NBA Draft Lottery. As a result, the Suns lost out on the opportunity to draft Ball, giving the Lakers their hometown kid. Look for fellow 2017 NBA rookie Josh Jackson to play with an extra edge in this game as Jackson will look to make the Lakers pay for not taking him in the draft.
Another story line from this match-up is the progression of each franchise’s young coaches in Earl Watson and Luke Walton. Each coach has a total of one and a half seasons of head coach duties and are in charge of helping developing their young talent on the roster. Watson and Walton will both be on the hot seats if their young players do not show progression by season’s end.
The Suns and Lakers have a lot in common these days. Each team is on similar trajectories of rebuilding through the draft and clearing cap space for the summer of 2018. With young talents on both sides like Devin Booker, Jackson, Marquese Chriss, Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and Julius Randle. The next chapter in the PHX/LAL rivalry is just barely heating up.