Pau Gasol: Is Lakers All-Star Quietly Still the NBA's Top Power Forward?

The NBA's group of elite power forwards may not be as deep as the league's elite point guards, but during the 2010-11 season they may have proved they are just as strong at the top.

Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Kevin Love became the first player since Moses Malone to record 30 points and 30 rebounds in a single game, and he went on to lead the NBA in rebounding at an impressive 15.2 per game.

Blake Griffin proved to be as good as advertised after he arrived in Los Angeles, as the Clippers rookie displayed the type of strength, athleticism and highlight-reel-worthy dunks that suggests he will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.

While Love and Griffin's performances helped thrust them into the league's upper echelon of power forwards, there were also a couple of seasoned veterans who further illustrated why they are already considered elite.

Amar'e Stoudemire escaped the shadow of Steve Nash in Phoenix and in the process helped make basketball relevant in the Big Apple again by leading the usually anemic New York Knicks back to the postseason.

Chris Bosh also made news by taking his talents to South Beach to join LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, a marriage that resulted in the Miami Heat's first trip to the NBA Finals since 2006.

In Portland, LaMarcus Aldridge was forced to assume the mantle of leadership due to injuries suffered by Brandon Roy and Greg Oden, and Aldridge responded with a career-best regular season performance, averaging 21.8 points per game along with 8.8 rebounds.

Dallas Mavericks power forward Dirk Nowitzki may have bested them all by leading his underdog Mavericks to the 2011 NBA championship and earning his first Finals MVP in the process.

With those types of developments, it's easy to overlook the fact that Los Angeles Lakers power forward Pau Gasol had a season that may be just as impressive as all the forwards listed above.

Gasol's season averages of 18.8 points, 10.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game and 53 percent shooting from the field may not turn many heads when compared to the numbers of Love or Griffin, but Gasol was able to consistently impact the game in a variety of ways.

Gasol was the league's only power forward to rank in the top five in blocks, field-goal percentage, assists, double-doubles and minutes played.

Gasol also ranked eighth in scoring among power forwards, fourth in efficiency and sixth in rebounding among all forwards, according to NBA.com.

When all those numbers are put together, they paint a picture of what is arguably the league's most versatile, if not most dominant, power forward. However, there are several reasons that Gasol doesn't garner that type of respect.

Griffin and Love were the best players for their respective teams, and while Stoudemire did eventually have to share the spotlight with Carmelo Anthony, he was still the team's first offensive option.

In Los Angeles, Gasol clearly played second fiddle to star guard Kobe Bryant, not to mention he had to share the paint with Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum, who averaged a combined 25.7 points and 18.1 rebounds per game and connected on 55 percent of their shots from the field.

On a team filled with stars, Gasol still managed to stand out, and while Love, Griffin, Stoudemire and Aldridge may have been better in certain aspects of the game, Gasol's numbers suggest he was a more complete player.

Another reason Gasol seems to have lost ground among the league's elite power forwards is his performance in the 2011 NBA Playoffs, which is admittedly difficult to explain.

Following the 2009 and 2010 seasons, Gasol staked his claim as the league's top power forward with dominant postseason performances that helped lead the Lakers to consecutive NBA championships.

However, Gasol's 13-point average in the 2011 playoffs was the worst of his career, and he spent the Lakers' brief time in the postseason looking nothing like one of the league's most dominant players at his position.

I'm not sure why Gasol reverted to his casual, sometimes indifferent, style of play during the playoffs, but his poor performance should give him motivation for next season if this NBA lockout is ever lifted.

There's been a precedent ever since Gasol suffered endless criticism following the 2008 NBA Finals, when he was physically manhandled by the eventual NBA champion Boston Celtics.

Just as in 2008, Gasol was challenged by Bryant to come back focused and motivated, and he should factor in even more prominently in new coach Mike Brown's offensive scheme, which emphasizes securing easy-scoring opportunities at the rim.

It may not be a bad thing that Gasol will enter the 2011-12 season with a potential chip on his shoulder, because he has already proven what type of player he is without any sense of urgency.

Just imagine how good Gasol could potentially be with the benefit of a little focus and motivation.