NBA Player Rankings: The top 25 players for 2014-15

Powering Forward

With power forward the second deepest position in the NBA behind point guard, it’s unsurprising that a number of fours appear on the list, and do so ranking highly. These three get it done in vastly different ways, but still get it done.

13. LaMarcus Aldridge – Perhaps the best example in the NBA today of how a player’s individual stats don’t tell the whole story. Aldridge is the fulcrum around which the Portland offense whirs. His value can also be seen in the drop in many of the Blazer’s role players shooting when Aldridge is off the floor. Over the course of the regular season, Aldridge’s odd, mid-range heavy style is increasingly confusing to modern defenses, geared towards preventing threes and layups. A player like Aldridge who can score with aplomb from that in-between zone creates all sorts of unusual rotations which make not only Aldridge himself, but the other Portland players difficult to locate and cover. This combined with his ability to run the floor, rebound and defend both inside and out make him one of the league’s best.

12. Blake Griffin – Does his media profile outstrip his on-court ability? Since he’s probably the second or third most-visible player in the league after LeBron and KD, probably. Doesn’t change the fact that he’s really, really good. Last year he took a giant leap forward, as an injury to Chris Paul allowed him to assume temporary alpha-dog status over the Clippers. He passed this test with flying colors, not only increasing his scoring but ball-handling and playmaking duties with Paul sidelined. Still not a great shooter, either from the perimeter or the free throw line, adding to this aspect of his game might be enough to put him into the top 10 going forward, as might a more consistent impact on defense.

11. Dirk Nowitzki – Look up “aging gracefully” and there won’t be a picture of Dirk’s blond curls alongside the definition, but maybe there should be. Joking aside, even at age 35, Dirk spit hot fire from everywhere on the floor. He might no longer be quite the terror he once was against the very best and most athletic defenders, but Dirk remains a singular talent in terms of the way he forces defenses to account for him on every second of every possession. Never the greatest athlete, Dirk has enough nous and experience to remain a passable defender well into his twilight years. This coming season looks to be about his last shot of winning a second title as Nowitzki agreeing to a massively sub-market contract extension allowed the Mavs to add talent around him such as Tyson Chandler and Chandler Parsons.