Point guards, shooting guards and small forwards have all been accounted for. Now, call this list the “anti-point guards.” With the exception of maybe Boozer, Jamison and Blatche, injuries didn’t dictate the direction this list took. No one here missed more than a dozen games and therefore the difference between the fifth best power forward and the 15th best is akin to the second-best PG and the fifth best PG on that list. Here’s the top 20 power forwards for 2010, it hasn’t changed. It’s just how you remember it, except maybe a little more quaint and naive, like your high school diary or a recent viewing of ‘Harry & the Hendersons.’ Once again, to recap, we’re using the season totals from ESPN’s Player Rater to determine each guy’s final rank. We’re listing averages, but we took totals into account because Games Played weighs heavily on his value – natch. Anyway, here’s the top 20 power forwards for 2010 fantasy basketball and how they compared to where I originally ranked them.
1. Pau Gasol – It says something that this guy was touted as the frontrunner for the MVP through November and spent most of the remaining five months brushing off criticism for being soft and not being present for stretches. If 19/10/3 is “soft” and “absent,” then I don’t want to see a “presently hard” Gasol. No seriously, I don’t want to see that. Ever. Preseason Rank #2, 2010 Projections: .530/.800/0 3ptm/19 pts/10.5 rbd/4 ast/0.5 stl/1.5 blk/2.5 tov, Final Numbers: .529/.823/0 3ptm/18.8 pts/10.2 rbd/3.3 ast/0.6 stl/1.6 blk/1.7 tov, 82 games
2. Amar’e Stoudemire – Before Carmelo: 26/9/3 in 37 mpg. After Carmelo: 24/7/2 in 37 mpg. And that’s not even broaching the subject of 2011 when Toney Douglas starts going for 30 every night! Preseason Rank #5, 2010 Projections: .530/.780/0 3pt/24 pts/9 rbd/2.5 ast/0.5 stl/1 blk/3 tov, Final Numbers: .502/.792/0.1 3ptm/25.3 pts/8.2 rbd/2.6 ast/0.9 stl/1.9 blk/3.2 tov, 78 games
3. Dirk Nowitzki – Career-high field-goal percentage, rebounds fell for the sixth straight season, probable collapse sometime in the playoffs. No surprises here, really. He’s the most boring elite player to own. If all this is a lock … Dirk is the Nowitz-key. Also, he averaged a career-high .517 this season but still fell to a seven-season low 23.0 ppg. What are the odds that a) he shoots above .500 next season? b) Doesn’t see another dip in points (and rebounds)? And c) There’s a c? The answer is not positive for any of the three, my friend. Preseason Rank #1, 2010 Projections: .477/.885/1 3ptm/24.5 pts/8 rbd/3 ast/0.5 stl/1 blk/2 tov , Final Numbers: .517/.892/0.9 3ptm/23 pts/7 rbd/2.6 ast/0.5 stl/0.6 blk/1.9 tov, 73 games
4. Kevin Love – Look, I love me some Love. I’m using the word “love” here about a man I’ve never met who proudly fashions a stubble beard and jumps like he’s wearing stilettos, okay? Love ‘im, but he’s going to regress a bit next season. He’s missed 31 games in his last two seasons and admitted that his double-double streak wore him down. He averaged the second-highest number of rebounds of anyone not named Rodman in the last quarter century and the chances of repeating is, well, not good. Never mind the probability that the Wolves get a top 3 pick in this year’s draft (although they’ll probably eff it up). I’m just saying, fourth among PF is probably right where he belongs. That said, I’ll almost certainly draft him after Gasol, but before Dirk and STAT. Preseason Rank #9, 2010 Projections: .455/.804/0.5 3pt/16.5 pts/13 rbd/2.5 ast/1 stl/0.5 blk/3 tov, Final Numbers: .470/.850/1.2 3ptm/20.4 pts/15.3 rbd/2.5 ast/0.6 stl/0.4 blk/2.1, tov, 73 games
5. LaMarcus Aldridge – Coming on the heels of a ton of preseason can-he-make-the-leap talk, LMA dropped career-highs in FG%, FT%, RBD, AST, STL, went from 0.6 blks and 17.9 ppg last season to 1.2 and 21.8 in 2010. And no one has even whispered that this guy was among the most improved players of the year. Poppycock, y’all. Preseason Rank #11, 2010 Projections: .500/.770/0 3pt/18 pts/7.5 rbd/2 ast/1 stl/1 blk/1.5 tov, Final Numbers: .500/.791/0 3ptm/21.8 pts/8.8 rbd/2.1 ast/1 stl/1.2 blk/1.9 tov, 81 games
