Power Forwards
Anthony Davis
24.3 ppg
10.3 rpg
2.0 bpg
If you read any of my previous Top Ten lists, then you would know that I don’t factor in the current season into my selections criteria. I usually go off what the player has done the previous season and playoffs. With that said, it is hard to ignore what Anthony Davis has done at the start of this season. He is averaging over 30 points a game and has some of the top scoring games this season. Without question, AD is a beast and has emerged as one of the top players in the league. The biggest knock on him is his durability, he has failed to play an entire full season in the NBA. So really it is not how he starts a season, but rather if he is able to complete a season.
Draymond Green
14.0 ppg
9.5 rpg
7.4 apg
Earlier this year Stephen Curry had a party at his crib and invited everyone on his team. He showed a picture that had ‘super villains’ spelled out with balloons. It was a nice shout out to the haters who view the Golden State Warriors as a ‘super team’ that is unfairly stacked to win the championship. The balloons wasn’t directed at anyone specifically, but to the critics who have been bitchin about the team. In my Russell Westbrook voice, “I thought it was cute;” but didn’t find it too humorous because I’m in the general populous of people who been hating on the GSW.
When Kevin Durant face his former Oklahoma City Thunder team earlier this year; I wrote an article that criticized him. In the article I called him an “anti-hero” and called his decision to switch teams a “sucka move.” Basically I almost challenged him to a fight, and if ever reads it, I might have to fight. I still believed KD should have stayed with OKC or chose an another team. But is it necessary to categorized the entire Warriors team as “super villains?” Maybe what Al Pacino said in the Scarface movie is true. “We need someone to point at and say that’s the bad guy!”
Don’t ask me why I don’t like the Golden State Warriors, because I couldn’t give you a logical answer. Maybe it’s the swag and arrogance that Curry shows after he drains a three. Maybe it is the swag that KD has picked up since he has joined their team. Maybe because they win so much and make it look so easy. Or maybe because I’m just a low-key hater. In the case of Draymond Green, I think I have a little bit more sane rational for my dislike. Draymond is the dude who you see when you walk on the court and you think he doesn’t have game; but then he bust your ass. He doesn’t do direct trash talking, he says things “like fall back team,” before a shot goes through the net. He plays you hard on defense, even when you don’t have the ball. He sprints on offense all the time, which forces you to play D all the time. And you hate that because you want to take some plays off. You hate to play against him but wouldn’t mind playing with him. But you know what? Draymond is the type of dude who comes on the court with his own five. He rarely plays with other people because he is loyal. He is a ride or die type of guy. Basically he is the nigga that you love to hate.
It is only fitting that I’m writing all this about Draymond and his team because they been mistreating. All they been doing is setting records and winning in the process. Yet people have found a way to be dismissive and disrespectful of their accomplishments. I didn’t even have Draymond in my initial list of candidates for the best power forwards. Honestly I initially thought he was a small forward. And maybe he was and got shifted over to PF upon Durant’s arrival. But beyond that I said if you put him one on one against LaMarcus Aldridge; then LA would bust his ass. Anthony Davis would probably give him 50. And Blake might dominate him too.
However, with the exception of Anthony Davis, Draymond is a better defender than everyone at his position. His size, quickness and intellect allows him to effectively guard every position on the court. He is not a better scorer than those guys, but he is a better passer. He is better shooter and defender. He is capable of getting a triple double on any given night. This is what happens when you earned the respect of people. They have to write over 300 words telling you how you really are the shit.
One comment