NBA Power Forward Rankings

Part 4

30. Craig Smith, Minnesota Timberwolves - 8.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.5 apg, 51% FG, 68% FT. Keeping the seat warm for K-Love.
29. Yi Jianlian, New Jersey Nets – 9.7 ppg, 6 rpg, 1 apg, 39% FG, 39% 3PT, 79% FT. Maybe he’ll become a decent role player some day.
28. Ben Wallace, Cleveland Cavaliers – 3.2 ppg, 7 rpg, 0.7 apg, 1 spg, 1.8 bpg, 45% FG, 44% FT. At this point in his career, it’s probably better if he’s coming off the bench, but he has found a good niche with the Cavs.
27. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Milwaukee Bucks – 8 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1 apg, 1.1 spg, 45% FG, 76% FT. Charlie Villanueva is the more talented player at this position for the Bucks, but Scott Skiles likes this guy.
26. Tyrus Thomas, Chicago Bulls – 7.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 0.8 apg, 1.1 spg, 1.7 bpg, 41% FG, 80% FT. Wouldn’t it be nice if they had LaMarcus Aldridge?
25. Brandan Wright, Golden State Warriors – 8 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1 bpg, 56% FG, 75% FT. With Nellie’s weird rotations it’s hard to figure out what he is.
24. Hakim Warrick, Memphis Grizzlies – 11.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 0.8 apg, 50% FG, 72% FT. Stromile Swift 2.0.
23. Kenyon Martin, Denver Nuggets – 12.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.6 spg, 1.3 bpg, 51%FG, 59% FT. His athleticism is still decent, but at this point of his career (and his salary) people’s perceptions about Kenyon are more about what he isn’t (an elite player) than what he is (a good rotation guy).
22. Jeff Green, OKC – 16.2 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.2 spg, 46% FG, 40% 3PT, 75% FT. A bit undersized to play the four, he has steadily improved as this season has progressed.
21. Spencer Hawes, Sacramento Kings – 11.1 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.7 bpg, 44% FG, 35% 3PT, 75% FT. A future double-double guy with outside touch, his development is definitely intriguing.
20. Udonis Haslem, Miami Heat – 11.1 ppg, 9 rpg, 1.2 apg, 50% FG, 71% FT. Solid player, and worth a lot more bang for buck than they’re getting from The Matrix.
19. Luis Scola, Houston Rockets – 11.3 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 1.4 apg, 1 spg, 50% FG, 74% FT. One of the best players most people have never heard of.
18. Troy Murphy, Indiana Pacers – 11.5 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 2.5 apg, 43% FG, 38% 3PT, 70% FT. I have an affinity for double-double guys that can hit the three.
17. Boris Diaw, Charlotte Bobcats – (11 games) 15.6 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 5.2 apg, 50% FG, 56% FT. Give him a starting spot and voila, he’s back to putting up numbers similar to his breakout year in Phoenix (05-06), when he filled him for Amare and put up 13, 7 and 6.
16. David Lee, New York Knicks – 14.8 ppg, 11 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.1 spg, 57% FG, 74% FT. Everybody loves him except for D’Antoni, who believe it or not, wants him to play more D.
15. LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland Trailblazers – 17.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.1 spg, 1.1 bpg, 47% FG, 75% FT. His improvement is one of the reasons why the Blazers seem poised to return to the playoffs.
14. Elton Brand, Philadelphia 76ers – 15.9 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.4 bpg, 45% FG, 68% FT. He doesn’t look the same, and in the few games I’ve seen him play he’s been called for the most traveling calls I’ve ever seen.
13. Josh Smith, Atlanta Hawks – 15 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.5 spg, 1.8 apg, 47% FG, 23% 3PT, 67% FT. Effective with Atlanta, I’m resigned to the fact that he’s never going to become the dominant two-way player he can become.
12. Rashard Lewis, Orlando Magic – 19.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.3 spg, 44% FG, 41% 3PT, 85% FT. Although he’s not a great defender, Lewis is a good fit for this team.
11. Tayshaun Prince, Detroit Pistons – 14.6 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 3.1 apg, 45% FG, 37% 3PT, 80% FT. His numbers aren’t as good as some of the other guys in his area, but he was on the “Redeem Team” for a reason; he’s the total package. He can score inside and out, defend littles and bigs, rebound and pass.
10. Zack Randolph, Los Angeles Clippers – (14 games) 23.1 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 2.5 apg, 49% FG, 37% 3PT, 75% FT. He’s better than you want to think he is.
9. David West, New Orleans Hornets – 19.7 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.1 bpg, 49% FG, 89% FT. Head and chemistry issues aside, him and Z-Bo are a virtual tie for the 10th best player in the best position in basketball, at least from a Top 11 perspective.
8. Carlos Boozer, Utah Jazz – 20.5 ppg, 11.7 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1 spg, 56% FG, 73% FT. Before he got hurt, he was doing his thing. I was really torn between putting him or Millsap on this list (who would’ve been 16, btw).
7. Antawn Jamison, Washington Wizards – 20.8 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 2 apg, 1.2 spg, 46% FG, 30% 3PT, 77% FT. He and Caron are one of the best one-two punches surrounded by the worst group of guys.
6. Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers – 17.6 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 3.7 apg, 1 bpg, 56% FG, 80% FT. His numbers would be better on a worse team, like Memphis.
5. Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns – 21.8 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.1 spg, 1.1 bpg, 56% FG, 83% FT. As good as he is, you have to wonder if this is his peak, or if there’s another level he can get to.
4. Chris Bosh, Toronto Raptors – 23.5 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 2.4 apg, 49% FG, 81% FT. Like Amare, this might not be his ceiling.
3. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks – 26 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 2.6 apg, 47% FG, 37% 3PT, 90% FT. Is Dirk underrated?
2. Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics – 16.2 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.2 spg, 1.4 bpg, 53% FG, 84% FT. He might be at the beginning of the “downside” of his career, but there’s only one guy in the league you’d take over him at the four.
1. Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs – 20.9 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.7 bpg, 52% FG, 69% FT. Still the best.