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Positional Rankings: Power forwards
By Tony Mejia
CBS SportsLine.com Staff Writer [font=Arial, Helvetica]
Our second batch of positional rankings gives us a difficult choice at the top. Who is the game's greatest power forward, Kevin Garnett or Tim Duncan? You can't go wrong with either, but someone has to be No. 1.
Garnett, Minnesota's stat-sheet-stuffing marvel, altered the game when he turned pro right out of high school. He changed the way contracts are structured, pioneered the now-extinct preps-to-pros jump and became the first legit 7-footer to prove he could consistently handle and set up others.
Despite all that, plain old Tim Duncan, the fundamentally sound San Antonio star, has to get the nod. Simply put, he's up three rings on K.G. Here's the way the top power forwards line up, with Toronto's Chris Bosh and Orlando's Dwight Howard omitted because both are expected to spend significant time at center this season.
1. Tim Duncan, San Antonio: It will be interesting to see how revered Duncan is 20 years down the road. Unquestionably, he's one of the top five players to grace the game over the past decade, in the same class as Hall of Famers Michael Jordan and Karl Malone, two of the best ever at their positions. But because he doesn't get all up in your face and doesn't command a constant spotlight, there are those that take his greatness for granted. Some even dismiss him as boring. Memo: Fundamentals and going about things the right way, expertly, should never be trivialized.
2. Kevin Garnett, Minnesota: Because of the impact he has had on the game, it's hard to imagine Garnett looking up at anyone. Still, his team comes off its worst season in almost a decade, failing to make the playoffs a year after reaching the Western Conference finals for the first time. There's no doubt Garnett left it all out on the court last season, playing with an abandon and desire that's a rarity for most mega-stars. That has to earn your respect, but ultimately, when the team fails, he'll take the blame. He wouldn't have it any other way.
3. Jermaine O'Neal, Indiana: Now that he has had all summer to rest that ailing shoulder, he'll be back to being the dominant post presence he has been since joining the Pacers. O'Neal did more wincing than anyone else over the latter part of last season and had some uncharacteristically horrendous shooting nights during the playoffs. Rest was the only remedy, and it was a luxury Indiana couldn't afford. The double-double machine should quickly re-capture his form -- in the East, only the other O'Neal is more effective inside.
4. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas: He enjoyed an MVP-caliber season a year ago, helping the Mavericks overcome the loss of good friend Steve Nash. But he struggled with his jumper in the playoffs, and the Mavericks wilted as a result. After spending the summer playing for Germany in the European Championships, Nowitzki should be in excellent shape when he reports to camp and should be extremely ready for his first full season under Avery Johnson and his defense-first philosophy.
5. Elton Brand, L.A. Clippers: He has quietly starred for losing teams since coming into the league six years ago, consistently putting up 20 points and 10 boards. Despite that, he has been to just a single All-Star game, hindered by Clips syndrome and the fact he's over shadowed by the likes of Duncan, Garnett and Nowitzki. Only 26, his best days seem to be ahead.
6. Kenyon Martin, Denver: It took him some time to get adjusted out West, and whether he struggled with the altitude, foreign surroundings or change of playing style, the good news is the kinks should now be out. A dominant defender and shot blocker, Martin should join Marcus Camby to form the most feared defensive big man tandem in the league. On the offensive end, expect him to be much more comfortable, particularly if he's able to fully recover from the knee injury that hampered him.
7. Rasheed Wallace, Detroit: Wallace, after all those years caught up in controversy in Portland, has made a great home for himself. The fans love him, his teammates adore him, calling him the pulse of the squad, and he's satisfied with his role. It remains to be seen whether he changes with new coach Flip Saunders taking over.
8. Antawn Jamison, Washington: After earning his first All-Star berth in 2005, Jamison has an even bigger task ahead as he and Gilbert Arenas aim to replace the lost production of Larry Hughes. Though undersized to play the four, Jamison has consistently averaged more than seven boards per game and isn't easily pushed around by bigger foes. Offensively, his mid-range jumper has turned into a deadly weapon, complementing his skills down low.
9. Zach Randolph, Portland: He played in just 46 games last season with a knee problem, but when healthy, all he does is produce. With Shareef Abdur-Rahim gone, the Blazers' rebuilding project will undoubtedly be built around him. He and Sebastian Telfair could emerge as a potent combination once they get their chemistry down.
10. Pau Gasol, Memphis: The 7-footer opted to rest and not play for Spain in the European Championships, which was probably the right decision given his bout with plantar fasciitis that cost him time last year. He must bounce back from a disappointing season in which he was expected to become a star but was instead stuck in traction. He's too talented to be so streaky.
