As the San Antonio Spurs get set to face the Los Angeles Lakers for the first time this season, they probably didn’t expect it to come with the Spurs being ahead in the standings. Having the third-worst record in the Western Conference is about where most people saw the Spurs residing. The Lakers, on the other hand, had a lot higher hopes, as any team with LeBron James and Anthony Davis will be expected to make the playoffs and potentially, the NBA Finals.

The combination of expectations and lack of results make this Lakers unit a scary one. They’ll basically be playing every game until they right the ship with their backs against the walls. And with a rest disadvantage, that puts the Spurs in a tough predicament. This doesn’t even take into account that there’s a chance the Lakers get LeBron James back from injury. His eventual return will provide even more of a spark to a desperate team.

No matter the outcome, each game presents learning opportunities for the Spurs’ youth. Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell have been learning how to be the go-to scorers for a team – a role they’ve mostly been thriving in. They’ve both have chances at game-winning baskets that have come up short. Jeremy Sochan has matched up against just about every type of player the league has to offer and is working his way through bettering his offensive game. Every player on the roster has something they’ve been working on, and this game against the Lakers is just another test they’ve been tasked with taking.