We have covered the top point and shooting guards in the league and named the top small forwards over the past week. Today we bring you the top power forwards currently in the NBA. Tomorrow we will wrap up the series with the top centers. Now lets get to it.
Number 1: Blake Griffin
If you haven't watched Blake recently, you may think his game only consists of dunking, catching lobs, and murdering Kendrick Perkins. However, Blake has added quite a few more dimensions to his game. He still struggles with free throws even though his percentages are up this season, and he has added a jump shot that is reliable from mid-range. With his rebounding numbers also going up he is a threat on both ends of the court. Did I mention that he may have actually killed Kendrick Perkins last year? Yeah, when you are on the court with Blake you just have to pray he doesn't put you on a poster. Blake claims the top spot on our list and is living up to the hype of a number one pick.
Number 2: Kevin Love
Our number two power forward plays a complete opposite style of Blake, but still gets the job done with a very unique skill set for a post player. Kevin Love is by far the most versatile forward in the league being able to score in the low post as well as from the perimeter, and everywhere in between. Kevin Love may not be as dynamic a player as Blake, but he can score in many ways. He also may not be able to ump over a phonebook, but he can still score on some of the best post players in the league. Always a threat from the three point line, Love is a perfect pick and roll player at the top of the key. Pair him up with a passer like Ricky Rubio and love gets even more chances to score.
Number 3: Zach Randolph
After floating around the league for a few teams, Zach Randolph has finally found a home on the Memphis Grizzlies. With the perfect complementary player playing next to him in Marc Gasol, Z-Bo is able to play his game and do what he does best. Randolph may not have the physical tools that make players like Blake Griffin so great, but much like Kevin Love he has a very versatile game. He is a threat to score from the perimeter at times and has a motor on the court that is one of the best in the league. He can bang in the low post against anyone even when he is undersized compared to his opponent. Zach also knows how to control the court being one of the best goons in the NBA.
Number 4: Dirk Nowitzki
With Dirk ageing, his stock has definitely fallen. It was a lock he would have been at least number two on this list just a year or two ago. However, he still has the skills and the shot to land himself at number four on our list. Like Kevin Love, he is always a threat to score from behind the arc, and his mid-range shot is still spot on. You can see Dirk isn't as fast as he once was, and his defensive ability has fallen off considerably over the past year. Injuries have started to take a toll on Dirk and he will never be the elite player he once was, however his shooting ability lands him on our list for now.
Number 5: Kevin Garnett
Another former star who is being dragged down on this list is number five, Kevin Garnett. The former Timberwolves star turned Celtic had his best years during the big three era in Boston and now that those days are over, he slips a little bit on our countdown. He can still dominate a lesser opponent on the defensive end, and can still drain a mid-range shot at any point in crunch time. However the physical tools are diminishing with age and this could possibly be Garnett's last year in the NBA. While he may have once landed the top spot on the list, he hangs on at number five in his old age. Garnett could be traded before the deadline this year and for the right team he could be the perfect fit if he is asked to dominate the few facets of the game that he still can.
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