The key difference maker this season for the Los Angeles Lakers will not be Kobe Bryant, nor will not be Pau Gasol or the bench which was best in the league last season. The biggest difference maker for the defending Western Conference champs this season and for years to come will be the emergence of the next great center in a Lakers jersey. I’m talking about number 17, Andrew Bynum.

With this kid in the lineup alongside Kobe, Pau, D-Fish and Lamar Odom the Los Angeles Lakers, in my opinion, will be the best team in the league. Not only do I think the Lakers will be the best team in the NBA in the 2008-09 season, but I believe they have the potential to be one of the best teams in the NBA’s history. Some sports writers will say no one will stop the San Antonio Spurs and the Boston Celtics or may be even the Dallas Mavericks (yeah right!), but I would definitely put my money on the Los Angeles Lakers to go all the way and be the next NBA champions.

The Lakers have arguably the best player in the world (maybe ever) in Kobe Bryant, one of the best power forwards in the league in Pau Gasol, one of best versatile forwards the NBA has seen in recent memory in Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum who can single handedly change the defensive presence in the paint for Los Angeles. With a team as talented as that, which is not even including Fisher or the talented reserves, the sky is the limit and the potential for basketball greatness is hard to ignore.

The only things that can stop the Lakers from getting back to the finals and finally reaching their potential is team chemistry and injuries. If the Lakers can somehow stay healthy throughout the NBA season, there is really no team in the league that can compete with them.

This upcoming season is shaping up to be the first of many championship runs to come in the Lakers big three era of Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol and of course, last year’s MVP Kobe Bryant!