'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The NBA has seen a lack of true big men in the recent years and the shortage has been a hot topic on talk shows and interviews across the country. Many would agree that the last traditional center that the league witnessed was the four time NBA Champion Shaquille O’Neal.It isn’t entirely the players fault as the game itself has evolved since the days of Kareem Abdul Jabbar and his indefensible ‘skyhook’ in the 1980’s. With defenses adapting and getting stronger in the paint, big men did their own bit of transforming by perfecting jump shots from a spot slightly farther from the paint.Although the current crop of big men are not among the best the league has seen in its history, not all hope is lost as the there are currently a select few players that have a huge potential and a long career ahead of them. There are still over two and a half months to go for the new NBA season to kick-off, here are the top 5 current big men in the league based on their performance last season.
#5 Kevin Love
Kevin Love is a perfect example of the modern day big man in the league. He dominates the boards, runs the break, shoots quite efficiently from long range for his height and is an average post player who can also dish it out to his open teammates.
Love makes up for his lack of technique in the post with a shooting touch like no other big man in the league from long range. Returning from a second hand injury, Love put up big numbers last season with season averages of 26.1 points, 12.5 rebounds and a career high 4.4 assists.
Love not making the Playoffs even a single year in his career is no disrespect to his talent, it is simply a failure on his team to make it to the post-season. The reported trade deal to the Cleveland Cavaliers will bring his numbers down quite a bit, but it does give him the most realistic chance of his career at a title shot.
#4 Joakim Noah
NBA’s 2014 Defensive Player of the Year Joakim Noah ranks up at number 4 on the list just ahead of Love not just for his defense, but also for his superior passing skills. Noah recorded the most assists by any Chicago Bulls player this regular season showcasing his versatility.
Over the course of the last two years, he has broken multiple records for centers in assists. Having said that, a stat which truly highlights his amazing ability is the number of triple doubles he recorded in this past season-4, just one less than league high 5 recorded by Lance Stephenson.
His defense whether on the perimeter or in the post makes up for his lack of offenisve tools in the paint. He is the the most skilled big men in the game when it comes to playing pick and roll defense, not letting the smaller guard get by him and thus ultimately altering his shot.
#3 LaMarcus Aldridge
With his team finding the right groove offensively in a long time, LaMarcus Aldridge finally found his hot shooting touch, one he was always said to be capable of and never cooled down till the second round Playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs.
While Aldridge finally showed the offensive game many suspected him to be capable, he was not very good at countering the defensive measures the opponents took in order to make him have a quiet ineffective game. He took leaps and bounds personally on the defensive end, but it was his team’s disappointing collective defense which saw them suffer against the eventual NBA Champions San Antonio Spurs.
He averaged career high figures of 23.1 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists for the season. His career has been on a rise off late with his third consecutive All-Star selection this season. He was also named in the All-NBA Third team after a gap of three years. ‘The area’ he must improve and work on is to deal with the double, teams that the opponents call on him.
#2 Dwight Howard
Just imagine what his potential is if Dwight Howard while going through a slump is second on the list of the top 5 big men in the league.
A gifted athlete for whom dunking is a walk in the park, the only flaw that Howard has had almost his entire career is the lack of an efficient go-to move in the post. Against tight physical defenses, Howard struggles to post-up in the position of his liking let alone get a good shot.
His numerous records for blocks, rebounds and defense are a testimony to the unique athleticism he possesses for his height. Despite the slump, Howard registered season averages of 18.3 points and 12.2 rebounds, not small numbers by any standards.
Over the years, his personal happiness has been a huge altering factor on his attitude for the game. He did seem at home and comfortable with the Rockets which should be an alarming sign for the other big men in the league.
#1 Blake Griffin
Every season since his rookie campaign, Blake Griffin has taken his game to the next level making him one of the most fierce scorers in the paint across the league. When he entered the league, many remarked his game to be one with only monstrous dunking and no technique.
While the dunking still goes on at Lob City (Los Angeles Clippers), Griffin has come a long way from being known as just a dunker in 4 years. Although the technique aspect of his game could still improve, Griffin has more importantly learned to use his physicality as an advantage.
An improved jump shooter and a willing passer who runs the break, Griffin and the constant advancements in his game will make the Clippers serious title contenders in the near future. He was the only other player apart from Kevin Durant and LeBron James to receive a first place vote in the League MVP votings for the season.
During Paul’s serious shoulder injury mid-season, Griffin carried the Clippers to numerous victories on the back of some superb performances. He averaged a career high 24.1 points, 3.9 assists and 1.2 steals along with 9.5 rebounds.
