Top 5 Power Forwards to look out for the upcoming NBA season

The Power Forward position, also called the post position, is generally filled by one of the two biggest men in the lineup. The role of a Power Forward (PF) is similar to the Center in terms of playing with their backs to the basket and posting up on the offense and positioning themselves under the basket in a zone defense to get blocks and rebounds. Some PFs have even extended their game and developed their three-point shooting in order to spread the floor on the offense. Lets countdown to the most exciting Power Forwards this season:Power Forwards Blake Griffin and Kevin Love

#5 Kevin Love

To begin on a slightly low note, Kevin Love didn’t have a great season last year. His numbers were way below usual and he was far less involved on the court. There probably wasn’t much of a power struggle but there sure was some role ambiguity. Kevin Love has built his career posting big numbers for a losing team and it probably took more time than it should’ve to adjust to a contending team strategy with LeBron James onboard. He went from being the inarguably best player on a team to a spot up shooter on David Blatt’s offense competing for the 2nd or 3rd best player on the team depending on how you compare him with Irving. A second year with this newly formed team should work well if Love can be used up to his potential.

There is no question that Kevin Love is a fantastic player who brings a lot to the table. He re-signed a 5 year $150 million contract with the Cavaliers this offseason. James is still as good as James can be. Irving should be healthy enough with his minutes managed. Blatt should have a better understanding of his team this season. We recently learned that Tristan Thompson will be back with the Cavs signing a 5 year $82 million deal. Varejao is healthy again. Everyone on this team is championship material. If we can see the old Timberwolves’ Kevin Love teaming up with the all powerful LeBron and this squad amazing squad behind them, it’s going to be near impossible to see them not winning the Eastern Conference Finals.

#4 Chris Bosh

As the arrival of LeBron James in Cleveland gave Kyrie Irving a new role with the Cavaliers, James’ departure from the Miami Heat gave a new role to Chris Bosh at South Beach, putting a greater offensive responsibility upon his shoulders. Until a blood clot was found on his lung ruling him out for the rest of the season, Bosh impressed in 2014-2015, averaging 21.1 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. Good thing is that Bosh is healthy again to help Wade’s Heat build back up this season. The emergence of Hassan Whiteside and the resigning of star Point Guard Goran Dragic will certainly help things in Miami take their place.

Bosh is one of the league’s best stretch big. He can stretch the floor with his constantly improving 3-point shooting making it difficult for his counter Forwards to leave the key and trace him there. He shot a career high 37.5% from the perimeter last season but had to leave the LeBron-less Miami just after 44 games due to health reasons. Bosh, Wade and the rest of the team have a lot to prove while making the point that the franchise was and is way bigger than James. Bosh’s post game has turned a little sketchy and he’s probably slightly past his prime but we’re about to see if a healthy Bosh can still demolish teams like he used to in the good old days (like two years back).

#3 LaMarcus Aldridge

Teaming up with Popovich’s Spurs this season, Aldridge adds a lot more power to the well balanced team. After his 9 years with Portland, Aldridge pretty much won the free agency with a 4 year $80 million contract with San Antonio. LaMarcus Aldridge is well known for his patented mid-range jump-shot, which he hits with deadly efficiency, but is also a skilled player in the post, and is particularly strong on the left block.

Last season saw the 4-time All-Star develop a three-point shot, shooting a career-best 35.2% from beyond the arc on a career-high 1.5 attempts per contest. Very few players have the full, well-rounded offensive arsenal that Aldridge possesses. At the age of 30, he arrives in San Antonio as a worthy heir to Tim Duncan, carrying averages of 23.4 points and 10.2 rebounds. His chemistry with the existing Spurs stars will determine how further up he can take them in the hierarchy.

#2 Blake Griffin

The Clippers fizzed out in the post-season but none of it can be blamed on Blake Griffin. He played like the showtime superstar he is and averaged 25.5 points, 12.7 rebounds and 6.1 assists. Initially a dominant paint-player who made highlight dunks on a regular basis, Griffin has evolved on the offensive end of the floor whilst playing with the offensively-limited DeAndre Jordan. With the latter being unable to play outside of the paint, Griffin has had to learn how to play outside, and is now a consistent mid-range jump shooter. This gives his game a great sense of versatility making him a nightmare to guard. On defense, Griffin also contributes, using his size, speed, and the same athleticism he uses to dunk on offence, to contain opposing players. He’s also used the past few seasons to bulk up in order to take on even larger forwards that the opponent coaches may throw on him.

Griffin has been an All-Star every season he’s played in the league and is definitely in his prime. Doc Rivers along with the Clippers organization has big hopes this season and utilizing Griffin up to his potential will be a key factor in determining their success.

#1 Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis has already established himself as one of the best players in the league and he isn’t even 22 years old yet. His potential at the moment seems limitless. He was already a part of MVP debates last season and he will definitely still be this season. What’s great about Davis is that he’s amazing on both sides of the court.

He’s a dominant scorer on the offensive end who not only dominates the paint but is a consistent mid range shooter (which makes him un-guardable at 6’10”). He averaged 24.4 points last season showing post up skills that players much older than him still haven’t mastered. As far as defense goes, for the past two seasons Anthony Davis has led the league in blocks and averaged double-digit rebounds. Using his combination of size, strength, speed, and agility, he can guard both out on the perimeter, where his size advantage combined with his speed are a deadly combination – and within the paint, where he takes advantage of his size and frame to ground opponents down to a halt.

An undoubted future MVP, Davis is worth every penny of his new 5-year $145 million contract with the Pelicans. The only issue is that the Pelicans are by no stretch of the imagination a ‘championship team’; which means he will have to wait a while for his first championship ring. He’ll be extremely fun to watch in the meanwhile and the scary part is that he’s only going to get better.