Greatest Of The Three Point Era: Power Forward

[benji]

Duncan has never faced the greatest shame, losing in the NBA Finals. Dirk like all the other epic losers in the NBA history (Bird, Shaq, LeBron, Dwayne Wade, Magic, Kevin Garnett, Karl Malone, Gary Payton, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Charles Barkley, etc.) has.

[NovU]

So losing in the first round > Losing in the Finals

Once Again Loud n Clear Sir

[benji]

Jordan lost in the first round three years in a row.

He never lost in the Finals.

[[Q]]

the other night i watched Warriors vs Suns 1994 playoffs game 3 on NBA TV. Barkley dropped 27 points in the 1st quarter on perfect shooting. Spree also went 100% from the field in the 1st. Webber throwing perfect behind the back passes.

[The X]

the other night i watched Warriors vs Suns 1994 playoffs game 3 on NBA TV. Barkley dropped 27 points in the 1st quarter on perfect shooting. Spree also went 100% from the field in the 1st. Webber throwing perfect behind the back passes.

That would've been a sweet game to watch. I enjoyed Spree pre-choke.

[Mavs4Life]

I watched that too,epic game. Barkley in Prime.

[Lamrock]

Yeah, I don't have a job either so I watched it as well. I was actually stoned so I watched it twice in one day without noticing until the fourth quarter! Vintage Churles, and it was interesting to see rookie C-Webb

[The X]

X's Top 10

1. Tim Duncan ('01-'07): I think he's more of a centre, but if he's a power forward, then yeah, he's number one. A lot of players on this list had gaudy offensive numbers but Duncan did it at both ends. Like many, surprised he never won at least one DPOY. I would've preferred Duncan in his prime rather than Dwight Howard. Duncan could've averaged a lot better offensive numbers but he didn't need to.

2. Charles Barkley ('86-'93): Sir Charles was an absolute beast with the 76ers. The Round Mound of Rebound (shame there aren't nicknames like that anymore) was great on the offensive boards & so explosive as a 6'4"/6'5" power forward. I just wish he didn't shoot so many 3's & keep his body in better shape.

3. Karl Malone ('91-'97): If it was performance across his career, rather than just his best seven year period, he'd be a very, very close second behind Duncan. I thought he would end up at number two, but if I had a choice between Barkley's best 7 & Malone's, I'd go the former. Over the career, I'd go with the latter.

4. Dirk Nowitzki ('02-'08): Am loving that I could sneak Dirk over Garnett. It was a very close call & I know most will have KG above Dirk, but I just have a soft spot for Euros.

5. Kevin Garnett ('02-'08): Coincidentally the exact same 7 year period as Dirk's & I think if you ask anybody (apart from Cuban, Germans & Mavs' fans) at that time & they would take KG everytime, & I can understand & respect that.

6. Kevin McHale ('84-'90): This is when it gets tough, with the next five all very close IMHO. McHale gets nod for his work in the post.

7. Chris Webber ('94-'02): I love C-Webb from his time with Kings. Fond memories of him & Vlade.

8. Pau Gasol ('04-'11): Everybody loves Pau. Don't be so hard on him. Lakers wouldn't have won those titles without him.

9. Larry Nance ('86-'93): After calling him out, there was no way I was going to leave him out. Plust he is a dynamo in 2k as a legends player. Try him out, he does it all. Plus he gets honorable mention for being one of best slam dunk champions there was.

10. Elton Brand ('01-'07): I couldn't bare to leave Easy E out of the top 10, it just wouldn't feel right. It's not his fault his spent his prime with the Clippers? So he's squeezes into equal 10th spot.


Honorable mentions: Sadly, my last two out were Shawn Kemp and Amar'e Stoudemire. I'd say Amar'e will squeeze into the top 10 within a couple of years provided he stays healthy. I'll also have to mention guys like Dennis Rodman & Horace Grant. I'm sure I've forgotten somebody, but benji will no doubt let us know soon.

Power forward was a tough position as you could conceivably flip anybody from 2 to 5 in their respective spots as well as 6 to 12 in their respective spots.

