Dwight Howard or not, Lakers can't win a game

• Lakers finish preseason 0-8, worst record in NBA
• Worst preseason record for NBA champ in past 11 years: 2-3
• Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant missed substantial time

The Los Angeles Lakers are the worst team in the NBA. Well, in the preseason.

The team with Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Steve Nash and Pau Gasol finished its preseason slate without a victory, 0-8 despite leaving California once.

This is a team with championship aspirations. Nothing less will do. They added Howard, Nash, Antawn Jamison and Jodie Meeks in attempt to curb a recent downswing.

Preseason doesn't count. That's an obvious truth. The standings reset. But the Lakers went 6-2 in the 2008-09 and 2009-10 preseasons, then went on to win championships. And only one team to finish under .500 in the preseason has won a championship in the past 11 seasons, the 2-3 San Antonio Spurs in 2007.

Before we go any further, let's take a quick look at the each loss, from first to last, focusing on the play of the Lakers' regular-season rotation:

Oct. 7, in Fresno: Golden State Warriors 110, Lakers 83 — The starters played only about 19 minutes each and Howard was out (as he would be for the first half of the preseason). Robert Sacre filled in for Howard. The Lakers were plus 12 with Nash on the court. They used 19 players, typical for a preseason opener.

Oct. 10, in Ontario, Calif.: Portland Trail Blazers 93, Lakers 75 — The real rotation saw more action in this one, but Bryant joined Howard on the bench because of a sore right shoulder. No one but Nash (6-for-9) shot well, and each Laker was in the minus in his time on court.

Oct. 13, in Los Angeles: Utah Jazz 99, Lakers 86 — Bryant returned and the rotation (sans Howard) again played the bulk of the minutes, but the Lakers shot 35.1 percent from the floor. The starters were near-even in their time on the court. Second-year point guard Darius Morris struggled while his bench competition, Steve Blake and Chris Duhon, sat.

Oct. 16, in Anaheim: Jazz 114, Lakers 80 — Bryant came alive, scoring 31 points on 10-for-18 shooting. But it didn't matter. Gasol joined Howard and backup center Jordan Hill on the bench, leaving the Lakers thin against the frontcourt-heavy Jazz, who won the rebound battle 44-28.

Oct. 19, in Las Vegas: Sacramento Kings 103, Lakers 98 — In the Lakers' most competitive loss, Bryant, Gasol and backup small forward Devin Ebanks each reached 20 points while Nash played an understatedly efficient point. Things were mostly even, and the Kings have had a strong preseason.

Oct. 21, in Los Angeles: Kings 99, Lakers 92 — Howard made his Lakers debut with a splash, totaling 19 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks, and Los Angeles led by 11 at the half. The starters performed well enough to win in about 33 minutes each, but the bench was less efficient. Bryant had 21 points to lead all scorers.

Oct. 24, in Los Angeles: Los Angeles Clippers 97, Lakers 91 — The Lakers' lone preseason road game came on their home court, and their cohabitants won. Bryant sat with a right foot injury, and Howard took a game off. Hill returned and played well with 12 points and eight rebounds.

Oct. 25, in San Diego: Kings 94, Lakers 82 — Howard's second preseason game was less successful, as he finished with nine points, eight rebounds, two blocks and five turnovers. The Kings' starters, still working out their roles, dominated play. But the Lakers bench played well, including another strong game from Hill to close the preseason.

So what have we learned? Mostly that the Lakers have established roles. This team is not a finished product, but there's very little doubt as to who will take which roles. Morris, Blake and Duhon are fighting for playing time behind Nash, Hill and Sacre behind Howard. But the Lakers' top six players (Bryant, Howard, Nash, Gasol, Metta World Peace, Jamison and Meeks) are comfortable in their roles.

Plus the injuries disrupted things. Bryant and Howard played together once all preseason, and that was the Lakers' finest performance (and one they would have won had the bench not struggled).

So don't panic, Laker Nation. This team won't win 70 games, but it will figure things out in time. And if Bryant and Howard and the gang can stay healthy, the Lakers should be peaking around playoff time.