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NBA: Ranking The League’s Top 10 Power Forwards For 2016-17

By Gerald Bourguet

Oct 31, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) is guarded by Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the first half of a game at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 31, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) is guarded by Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the first half of a game at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 5, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) looks to pass in the first quarter against the Orlando Magic at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

8. Kevin Love

2015-16 Stats:  16.0 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 2.4 APG, .419/.360/.822 shooting, 19.0 PER

Kevin Love is no longer the same player who put up a 26-12-4 stat line in his last season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, but his role as the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ third fiddle shouldn’t fool anyone: This guy is still good.

Though he hasn’t been the ideal fit for the Cavs at times, there are only a few matchups that really expose him (the Warriors, for example). The perimeter shooting and rebounding he brings to the table is part of the reason Cleveland is usually able to breeze through the regular season.

His defensive deficiencies have taken him off the floor late in a few close games, and his fluctuation between being a stretch-4 and a guy who needs touches on the block has been frustrating at times over the last two years.

But as plays like “The Stop” in Game 7 of the NBA Finals showed us, he’s more than capable of rising to the occasion — even in a reduced role — when his team needs it most. Between that and simple double-double production, what’s not to like?