NBA Player Rankings: Power Forwards

As a guest writer for Bust a Bucket, I thought I'd take my first opportunity to stir up some controversy and make my Top 10 lists for active players at each position. Well, some might not be so controversial, but everyone has their own opinions. These lists are based on the players as of right now, at this point in their career. Feel free to share your own opinions and agree or disagree with the lists, varied opinions are welcome! Today we start with my list of top Power Forwards, with the other positions coming later in the week.

10. Josh Smith - Maybe the dark horse of the list, but I consider Josh Smith one of the more underrated big men in the league. He's on a team full of talent, so his numbers aren't as gaudy as they could be if he was the main guy somewhere. He can score from pretty much anywhere on the court, and he has a much better outside touch than people think. His wingspan is ridiculously long, which makes him a tough player to score on and also means he is able to guard players that are bigger than he is, making him very versatile.

9. David West - It's hard to tell if West is really good, or if Chris Paul just makes him look like an all-star. It's probably a little bit of both, but either way he can score the rock. He's got a solid post game to compliment his deadly 15-footer. He's not much of a defender, but he's a capable rebounder and he gives Chris Paul and the Hornets a nice post presence.

8. Carlos Boozer - If this list were based on sheer production, Boozer would be higher on the list. He's one of those 20 and 10 guys that is coveted around the league, but...coincidentally (actually it's no coincidence) there seems to be drama where ever Boozer goes. He's becoming one of those players that comes with baggage, kind of like Allen Iverson or Zach Randolph. Boozer has a reputation as someone who has no loyalty to his team, which doesn't bode well for chemistry and makes it hard to win. Also, as I'm sure the folks in Utah will tell you, he doesn't care too much about contributing on the defensive end of the floor. All that said, he is still a hell of a player that can get the job done.

7. LaMarcus Aldridge - Aldridge is a budding star in the league, and he has some God-given abilities that nobody else in the league does. The ultra-high release on his shot makes him difficult to defend in the post, and not many big men in the league are as good with the mid-range jumper. The criticism of Aldridge thus far has been that he is soft. It may be true to an extent, but I don't think he is any more "soft" than other finesse players in the league. He just plays a finesse game, not a power game. He could stand to improve as a rebounder, and let's all hope he doesn't keep drifting more and more to the outside, like Rasheed Wallace started doing throughout his career.

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