Are the Lakers the greatest team ever assembled if every player was in their prime?

[Johnni Gade]

Like everyone else stated, the 2011 Celtics. With Rondo running the point, KG and Shaq dominating the paint, along with Pierce and Ray spotting up shots.

Also, they're all good defensive players as well...

[Odinn]

As for raw stats;

2013 Lakers; 118.4 ppg 39.2 rpg 23.3 apg 6.8 spg 5.8 bpg
2006 Nash, 2006 Kobe, 2008 MWP, 2007 Gasol, 2011 Howard

2012 Mavs; 109.4 ppg 43.9 rpg 24.5 apg 8.1 spg 5.1 bpg
1999 Kidd, 2005 Carter, 2006 Marion, 2004 Odom, 2005 Nowitzki

2011 Celtics; 120.8 ppg 43.1 rpg 27.4 apg 7.2 spg 5.9 bpg
2010 Rondo, 2007 Allen, 2006 Pierce, 2004 Garnett, 2000 Shaq

2006 Heat; 130.7 ppg 44.4 rpg 28.0 apg 7.3 spg 7.8 bpg
2000 Payton, 2009 Wade, 2001 Walker, 1996 Zo, 2000 Shaq

2004 Lakers; 127.7 ppg 40.5 rpg 21.4 apg 6.7 spg 4.7 bpg
2000 Payton, 2006 Kobe, 2004 George, 1990 Malone, 2000 Shaq

2003 Spurs; 117.5 ppg 36.4 rpg 26.4 apg 6.3 apg 6.8 bpg
2009 Parker, 2008 Ginobili, 2009 Jackson, 2002 Duncan, 1994 DRob

1997 Rockets; 111.6 ppg 51.3 rpg 18.6 apg 7.9 spg 7.1 bpg
1997 Elie, 1989 Drexler, 1988 Barkley, 1992 Willis, 1993 Olajuwon

1986 Celtics; 110.8 ppg 44.2 rpg 23.6 apg 5.9 spg 7.5 bpg
1982 DJ, 1990 Ainge, 1985 Bird, 1987 McHale, 1977 Walton

1985 Sixers; 116.8 ppg 45.2 rpg 22.0 apg 9.2 spg 6.9 bpg
1986 Cheeks, 1980 Erving, 1977 Jones, 1988 Barkley, 1982 Moses

1983 Lakers; 128.4 ppg 50.3 rpg 26.5 rpg 7.1 spg 7.5 bpg
1989 Magic, 1981 Wilkes, 1990 Worthy, 1975 McAdoo, 1976 Kareem


I picked every player's best statistical season since the L started to keep bpg and spg numbers.

[Soundwave]

'97 Bulls?

C- '82 Parrish
PF- '94 Rodman
SF- '94 Pippen
SG- '91 Jordan
PG- '90 Harper

There's no team listed in this thread that this group would not be able to more than hang with.

Remember Ron Harper used to be an All-Star 20+ ppg scorer himself. Parrish was one of the best centers of the 80s, coming in close to 20/10 for several seasons.

This group would be unbelievable defensively too.

[jayfan]

As for raw stats;

2013 Lakers; 118.4 ppg 39.2 rpg 23.3 apg 6.8 spg 5.8 bpg
2006 Nash, 2006 Kobe, 2008 MWP, 2007 Gasol, 2011 Howard

2012 Mavs; 109.4 ppg 43.9 rpg 24.5 apg 8.1 spg 5.1 bpg
1999 Kidd, 2005 Carter, 2006 Marion, 2004 Odom, 2005 Nowitzki

2011 Celtics; 120.8 ppg 43.1 rpg 27.4 apg 7.2 spg 5.9 bpg
2010 Rondo, 2007 Allen, 2006 Pierce, 2004 Garnett, 2000 Shaq

2006 Heat; 130.7 ppg 44.4 rpg 28.0 apg 7.3 spg 7.8 bpg
2000 Payton, 2009 Wade, 2001 Walker, 1996 Zo, 2000 Shaq

2004 Lakers; 127.7 ppg 40.5 rpg 21.4 apg 6.7 spg 4.7 bpg
2000 Payton, 2006 Kobe, 2004 George, 1990 Malone, 2000 Shaq

2003 Spurs; 117.5 ppg 36.4 rpg 26.4 apg 6.3 apg 6.8 bpg
2009 Parker, 2008 Ginobili, 2009 Jackson, 2002 Duncan, 1994 DRob

1997 Rockets; 111.6 ppg 51.3 rpg 18.6 apg 7.9 spg 7.1 bpg
1997 Elie, 1989 Drexler, 1988 Barkley, 1992 Willis, 1993 Olajuwon

1986 Celtics; 110.8 ppg 44.2 rpg 23.6 apg 5.9 spg 7.5 bpg
1982 DJ, 1990 Ainge, 1985 Bird, 1987 McHale, 1977 Walton

1985 Sixers; 116.8 ppg 45.2 rpg 22.0 apg 9.2 spg 6.9 bpglong
1986 Cheeks, 1980 Erving, 1977 Jones, 1988 Barkley, 1982 Moses

1983 Lakers; 128.4 ppg 50.3 rpg 26.5 rpg 7.1 spg 7.5 bpg
1989 Magic, 1981 Wilkes, 1990 Worthy, 1975 McAdoo, 1976 Kareem


I picked every player's best statistical season since the L started to keep bpg and spg numbers.

Nice work. As much as I believe that prime Drexler, Barkley and Olajuwon would be unstoppable, no one is beating that '83 Lakers team. Kareem in his prime, along with Magic and Worthy in theirs? The discussion ends right there.

[PHILA]

1967 Sixers with a '68 Jackson & '69-'70 Cunningham would be that much more deadly.

[jayfan]

As to the original question posed by the thread, the answer is not even close. While Kobe and Nash are a top-notch back court, they won't be able to carry their inferior front court mates. We can't project what Howard's prime might become, we can only go by what his prime has been so far. And while that prime has allowed him to dominate the woeful big men of today, it's not good enough for the all-timers on these rosters. This front court of Howard, Gasol and Artest would get worked by every front court on the above rosters except for the Mavericks team.