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Positional Rankings: Power forwards
By Tony Mejia
CBS SportsLine.com Staff Writer [font=Arial, Helvetica]
Our second batch of positional rankings gives us a difficult choice at the top. Who is the game's greatest power forward, Kevin Garnett or Tim Duncan? You can't go wrong with either, but someone has to be No. 1.
Garnett, Minnesota's stat-sheet-stuffing marvel, altered the game when he turned pro right out of high school. He changed the way contracts are structured, pioneered the now-extinct preps-to-pros jump and became the first legit 7-footer to prove he could consistently handle and set up others.
Despite all that, plain old Tim Duncan, the fundamentally sound San Antonio star, has to get the nod. Simply put, he's up three rings on K.G. Here's the way the top power forwards line up, with Toronto's Chris Bosh and Orlando's Dwight Howard omitted because both are expected to spend significant time at center this season.
1. Tim Duncan, San Antonio: It will be interesting to see how revered Duncan is 20 years down the road. Unquestionably, he's one of the top five players to grace the game over the past decade, in the same class as Hall of Famers Michael Jordan and Karl Malone, two of the best ever at their positions. But because he doesn't get all up in your face and doesn't command a constant spotlight, there are those that take his greatness for granted. Some even dismiss him as boring. Memo: Fundamentals and going about things the right way, expertly, should never be trivialized.
2. Kevin Garnett, Minnesota: Because of the impact he has had on the game, it's hard to imagine Garnett looking up at anyone. Still, his team comes off its worst season in almost a decade, failing to make the playoffs a year after reaching the Western Conference finals for the first time. There's no doubt Garnett left it all out on the court last season, playing with an abandon and desire that's a rarity for most mega-stars. That has to earn your respect, but ultimately, when the team fails, he'll take the blame. He wouldn't have it any other way.
3. Jermaine O'Neal, Indiana: Now that he has had all summer to rest that ailing shoulder, he'll be back to being the dominant post presence he has been since joining the Pacers. O'Neal did more wincing than anyone else over the latter part of last season and had some uncharacteristically horrendous shooting nights during the playoffs. Rest was the only remedy, and it was a luxury Indiana couldn't afford. The double-double machine should quickly re-capture his form -- in the East, only the other O'Neal is more effective inside.
4. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas: He enjoyed an MVP-caliber season a year ago, helping the Mavericks overcome the loss of good friend Steve Nash. But he struggled with his jumper in the playoffs, and the Mavericks wilted as a result. After spending the summer playing for Germany in the European Championships, Nowitzki should be in excellent shape when he reports to camp and should be extremely ready for his first full season under Avery Johnson and his defense-first philosophy.
5. Elton Brand, L.A. Clippers: He has quietly starred for losing teams since coming into the league six years ago, consistently putting up 20 points and 10 boards. Despite that, he has been to just a single All-Star game, hindered by Clips syndrome and the fact he's over shadowed by the likes of Duncan, Garnett and Nowitzki. Only 26, his best days seem to be ahead.
6. Kenyon Martin, Denver: It took him some time to get adjusted out West, and whether he struggled with the altitude, foreign surroundings or change of playing style, the good news is the kinks should now be out. A dominant defender and shot blocker, Martin should join Marcus Camby to form the most feared defensive big man tandem in the league. On the offensive end, expect him to be much more comfortable, particularly if he's able to fully recover from the knee injury that hampered him.
7. Rasheed Wallace, Detroit: Wallace, after all those years caught up in controversy in Portland, has made a great home for himself. The fans love him, his teammates adore him, calling him the pulse of the squad, and he's satisfied with his role. It remains to be seen whether he changes with new coach Flip Saunders taking over.
8. Antawn Jamison, Washington: After earning his first All-Star berth in 2005, Jamison has an even bigger task ahead as he and Gilbert Arenas aim to replace the lost production of Larry Hughes. Though undersized to play the four, Jamison has consistently averaged more than seven boards per game and isn't easily pushed around by bigger foes. Offensively, his mid-range jumper has turned into a deadly weapon, complementing his skills down low.
9. Zach Randolph, Portland: He played in just 46 games last season with a knee problem, but when healthy, all he does is produce. With Shareef Abdur-Rahim gone, the Blazers' rebuilding project will undoubtedly be built around him. He and Sebastian Telfair could emerge as a potent combination once they get their chemistry down.
10. Pau Gasol, Memphis: The 7-footer opted to rest and not play for Spain in the European Championships, which was probably the right decision given his bout with plantar fasciitis that cost him time last year. He must bounce back from a disappointing season in which he was expected to become a star but was instead stuck in traction. He's too talented to be so streaky.
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