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Top 5 PFs


Poe
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Air Rondo started one for the PGs, SGs, and SFs, and I thought it created some good discussion. He stopped short of the last two positions for whatever reason, so I'm picking up where he left off.

 

My list:

1. Dirk Nowitzki

2. Chris Bosh

3. Tim Duncan

4. Pau Gasol

5. Amar'e Stoudemire

 

 

Edit: Decided to put Amar'e in that 5th spot over David Lee.

Edited by Poe
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I'll write my list later, but Gasol is better than Duncan this season. I'd put him third, behind Dirk and Bosh.

The choice between Pau and Duncan was tough, but I chose Tim for several reasons.

 

First of all, he's putting up similar numbers in less minutes, with a better EFF and PER. Also, despite being a higher option on offense, Tim Duncan has a similar true shooting percentage, and the same effective field goal percentage as Pau Gasol. Lastly, Tim Duncan is able to handle leading what is currently a .600 team, while Gasol was never truly able to handle being the first option for a team to realistically contend. Pau is a second tier guy while Duncan, even at his age and decline in minutes and numbers, is still the leader of his team for another strong season.

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The choice between Pau and Duncan was tough, but I chose Tim for several reasons.

 

First of all, he's putting up similar numbers in less minutes, with a better EFF and PER. Also, despite being a higher option on offense, Tim Duncan has a similar true shooting percentage, and the same effective field goal percentage as Pau Gasol. Lastly, Tim Duncan is able to handle leading what is currently a .600 team, while Gasol was never truly able to handle being the first option for a team to realistically contend. Pau is a second tier guy while Duncan, even at his age and decline in minutes and numbers, is still the leader of his team for another strong season.

Yeah, I don't know. For me, it's like the Williams/Paul debate. I think Gasol has enough around him to limit his numbers a bit more than Duncan does, especially with Parker in and out of the five, and Manu playing like a shell of his former self. It shows in the Spurs' record recently as well.

 

I don't put much into EFF and PER ratings. If I did that, I'm sure I could say Kobe isn't even a top five player...and everyone knows how ridiculous that statement would be.

 

Duncan is easily the greater of the two, career-wise...but he's never truly lead a team without another scoring option. From David Robinson to Parker and Gino, that's nothing to complain about. Gasol took Memphis to 50 wins, and 49 sometime before or after that (can't remember) with defensive-minded players, much like Iverson and LeBron did. Only problem is, he never won a playoff series.

 

This season though...this season only...I think I'm still going with Pau. I think he would get the best of Duncan if they played each other 10 times.

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This is tough...

 

1) Dirk Nowitzki

2) Chris Bosh

3) Tim Duncan

4) Pau Gasol

5) Amare Stoudemire

 

Amare gets the slight edge over Boozer. Randolph/Lee/Al Jefferson would all be higher if they could play better D. Randolph has been better this year, but Lee is attrocious defensively (to be fair, a lot of times he is getting burned by Centers, but he is just bad with rotations and is soft defensively), and big Al is still shotty on D. If Jefferson would play like he did last year offensively, he's probably crack my top 5.

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Alright, here's mine...

 

1) Dirk Nowitzki

He's a superstar, probably the toughest power forward to defend in the league, and he's super versatile (which explains why it's so tough to defend him).

 

2) Chris Bosh

Not much of a defensive player either, but his offensive game has improved quite a bit. Basically, he's added a couple more post moves, better footwork, and he's stronger.

 

3) Pau Gasol

Pau is putting up nearly the same numbers as Duncan, better rebounder and if he wasn't injured (hamstring problems since November), he'd be shooting a higher percentage from the floor.

 

4) Tim Duncan

He's struggling to shoot 50% from the floor, and has been for the past three seasons. His defense has dropped off a bit, but he's still putting up a solid 19/11, exceptional leadership.

 

5) Carlos Boozer

He's a much better rebounder than Amare, shooting just as well from the floor, and he's stronger in the post. Amare may be a product of the system he plays in, so Boozer takes #5.

 

By the way, David Lee is a center.

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I see David Lee as more of a PF that has to play C since he's playing for D'Antoni. For almost any other coach or team in the league, he'd play PF.

Sure, but if he were playing another position, his numbers may not be the same, so you have to consider where he's at right now.

 

If Lee were at the four, he'd probably have a tougher time. Being a center, he is a huge mismatch for many teams, as he gets up and down the court quicker, and he's also faster and more athletic than most centers.

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Sure, but if he were playing another position, his numbers may not be the same, so you have to consider where he's at right now.

 

If Lee were at the four, he'd probably have a tougher time. Being a center, he is a huge mismatch for many teams, as he gets up and down the court quicker, and he's also faster and more athletic than most centers.

That's true. At the same time, Boozer and Amare have the luxury to feed off of great PGs, Deron and Nash. While Lee's position and D'Antoni's offensive system may benefit him to a certain extent, the primary playmaker for almost the whole year has been Chris Duhon, who's hardly a benefit to anyone playing with him.

 

Maybe him mismatching Cs somewhat helps his FG%, but at the same time, he's also grabbing nearly 12 boards per game despite being outsized.

 

If Lee were to play PF with a top 5 PG, he'd probably still average a similar number of points if not more, while grabbing more rebounds, and appear better defensively when matched up against players his own size.

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Yes. One could argue Boozer being above Duncan I suppose, but definitely not Dirk. Boozer is top 5 no doubt, but Dirk is top 2.

i dont think anyone really knows how good boozer has been playing, jazz's record is right up there with mavs only 1 game or two behind

 

Boozer numbers in november

21 points on 60% shooting 10 boards (2off) 14 shots per game

Dirk

27 points on 48% shooting 8 boards (1off) 20 shots per game

 

December

Boozer

18.5 points 51% shooting 10 boards (2off) 14 shots per game

dirk

22points 50% shooting 7 boards (1off) 15 shots per game

 

January

boozer

19 points 56%shooting 11 boards (2off) 13 shots per game

Dirk

25 points 47%shooting 7boards (shy off 1off) 19 shots per game

 

February

boozer

21points 60%shooting 13boards (3.5off) 14 shots per game

Dirk

25.5 points 49%shooting 7 boards (1off) 19 shots per game

 

are u telling me dirk has been playing better?

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