With the Lakers newly acquired players this offseason I wondered where the 2012-13 Starting 5 consisting of Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Steve Nash, Pau Gasol and Metta World-Peace would match up against the All-Time best starting fives in Lakers history. After a little research I think they actually have the potential to be possibly one of the best, if not thee best. That is if they can learn how to bring out the best in each other.

Below I have three of the best Lakers past starting lineups and the 4th being next seasons, with a breakdown of the averages per game for each player and the starting line combined. Next seasons starting stats are from the 11-12 season. 

And heres a graph of those teams starting five averages per game combined and compared.

Now I’m not claiming this is THE best Laker team in Lakers history. Theres a lot more to do with that obviously…I’m just talking about the strength that just their starting five has.

This team is already performing better then the team Kobe won a three-peat with. They also look ready to go 7 games with the 87-88 Lakeshow. But Jerry West’s 1970-71 gang seems to have the 5 on 5 contest on lock. Tho, these 2012 Lakers haven’t even played a game together yet. 2012’s team would need to average only 5 more FG a game to catch West’s lineup and with reports of Nash being the best player last year with setting a pick and roll with the help of B and C list players..and Howard being the most efficient last year on receiving the pick and roll teamed with a bunch of budget players, how many more points per game will Lakers possibly average a game now? How many more assists a game with such strength of Dwight and Pau shoulder to shoulder in the block and a Black Mamba assassin silently waiting on the perimeter at all times when Nash brings it down the court? If Nash, Howard and Bryant can learn to maximize each others skills, seeing that those three have spent most their career succeeding along side mediocre players, the Lakers have the potential this year to become the strongest Lakers starting five in the history of their franchise.