The NBA: April 2013 Position Battle – The Top 5 Power Forwards Right Now

Curiously enough, three of the current top five PFs won’t even play in the Playoffs. Might even be four, if Gasol and the Lakers fail to keep their eighth seed. Tim Duncan’s absence here might also mean he’s taking it easy and saving up for the postseason grind. Aaaand I don’t think the #1 guy on this list is even the #1 guy on his own team.

Note: All of the following stats are based on the last five games of each player’s team as computed by HoopsStats.com. They were taken on April 13, 2013 (Manila time).

5. Anthony Davis (NOH) - 16.2ppg, 9.6rpg, 1.6spg, 1.8bpg, .958 FT%, 22.8 EFF

After a bad first game in April against GSW, Davis has dropped upwards of 18 points and 9 boards in his last four games. He won’t make the Playoffs, but he might be making a late season push to pull the ROY rug from under Damian Lillard’s legs.

Pau Gasol and Anthony Davis are two of the
 top PFs in April.
(image by Reed Saxon/AP)

4. Tobias Harris (ORL) - 19.4ppg, 12.0rpg, 3.8apg, 1.6bpg, 24.2 EFF

At 6’8” and 226lbs, the former Tennessee Volunteer might just be the Paul Millsap of the East. I still think he takes too many shots, but I cannot refute that double-double average and those 1.6 blocks per game.

3. David Lee (GSW) - 18.8ppg, 13.2rpg, .520 FG%, 25.2 EFF

Lee is back as maybe the best overall PF of the regular season (MAYBE… statistically speaking). The Warriors have gone 3-2 this month as of this writing and they could pull off a surprise in the postseason, too.

2. Pau Gasol (LAL) - 18.0ppg, 10.0rpg, 6.0apg, 1.0bpg, .588 FG%, 26.2 EFF

Well, look who decided to show up. The Lakers are 4-1 in April as of this writing, and Gasol’s production has been a big reason why. Looks like the Spaniard has finally gotten the hang of playing alongside Big D. Watch out, world.

1. LaMarcus Aldridge (POR) - 22.3ppg, 11.7rpg, 1.7spg, .563 FG%, 29.0 EFF

There is no doubting this young man’s talent, but his leadership is something I question. The numbers don’t lie – he’s an awesome player, but is he the guy who can lead the Blazers back into the postseason? Methinks not. As good as Aldridge is, Portland has just become Lillard’s team.

LaMarcus Aldridge is great, but he is not the leader of the Blazers.
(image from NBA.com)