6. Josh Smith – See Josh Smith shoot threes. Shoot, Josh! Shoot! See Josh Smith average a three-year low FG%. Stop, Josh! Stop! Now watch Smith play the worst defense of his career. Career low averages in blocks and five-year low in steals. Gosh, Smith! Gosh! Preseason Rank #3, 2010 Projections: .515/.640/0 3ptm/17 pts/9 rbd/5 ast/1.5 stl/2 blk/2.5 tov, Final Numbers: .477/.725/0.7 3ptm/16.5 pts/8.5 rbd/3.3 ast/1.3 stl/1.6 blk/2.6 tov, 77 games
7. Elton Brand – A year ago I wrote, “… Sir Elton has until January 1 to woo me all over again. Wooing is important – everyone wants to feel wanted. If you were asked whether you thought Garnett or Brand would be the first to have another 15/9 season, would you choose either of ‘em?” For the record, May 2010 Adam wouldn’t have chosen either of them. For the record2 : Garnett averaged 17/10 this season, Brand damn near did the same (15/8) and May 2010 Adam is intensely stupid. Preseason: Unranked, Final Numbers: .512/.780/0 3ptm/15 pts/8.3 rbd/1.5 ast/1.1 stl/1.3 blk/1.2 tov, 81 games
8. Paul Millsap – This time last year, I predicted that if Millsap could find minutes, he’d be a top 10 PF. Well ma, look at me now! (I should have put pants on before I drew my mother’s attention.) Anyway, he surpassed my expectations across the board this season. It’s also worth nothing that his averages didn’t change much when Al Jefferson was super cold or super hot. It’s also worth noting that Skillsap may not be a Jazz come October. Preseason Rank #15, 2010 Projections: .522/.704/0 3pt/15 pts/9 rbd/2 ast/1 stl/1.5 blk/2 tov, Final Numbers: .531/.757/0.1 3ptm/18.2 pts/8 rbd/2.6 ast/1.4 stl/1 blk/2 tov, 76 games
9. Kevin Garnett – I can respect the (relatively) remarkable season Cagey had. I can respect that he surpassed my expectations in almost every way, and I can respect that had he been healthier, he might have skipped into the top 6. I cannot, however, see me drafting him any sooner in 2011 than I did in 2010. Preseason Rank #16, 2010 Projections: .490/.811/0 3pt/14.5 pts/7.5 rbd/3.5 ast/1 stl/1 blk/2 tov, Final Numbers: .528/.862/0 3ptm/17.1 pts/10.2 rbd/2.8 ast/1.5 stl/0.9 blk/1.9 tov, 71 games
10. Serge Ibaka – Yeah, he played a lot of center, but he’s a natural PF, he ended the season at the four and he’ll be a forward next season. First I want you to pour the fact that Ibaka will only be 22 next season into you maw and I want you to swish it around in your cheeks while you read the rest of this. As of this writing, Ibaka is averaging 11/11, with 5 blocks in 33 mpgs so far in the playoffs. With Kendrick Perkins allowing him to be more adventurous on defense, he averaged 11/9 and 3 blocks in 29 em-pee-gees to close out the season. Also, he led the league in total blocks. What I’m trying to say is, if you don’t grab Ibaka before the fifth round next season, someone will. Go ahead and swallow. Preseason Unranked, Final Numbers: .543/.750/0 3ptm/9.9 pts/7.6 rbd/0.3 ast/0.4 stl/2.4 blk/0.9 tov, 82 games
11. Lamar Odom – The NBA’s Sixth Man. The fourth-most talked about Laker. The second-best power forward whose name starts with “Lamar.” Among the Kardashian sisters currently involved with an NBA player, Odom is dating the second-hottest. Odom might not be the best, but he’s stuff teams are made of. Preseason Rank #20, 2010 Projections: .475/.710/0.5 3pt/11 pts/9 rbd/3.5 ast/1 stl/1 blk/2 tov, Final Numbers: .530/.675/0.8 3ptm/14.4 pts/8.7 rbd/3 ast/0.6 stl/0.7 blk/1.7 tov, 82 games
12. Tim Duncan – Career-lows in points, rebounds and minutes per game. And while it was nice that he played in all but six games, those career lows weren’t minor dips, they were waterfall plummets. His days of being a top 50 pick are over, but when you set the bar as high as he has, career-lows still amount to a chic pick in later draft rounds … Duncan chic. Preseason Rank #7, 2010 Projections: .521/.731/0 3pt/16 pts/9.5 rbd/3.5 ast/0.5 stl/1.5 blk/2.5 tov, Final Numbers: .500/.716/0 3ptm/13.4 pts/8.9 rbd/2.7 ast/0.7 stl/1.9 blk/1.6 tov, 76 games
