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Basketball teams have five players on the court at any given time, and each of those players has a specific role to fill. Guards stay outside on the three line where they shoot and set up plays, while big men go down low to defend, post up, or rebound.
There are two types of big men in the NBA: centers and power forwards (PF). Forwards have roles similar to centers, but they tend to be smaller, stouter, and a bit more agile than their taller counterparts. They are often better shooters too.
In that way, they need to be strong scorers and good defenders. Both of those attributes make them useful on both sides of the ball, and gives them extra versatility many other positions lack.
Power forward is an interesting position because it’s more of a hybrid spot than anything else. The big men need to be able to score inside, especially when backing down defenders in the post, but they also need a good midrange shot and the ability to handle the ball.
They need to be stout defenders as well. While in the past they would stay down on the block, modern forwards need to be able to pick up quicker players out on the perimeter too. That means they need the size to get big, but the speed to switch when needed.
One other big role that forwards fill is the ability to set screens. As they move so well, most strong offenses utilize them to go out and block defenders as a way to open up shots or run plays. They are critical for pick-and-roll or pick-and-pop situations too.
When looking at what’s a PF in basketball, the answer is versatility. Power forwards need to wear several hats depending on their play style and scheme. Almost all of them are tall (ranging from 6’8 to 6’11) and strong but what they do with that power differs.
They need their muscle to back people down, hold their position, and set screens. It also helps when they need to get in against much bigger centers.
All forwards need to focus on hustle, strength, and effort. It’s certainly not the most glamorous position, and there may be large stretches where they don’t touch the ball, but getting up and down the court to make the right play is critical for what they do.
As with most positions, power forwards have gone through many changes over the last few decades. While in the past traditional bigs were known as bruisers for their ability to bang down low, the modern stretch four is a bit different.
Now, power forwards are used to space the floor. They can still muscle up near the rim or protect the rim, but more often than not they are expected to run around the perimeter, switch to smaller guards on defense, and even pop out for threes.
Modern power forwards are expected to be dangerous shooters, where in the past their only job was to stay near the rim, they now need to be able to run the floor and keep up with the faster paced game. They’re still strong and tall, but much leaner and more mobile than they used to be.
The PF position has never been particularly flashy, but that doesn’t mean there haven’t been stars. Some of the biggest players to ever step on an NBA court were power forwards, including Tim Duncan, Karl Malone, and Dirk Nowitzki.
Malone completely redefined the position by showing that forwards could score in different ways, while Duncan completely dominated the game from the four position. He brought five rings to the Spurs without ever being flashy or learning how to shoot outside.
Nowitzki also put forwards on the map, and he did so as a foreign player. He was one of the first non-American superstars who brought international prestige to the game and expanded its global reach.
Such legacies are now being carried on today by players like Draymond Green and Kristaps Porzingis. While they are still big and strong, they also have the ability to shoot outside. That’s necessary in today’s NBA.
The power forward is not a glamorous position, but it’s one of the most important in the NBA. Every team needs big men who will play tough defense, muscle for rebounds, and find ways to get the ball in the basket. That’s even more true in today’s league.
Once a strictly on-the-block position, power forwards now need to have a wide-reaching offensive game. More big men can shoot than ever before, and that trend shows no signs of slowing down. They are only going to get faster, leaner, and quicker with time.
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