Kevin Love; Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki: Top Five Power Forwards in NBA
Josh Smith:
Josh Smith can find a lot of competitors in Atlanta Hawks when it comes to scoring points and reaching the rim but when it comes to defense; he is a game changer. With 1.7 blocks and 1.4 steals per game
and a near double-double season average, he was the prime reason behind Atlanta Hawks’ presence in the play-offs last season.
Not only can he muscle his way through the defenses but his range on the jump shot provides a extra dimension to the game and this all round play is the reason why Josh Smith finds himself in this list.
Chris Bosh:
His rebound average may be on the way down but Chris Bosh’s renewed improvement in defense and a constant 18 point average makes him a contender to make it to any list of best power forwards in the game
today.
Although his performances might have overshadowed in the presence of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in the Miami Heat camp, Bosh always emerges as an excellent performer, someone who leaves his impact on
the game every time he takes the court.
Bosh is the part of the Miami Big Three and while he himself has tipped the Lakers to be the favourites this season, we all know how the big three can bring the championship home again.
Dirk Nowitzki:
Although disappointing by his standards, Dirk Nowitzki still had one of the best seasons by any player at his position in 2011-12. This is precisely the reason why he is ranked so high among the power
forwards in NBA.
Although age may not be on his side, he still has a good couple of years to give to the game and if he can come anywhere near his best in these years, the Dallas Mavericks should come close to repeating
the championship feat and that will be a perfect ending to an illustrious career for Dirk Nowitzki.
Tim Duncan:
Gone are the days when Tim Duncan used to score relentlessly and it seems that Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili have taken more of a front seat at the San Antonio Spurs. However when it comes to sorting out a leader in a powerful
Spurs roster, Timmy D is still the man.
For many critics, Tim Duncan is way past his prime, but if anything; his last season’s numbers state the contrary. Duncan was slow to start off but when he did find his groove, he was unstoppable, ending the regular season with
double figures in points and rebounds and then took his game to a new level in the post season.
Duncan may be old, but his by no means done just yet. He is still good enough to make it at number 2 in this list.
Kevin Love:
Kevin Love is the best power forward in the league; he is going to be in the years to come.
Those who saw the Wolves play against Oklahoma City Thunder last season would know exactly why Kevin Love is at the top spot in the list.
In an epic 149-140 loss, Love erupted with 51 points and 14 rebounds and ended the 2012 season with an average of 26 points and 13.3 rebounds. If that does not take him to the number one spot, nothing will.
It was those performances which earned him a spot in the U.S Olympic squad where he proved himself worthy of the spot. If Love shows a performance similar to the one he did last season, he will definitely be in contention for the
MVP next season, more so because he will now have better players surrounding him in the roster.
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