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NBA Rankings: Top 10 power forwards for 2014-15

By Gerald Bourguet

Nov 11, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) is defended by Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love (42) at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 11, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) is defended by Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love (42) at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 10, 2014; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) looks up during pre game introductions in game three of the second round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports /

3. LaMarcus Aldridge:

2013-14 Stat Line: 69 games, 36.2 MPG, 23.2 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.0 BPG, 0.9 SPG, .458/.200/.822 shooting, 21.8 PER

When the conversation of “best power forward in the league” comes up, it usually starts and ends with Kevin Love, Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge. Aldridge, who aspires to be the best Blazer ever, is coming off an incredible season in which he put up career highs in scoring, rebounding and assists. If the Blazers have been able to keep up their hot start to the year, Aldridge might have been included in the MVP conversation.

That being said, I’m putting the versatile Aldridge at No. 3 on the list. Despite being one of the toughest players in the NBA to defend and possessing a solid jump shot, Aldridge’s range doesn’t extend to three-point territory and he was the least efficient scorer of the bunch. He also had the fewest defensive win shares of the group.

Aldridge is an excellent player, and the fact that he’s No. 3 on the list of top 10 players for one of the most loaded positions in the league should not be taken as a slight by Rip City fans. But with Blake Griffin developing a midrange game and slowly morphing into one of the league’s most dynamic offensive weapons, not to mention Kevin Love’s all-around excellence, Aldridge just barely misses out on the second or first spot on our list.

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