[NovU]

1) Tim Duncan: The rings he won placed him on top of the list above others. I think that's what seperates him from others anyways. Proved to be an efficient player to build the team around that win championships. Him as the main piece, the Spurs had their dynasty.

2) Karl Malone: Amazingly long and successful career he had. You probably could pick multiple 7 years span and argue they were his prime years.

3) Dirk Nowitzki: Despite widely known shortcomings in his game, he did more than enough to cover those weakness with his strength. Durable, efficient, consistent and sound. I was surprised when he won the title with him as the main option. Something that 3 fellow top 5 rankers failed to do.

4) Charles Barkley: Great stats all around for such an undersized powerforward. Couldn't place him any lower. Barkley's team had more success with him as the backbone than Minny did with KG.

5) Kevin Garnett: He had one of the best years in his first season with the Celtics and they won it all in that year. 5th is rightfully his. Could have been ranked higher but those names above top KG in my opinion.

Honorable mentions: Pete Chilcutt, Cherokee Parks, Roy Rogers, Tony Massenburg, Michael Smith

[Lamrock]

We're gonna have to re-do this list when Anthony Randolph and LaMarcus Aldridge dominate the league for the next decade.

[shadowgrin]

The Round Mound of Rebound (shame there aren't nicknames like that anymore)

It became retarded when people thought that the initial letter of a player's name plus his number constitutes as a great nickname.
Chris Paul's exempted because apparently they called him that since high school, before he entered the NBA.
Kirilenko is also exempted since it's also the name of a gun. Would've been fun if he played for the Bullets.

Also included in retardation are the initial letter of the first name combined with the surname.

[Lamrock]

D-Rose > Poohdini though

[[Q]]

D-Rose > Poohdini though

Derrick Blows> all other names

[[Q]]

is Ben Wallace a PF or C?

[benji]

Center for this.

[NovU]

Seems like everybody's top 5 are pretty much the same but in different order. I am yet to see an identical one either. Any more lists coming up btw?

[[Q]]

1. Duncan-Big Fundamental. so solidly consistent over all those years, got the rings to back it up.
2. Kevin Garnett- Honestly I don't know how anyone could put Malone over this guy. Sure, Malone was a bit better at scoring, but KG has the defensive prowess (proven with his role on Boston now) and put the TWolves on his back time and time again
3. Barkley- Such a prolific scorer and rebounder, he was the prototypical PF with the height of a swingman.
4. Malone- Who knows where his place in history would be without Stockton & Sloan. I'm not taking points off because of it, he still deserves to be up here, but I don't think he has the all-around game that the above players had.
5. Webber- Would have a ring and a longer career if his knee didn't give out in 2003. What a solid all-around player with his mid-range jumper, passing, dribbling, scoring. he could do it all. He turned a terrible Sacramento franchise into a perennial winner. he is very deserving of the #5 spot.
6. Dirk- Finally got his ring, and has been the centerpiece of solid Dallas teams for the last decade. His shooting during these playoffs were incredible.
7. Rodman- imo the best rebounder of all time. 2 time defensive player of the year award winner.
8. McHale- I am reluctantly putting him here, but he did play with Bird so his numbers weren't as good.
9. Kemp- what a fucking monster in his early days. too bad he ate himself out of a great career.
10. Pau Gasoft- I really didn't wanna put him on here, but he deserves it despite his constant whining on the court for the inside shots he takes.

[shadowgrin]

D-Rose > Poohdini though

This guy played his whole NBA career being called Pooh. It's not that bad.

[The X]

Everybody seems to rank The Worm a lot higher than I do.

[Andrew]

Stellar defense and crazy rebounding numbers.

[NovU]

Everybody seems to rank The Worm a lot higher than I do.

I have a feeling I'd have placed Rodman somewhere between 8-10 if I had the full list. So yeah... seems like everybody does rank him higher than you did, as it seems he didn't even make it to your honorable mention list.

But I'm more confused of not seeing Bosh on any of the list so far. Even as a Heat, he registered ass whopping 10.3 WS, the best in his career. His last 6 seasons are noteworthy. The numbers definitely are there to consider him better than a few already mentioned here. If he wasn't a center... oh wait. it's Canada. Isn't it?

