We're officially in the dog days of the lockout. Negotiations between the players and owners have stalled, and seemingly every day there's talk of another star jumping overseas. But not even the lockout is cause to stop evaluating the best players in the game and seeing how they stack up against their peers based on talent, skill and productivity. This week, I'll be ranking the top five players at each position and breaking down what makes them so special. Each day, I'll look at a different position, starting with point guards and finishing with centers. Today, we'll look at power forwards. We're tossing out postseason awards and career accomplishments and just finding out who's the best of the best.
POINT GUARDS | SHOOTING GUARDS | SMALL FORWARDS | POWER FORWARDS
1. Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
Think it's too soon to anoint Griffin? His talent, skill and numbers say otherwise. Even in the raw, early stages of his development, Griffin possesses the most positive attributes of any power forward and he's far and away the best athlete at the position. He was the first rookie in 41 years to average 22 points, 12 rebounds and three assists. (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the previous player to do it.) How many other active power forwards have rung up a triple-double of 33 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists? Hint: zero. Griffin is built for contact and thrives as the game becomes more physical. Griffin averaged 8.5 free throw attempts per game; only Dwight Howard got to the line more. Griffin's 3.8 assists per game lead all power forwards and his 12 boards were good for third. He seems to get better every time out and is bent on adding new phases to his game. By the middle of the season he was bringing the ball up court and surprising his coaches with his ability to not just go coast-to-coast for the dunk but by making positive decisions passing the basketball.
By the end of the season, he was an ace passing out of double-teams, assisting on more 3-point shots than any power forward. He's also developed one of the most effective spin moves in the game. His most pressing need is a consistent jump shot from 18-20 feet, which happens to be yet another skill he's rapidly developing. But let's not forget those dunks. With his soaring slams, Griffin not only succeeded in intimidating seasoned veterans -- opponents stopped jumping with him by January -- but did the impossible by making the Clippers must-see TV.
2. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
We're all still buzzing about the Mavericks' championship march, but after a thorough inspection of Nowitzki's skills, he simply doesn't have enough of an all-around game to pry the top spot from Griffin. Nowitzki's game combines high-arching jumpers and off-balance drives to form a uniquely awkward but highly effective style of play. Even though he doesn't square his feet and lands awkwardly with one foot in front of the other, Nowitzki is the best jump shooting power forward in the game, and arguably the best ever.
His unorthodox fadeaway, in which he kicks his right leg out, is almost impossible to block because he releases the ball so far back in his lean it almost defies the laws of shot-making. The right baseline is where he's unstoppable, and the Mavs have several plays to get him the ball there. The 7-foot Nowitzki is adept at getting into the lane using the dribble without having smaller players swipe the ball away and renders defenders of any size helpless by backing them down to set up his turnaround. Nowitzki loses points on his rebounding, grabbing just seven a game, which ranks him a disappointing 20th among power forwards. But lack of power aside, Nowitzki's got enough swagger to fill Cowboys Stadium. He proved that during the playoffs, as he solidified his rep for taking and making big shots in crucial moments, sealing games with clutch drives and dramatic shots from behind the arc.
3. Amare Stoudemire, New York Knicks
Stoudemire can flat-out fill it up, and after nine seasons is still the most explosive scorer from the 4. His 25.3 ppg was a hair off his career high and ranked tops among power forwards (sixth overall). Stoudemire stays extremely active moving from the perimeter to the post to the wing in the name of getting the best look at the basket. His effective range extends out to 20 feet, and underneath the rim, his patience, agility and quickness make a bucket all but guaranteed.
In fact, he's the active leader among power forwards in true shooting percentage. Stoudemire loves to drive straight down the middle of the lane, leaving himself the option of finishing to his left or right. There was once a time when Stoudemire created Griffin-like buzz with his thunderous dunks. He can't quite bring it like that anymore, but he remains one of the best finishers in the half court. While he has the brawn to muscle inside, his rather lithe build makes him the best floor-running power forward in the game. He's got the speed to run with most any guard, which makes him the perfect power forward for Mike D'Antoni's up-tempo system.
4. Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves
What is there not to love about the third-year forward who put together a season like no other? Love surprisingly has the highest player efficiency rating (24.39) on this list and improved his rebounding by a whopping four boards per game. If the ball is coming off the board and Love is underneath, chances are extremely high that he is going to get it. He won't leap over you to grab a rebound, but he has a body tailor-made for life under the boards -- tall and wide with long arms. Love is a master at establishing deep position and creating a wide base from which to work. His size and strength make it difficult for opposing bigs to uproot him. When he can't quite reach a ball, there's no need to fret. He's developed the useful skill of tipping the ball to himself and out of the reach of his opponent.
On the offensive glass, his keen sense for how the ball will carom and tireless motor helped him pull down a league-leading 4.5 offensive rebounds per game. What's more, Love established himself as one of the best 3-point shooters at any position. His .417 from behind the arc made him one of just two power forwards in the top 35 in 3-point field goal percentage. (San Antonio reserve Matt Bonner led the league with .457.) Love's critics will say his gaudy numbers were the result of playing for the woeful Timberwolves. What they're forgetting is that the paint is the same size no matter who he plays for.
5. Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers
I won't sit here and try to pretend that the dismal postseason during which Gasol was a virtual nonfactor -- with averages of 13 points and 7.8 rebounds on 42 percent shooting -- isn't affecting his place in these rankings. In fact, he could have easily been swapped out for the Portland Trailblazers' LaMarcus Aldridge. And at 31, Gasol's game could either take a slide or bounce back in a big way. The jury's still out, but if Gasol brings it like his old self, then he's still one of the best around.
With a feathery touch from the foul line, Pau is right behind Nowitzki as the best midrange jump shooting 7-footer. Gasol can put the ball on the deck and get to the rim with one dribble from the foul line. He has the clever ability to palm the ball off the dribble without using his off hand to stabilize it, allowing him to get the ball to the rim a half-second sooner, often catching the defense sleeping. He's got keen eyes when it comes to finding his mates, as his 3.3 assists per game ranked second among power forwards (Griffin was first). Gasol has battled the "soft" label for much of his career, but it's undeserved. Under the boards, Gasol fights aggressively for rebounds and position despite his thin build. And winning the respect of the notoriously demanding Kobe Bryant is a plus no matter how you look at it.
Chris Palmer has been a frequent contributor to ESPN The Magazine and ESPN.com's NBA coverage since 1999. Follow him on Twitter.