13. Zach Randolph – I want to see Z-Bo and Boozer on a teeter-totter. With hops like those two posses, the thing would just stay level and they’d be stuck. Side study: Does Randolph’s performance in these playoffs move him up in the eyes of fantasy ‘perts next year? His averages suggest he really shouldn’t be chosen before the first 10 PFs, but I think he will be. Preseason Rank #13, 2010 Projections: .479/.771/0 3pt/20 pts/10.5 rbd/1.5 ast/1 stl/0 blk/2.5 tov, Final Numbers: .503/.758/0.1 3ptm/20.1 pts/12.2 rbd/2.2 ast/0.8 stl/0.3 blk/2 tov, 75 games
14. Chris Bosh – Yeah. He went from one of the league’s three best at his position to the short straw on the fantasy basketball power forward slot. Get used to it. Preseason Rank #5, 2010 Projection: .620/.770/0 3pt/18.5 pts/9 rbd/2 ast/1 stl/1 blk/2 tov, Final Numbers: .496/.815/0.1 3ptm/18.7 pts/8.3 rbd/1.9 ast/0.8 stl/0.6 blk/1.8 tov, 77 games
15. David West – I’m just not big on West. He’s only missed fewer than six games once in eight seasons and in three of those seasons – including this one – he’s missed more than twice that. And when he was healthy, his numbers were down across the board. Now with Carl Landry on board to snap up some minutes, I expect him to stay a sixth round staple at best. Preseason Rank #8, 2010 Projections: .488/.861/0 3pt/20 pts/8 rbd/3 ast/1 stl/1 blk/2 tov, Final Numbers: .508/.807/0 3ptm/18.9 pts/7.6 rbd/2.3 ast/1 stl/0.9 blk/2 tov, 70 games
16. David Lee – He seemed hurt all season, even when he claimed he wasn’t hurt. I tend to believe the claim he never made, that he was hurt and is getting drowned in Golden State’s speed. Having said all that, 19/8/2 isn’t terrible. Assume he’s healthy next season, assume he improves slightly and becomes a mini-beast. (If beast is an adjective, DavidLee is an adverb. Deal!) Preseason Rank #4, 2010 Projections: .540/.795/0 3ptm/22 pts/12 rbd/4 ast/1 stl/0.5 blk/2.5 tov, Final Numbers: .508/.807/0 3ptm/18.9 pts/7.6 rbd/2.3 ast/1 stl/0.9 blk/2 tov, 70 games
17. Blake Griffin – ESPN’s Player Ranker is deducting points because of his free throw percentage and low blocks. That’s cool. You do what you need to do, but before you do it understand that he raised his bpg from 0.5 to 0.6 and his FT% from .617 to .695 before and after the All-Star Break. I ain’t bettin’ against him and seeing as how he’ll be snapped up before Love, Aldridge and Smoove in most leagues next season, it won’t really matter if I did. Preseason #17, 2010 Projections: .560/.656/0 3pt/17 pts/8.5 rbd/2 ast/1.5 stl/1 blk/2.5 tov, Final Numbers: .506/.642/0.1 3ptm/22.5 pts/12.1 rbd/3.8 ast/0.8 stl/0.5 blk/2.7 tov, 82 games
18. Boris Diaw – I keep hoping for something crazy or amazing from monsieur Diaw. Instead, I get Aerosmith’s other Alicia Silverstone hit, Cryin’. And like Silverstone, with each passing year, Diaw just keeps gaining weight instead of doing anything noteworthy. Final Numbers: .492/.683/1 3ptm/11.3 pts/5 rbd/4.1 ast/0.9 stl/0.6 blk/2 tov, 82 games
19. Luis Scola – At this point, a handsy monkey brings more to the table than Luis. Not that monkeys are anything to scoff at. In many ways, they’re smarter than us humans. Ever been in the mood to toss your poop at someone? Didja ever end up doing it? See what I mean? Monkeys get away with stuff like that. What I’m saying is, a few of those monkeys can grab eight boards and avoid blocking shots and I’d rather have them on my team than Luis Scola. Maybe if Kevin McHale takes the head coaching job, he can teach Scola agility before he runs that team into the ground. Cross your fingers. Preseason Rank #12, 2010 Projections: .506/.771/0 3pt/17.5 pts/9.5 rbd/2.5 ast/1 stl/0.5 blk/2 tov, Final Numbers: .504/.738/0 3ptm/18.3 pts/8.2 rbd/2.5 ast/0.6 stl/0.6 blk/2 tov, 74 games
20. Amir Johnson – Johnson’s entering that magical 24-26 age peak and developing accordingly. He’s going to be a great pickup for someone in need of a second power forward in later rounds … assuming the Raptors don’t do anything boneheaded, which is like assuming your gloc’s safety is on. Preseason: Unranked, Final Numbers: .568/.788/0 3ptm/9.6 pts/6.4 rbd/1.1 ast/0.7 stl/1.2 blk/1 tov, 72 games