[The X]

Stellar defense and crazy rebounding numbers.

Yes, he had crazy rebounding numbers. I guess I never just rated him as highly when I saw him, but then again, that was in his Bulls' days. I should really go back & take a look at his Pistons' days & re-evaluate.

Everybody seems to rank The Worm a lot higher than I do.

I have a feeling I'd have placed Rodman somewhere between 8-10 if I had the full list. So yeah... seems like everybody does rank him higher than you did, as it seems he didn't even make it to your honorable mention list.

He was on my honorable mentions. After spot 8 it really got tough & I struggled to separated Nance, Brand, Kemp & Amar'e. If I was to go back I'd probably put Kemp in top 10 instead of Brand. I did have Brand have honorable mention but somehow talked myself putting him in top 10. I think I penalised Kemp a little since he didn't get himself a proper 7 years. Maybe slot him at 9, bump Nance to 10 (since I guaranteed him a spot). I'm not going to adjust my 10, but I'm sure if I made the list on another day then spots 9 through 13 would probably change.

Ahh well, aside from the rebounding I just remember Rodman as a flopper.

[NovU]

that was in his Bulls' days. I should really go back & take a look at his Pistons' days & re-evaluate.

True that. Piston days were his prime.

He was on my honorable mentions. After spot 8 it really got tough & I struggled to separated Nance, Brand, Kemp & Amar'e.

Ma bad. Let me rephrase... "merely being mentioned"

[koberulz]

Stellar defense and crazy rebounding numbers.

Yes, he had crazy rebounding numbers. I guess I never just rated him as highly when I saw him, but then again, that was in his Bulls' days. I should really go back & take a look at his Pistons' days & re-evaluate.

Have a read.

[Valor]

In my most humble opinion...

1. Tim Duncan: 4 rings, dominating the position and the low post by a large margin ever since he stepped onto the court in a San Antonio Spurs uniform. Does it on both sides of the floor and doesn't need to showboat or be super flashy. Pure fundamental skills
2. Charles Barkley: It's amazing some of the things that he does being at his size, Sir Charles never fails to amaze or amuse everybody, and both are good things
3. Karl Malone: Most appropriately nicknamed the Mailman 'cause he always delivers. His body of work is just astonishing to see, just ask anybody that has had a taste of his elbow (Steve Nash anyone?). Would've had two championships if not for the greatness of Michael Jordan
4. Dennis Rodman: If what Barkley did was amazing, then Dennis Rodman accomplished the impossible. 18+ rebounds per game averages and 11 offensive rebounds in a game in the finals perhaps will never be seen again in the NBA, let alone by a guy barely standing 6-6 (He is definitely not the listed 6-8). Also one of the best defenders during his Pistons days. 5 rings are also pretty damn good and yes, I would take Rodman over everybody listed below if I was to form a team. He knows his role and he can get a team the W without scoring a single point.
5. Dirk Nowitzki: Stuck with his team through the highs and lows, never complaining and just quietly working despite all the critics. He rightfully proved everyone wrong in the finals this year by winning the title.
6. Kevin Garnett: A complete douchebag that picks on little euro guards and rookies, but at the same time he's a great power forward. Complete beast defensively during his prime.
7. Chris Webber: Probably a whistle or two away from being a champion. He was dominant and very fun to watch. Also one of the best passing big-man ever to play
8. Kevin McHale: Never saw him play, but from what I've heard about him, he was pretty damn good
9. Pau Gasol: Instantly sparked the Lakers to three straight finals appearances and two championships. Gaining the respect from Kobe Bryant isn't easy either, but Gasol did both in a relatively short amount of time. He can do it all, run, dribble, pass, shoot, post up, rebound, defend..anything you want, he can do it.
10. Shawn Kemp: A meltdown by the Sonics or a flip of a switch by the Bulls costed him the title, but he was very close to upsetting the 72 win team in 96 with Gary Payton. People forget how dominating he was since he declined so fast