Comparing NBA All-Star Power Forwards Blake Griffin and Kevin Love

With many of the all-time great power forwards heading toward retirement, the NBA is seeing a huge uprising of young talent who will eventually take the league by storm.

Names like Kevin Love and Blake Griffin have already made a huge impact while players like Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan begin to give way to a new class of stars at the position.

This article will take an in-depth look and compare two of the most impressive players currently in the NBA.

As to who is better, I'll let you decide that at the end.

Inside Game

Blake Griffin: No doubt about it, Griffin is one of the most talented finishers in the NBA today. He continues this year to put up highlight dunks, but is also showing improvement on his post game.

Along with that, Griffin needs to expand his go-to moves while posted-up. Defenders will become accustomed to the typical spin move and likely adjust in the process.

Kevin Love: He is one of the most talented bigs in game from mid-range, but he also impresses with his presence on the block. Love relies on fundamentals to score inside, however, this is a guy who 4.5 offensive rebounds last season.

Being somewhat of a garbage man inside, Love creates second chance opportunities for both himself and team. However, he isn't the most physical player in the NBA and can be pushed around by stronger defenders.

Edge: Griffin

Outside Game

Blake Griffin: For a big man, Griffin possesses some ball-handling ability that not many his size are blessed with. With that skill, he can use his speed and power to work his way inside for a monster finish.

Griffin is getting better with his mid-range jumper by using the glass to his advantage, but he is much better suited inside.

Kevin Love: This is where Love is at his best. He is a confident shooter who can really expand a defense with his endless range. Love hits 49 percent of his attempts, which is highly impressive considering his shot selection.

Love doesn't have the ability to work his way inside like Griffin, but he is a knockdown shooter who cannot be overlooked as one of the game's best.

Edge: Love

Defense

Blake Griffin: As athletic and strong as Griffin is, he has a pretty sub-par sampling of just how good he can be. He is a powerful rebounder, but has yet to show the skill to be a lockdown defender in the post.

Griffin has crazy leaping ability, yet he only managed to block 45 shots for the whole 2010-11 season. Maybe it is a lack of effort defensively for Griffin, but he hasn't been a solid help defender or done much to stand out on the other end of the ball.

Kevin Love: As critical as I was on Griffin's defense, it doesn't get much better for Love.

At 6'10" and weighing in at 260 pounds, Love doesn't show the strength to be a great post defender. He cannot challenge or alter shots which hinders his ability to guard some of the NBA's elite forwards, but would benefit from putting on some more muscle.

Edge: Griffin

Rebounding

Blake Griffin: Strength and power makes Griffin a dangerous man on the boards. If he grabs an offensive rebound, he instantly becomes one of the scariest men in the NBA. He can use his bulky body to finish inside or draw a foul.

Griffin is the better physical rebounder of the two, but there isn't much argument in his case for being the better option.

Kevin Love: To put it simply: Love is a phenomenal rebounder. He lead the league with 15 boards a game and it wouldn't be surprising to see him increase that in the future.

Love has a knack for being in the right place at the right time, but he is also a rather fundamental rebounder. Using basic box-outs, Love dominates on each end of the floor which draws him plenty of deserved attention.

Edge: Love

Athleticism

Blake Griffin: Well, the picture pretty much sums this one up in Griffin's favor. He had an injury that caused him to miss his initial rookie season, but came back looking in top form.

No big man in the NBA has the mix of speed, power and leaping ability that Griffin brings. He has the ability to show it on one play with by driving his way through defenders and powerfully dunking on a defender.

This right here is my final point. Poor Mozgov.

Kevin Love: Not much going on in this department for Love. However, he hasn't let that stop him from being one of the best players in the league.

I've mentioned he could be a better defender by putting on some more muscle, but whether that will happen has yet to be seen.

Edge: Griffin

Basketball IQ

Blake Griffin: Neither player has the experience needed to be head-and-shoulders above the other, but Griffin is still raw in this area. He is learning how to work out of double teams as well as play an overall team game, but the addition of Chris Paul will only develop that further.

Kevin Love: He's not overly-athletic, so something has to make Kevin Love so great. This would be his basketball smarts.

He is a intelligent defender who doesn't always succeed at shutting down his opponent, but he is swift to position himself for a defensive rebound. Love also has a great shot selection and can use that to his advantage to be one of the NBA's top scorers.

Along with that, Love is a better team player than Griffin. He moves the ball well and is a better helper on the defensive end.

Edge: Love

Potential

Blake Griffin: He has the tools and ability to improve in so many different areas. Griffin is a monster athletically and already has the confidence to succeed at anything he does.

If he improves defensively and learns to use his strength and size to become a stopper, there is no doubt that he will be one of the most complete players in the NBA.

He's got the flash and team around him to be great, but should also open up his offensive arsenal to mix things up. Keeping defenders guessing will allow him to further use his powerful stature as well as show his finesse skills.

Kevin Love: Is there much else Love can improve on? He's a statistical anomaly who will put up huge numbers every night.

Love has the talent to be considered among the NBA's elite right now, but doesn't have many areas that he must vastly improve. However, his athleticism only allows him to do so much in that aspect.

Continuing on his post game on both ends of the floor would help him and his team greatly.

Edge: Griffin

Who Is the Better Player?

Both players are going to be fixtures in the NBA and are currently coming off All-Star seasons. The fact is they are both extremely young and still getting their feet wet in the league.

While they are different breeds of players, both excel greatly at just what they can do. They bring nothing but potential and skill to the table and will be exciting to watch for years to come.

With all of that said, the question still remains: Who is better?

You decide...