LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony: Top Five Small Forwards in NBA
Andre Iguodala:
Being arguably the best perimeter defender and having the ability to anticipate intercept penetration after penetration makes Andre Iguodala one of the best small forwards in the game today.
Denver Nuggets should consider themselves very lucky to have the services of this 6ft 6 in marvel in their ranks. It is not just his playing ability which makes him such an asset but his willingness to put in his 100 percent day in and day out that puts the winger in every coach’s dream.
Iguodala is not only a good defender, but also a brilliant three point shooter, not to mention his ability to penetrate inside the lane when offered some space. The player had long been a part of the defensive minded Philadelphia 76ers, and this is probably one of the reasons that his scoring numbers do not completely reflect his talent.
Now however, he will play under George Karl at Denver, and it may well be the start of something spectacular both for Iggi and the Nuggs.
Paul Pierce:
To lead a team, on court and off it, is what Paul Pierce has been doing for the Boston Celtics for more than a decade. While he is often under-appreciated for his efforts, given that he has had Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo as team mates, there is no denying the fact that Pierce still is the best closer present in the lineup.
His numbers fell somewhat last season and Rondo and Garnett hogged all the limelight; however Paul, even at 34, is one of the best small forward in the league and can make into the starting lineups of many teams.
Carmelo Anthony:
While others of his class have had much success than him, there is no denying the fact that Carmelo Anthony is one of the best, when it comes to scoring. The New York Knicks star showed a shade of his brilliance during the recently concluded London Olympics and when on song, he is almost impossible to stop.
Having said that, there are some major weaknesses Anthony has to overcome if he is to be rated infront of Kevin Durant and LeBron James. Carmelo is a ball stopper, first of all. He is as selfish a forward as they get in NBA, and does not know the art of carrying his team along.
Secondly, he is a poor defender and most of it has to do with his attitude. If the Knicks ace wants to win a championship any time soon, he will have to overcome his weaknesses.
Kevin Durant:
If it was not for LeBron James, Kevin Durant would have been the automatic choice for the number one spot.
At a young age of 23, the 6 ft 9 in Oklahoma City Thunder star is the best scorer in the league, he has been for the last three years running.
Durant’s rise to stardom has been the reason behind Thunder’s resurgence in the last few years.
OKC have been the side to watch out for in the last couple of season and that has mainly been due to Durant. Â After leading his side to the Conference Finals in the 2010-11 season, KD went a step further this time around and made it to the NBA Finals.
Although he could not cross the final hurdle, but in a landmark season, Durant proved that he is ready to take over the league. While an MVP is definitely up for grabs this year, an NBA title may also become a reality if he keeps on inspiring the OKC with the kind of performances he produced last year.
LeBron James:
NBA great Charles Barkley was once asked about the way Durant can become the best player in the league.
The response was swift â€" Durant would have to kill LeBron James â€" and that pretty much sums the phenom that is James.
It would be a crime to put LeBron’s name anywhere else but at number one. He is the best all-round player of the present era â€" perhaps of all times - and as a scorer, LeBron is unrivalled.
The ‘Chosen One’ finally adorned the last jewel in his crown last season after winning an NBA Championship, and the regular season and finals MVP then guided Team USA to yet another Olympic Gold.
Considering his performances, one starts to wonder where the end lies for this basketball great.
Miami Heat would set its their eyes on their most prized possession again this season to bring back another title and LeBron continues to play the way he has been there will be no stopping the Heat.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article do not represent Bettor.com’s editorial policy.
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