I’ve been on the money with my NBA 2K16 player rating predictions. I got Chris Paul being second best for point guards, and J.J. Redick and Paul Pierce being just outside the top-10 for their respective positions. Now, Blake Griffin, who 2K sports reveals to be the second best power forward in 2K16 with an 88 rating, behind top PF Anthony Davis.
The top 10 power forward ratings in #NBA2K16. We'll be posting up new top 10's everyday at 10AM PST! RT! pic.twitter.com/q6LsRtYKR7
— NBA 2K (@NBA2K) September 20, 2015
Blue Man Hoop
As I’ve said before, I get what 2K Sports is attempting to do with their ratings, but Griffin being below 90 isn’t quite off, especially considering the forward just finished the 2015 postseason with averages of 25.5 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 6.1 assists, a statistical output in the playoffs we’ve only seen before from Hall of Fame guard Oscar Robertson — to put it simply, Griffin broke through and thrusted himself into conversations for top-10 or 12 players in the NBA.
In regards to the rest of the ratings, the folks over at 2K did what I’d label a bad job at ranking it’s power forwards. The top, Davis, Griffin, is fine, but after that, questions arise. The biggest? Zach Randolph and Pau Gasol being named the fifth and sixth power forwards in the game. Even basing things off last years play, the two don’t belong there, and if they are in the top-10, should be directly at the bottom. I’d place Atlanta’s Paul Millsap over a declining Dirk Nowitzki, and then give both Kevin Love and Chris Bosh more love, putting them in the same tier as San Antonio forward LaMarcus Aldridge.
The real surprise is the absences of Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, Defensive Player of the Year runner-up and NBA champion in 2015, and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka, one of the best role players in the NBA. If it was my decision, both would be rated above Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol, and Zach Randolph, who are all fine players but don’t impact the game as Green and Ibaka do in 2015; it’s no surprise 2K has the other three forwards rated higher due to their ability score, which is commonly accepted as better than being an elite defender.
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Next up, centers, and in an attempt to continue my streak with NBA prediction, I believe DeAndre Jordan will be the fifth or sixth best rated center in NBA 2K16.
Next: Los Angeles Clippers: Top 5 Power Forwards of All Time