NBA Rankings: Top 10 power forwards for 2014-15

10. David Lee: 

2013-14 Stat Line: 69 games, 33.2 MPG, 18.2 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.7 SPG, .523/.000/.780 shooting, 19.2 PER

David Lee narrowly edges Zach Randolph for the final spot of the top 10. Though Z-Bo is a better rebounder by a narrow margin, Lee is a superior scorer and shot nearly six percent better from the field in 2013-14. Lee’s reputation as a poor defender is well-deserved, but Randolph isn’t exactly a lockdown defender himself and the truth is both power forwards benefit from playing alongside defensive anchors that hide their deficiencies on that end.

Lee also gets the advantage here because he’s two years younger, has four fewer seasons on his NBA odometer and posted a superior Player Efficiency Rating last season. Z-Bo and the Memphis Grizzlies will be a tough Western Conference team once again, but the Golden State Warriors probably have a higher ceiling and yes, their style of play is a lot more enjoyable to watch than the “grit-n-grind” of the Grizzlies.

That fact that the Warriors are more aesthetically pleasing to watch isn’t the main reason for Lee being selected over Z-Bo, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t at least a little bit of a factor. Lee benefits from playing with one of the best passers in the league in Stephen Curry and his flaws as a player have been detailed all too often by Dubs fans and media, but he’s still a regular double-double threat, he’s more efficient from the floor and unless Randolph is able to completely stave off Father Time for another season, I’d be very surprised if Lee doesn’t have a better season in 2014-15.