There's no doubt that the top prospect in the 2009 draft is power forward Blake Griffin. He is a can't miss, sure fire future All Star. A soon to be household name, league icon and nightly highlight machine, he has a chance to lift the woebegone Clippers into the leagues elite. He has a chance to make the other L.A. team relevant (again?).
But don't look for Blake Griffin or the Clippers to be hanging any Championship banners in the near future. The hard truth is Power Forwards don't lead their teams to Championships. Yes, last year Kevin Garnett won with Boston and even though Paul Pierce won the MVP it was Garnetts intensity that carried Boston. And many other power forwards have played (obviously) meaningful roles on their teams.
But looking beyond last year we see a trend. The Spurs won four Championships without a power forward to speak of. Miami won with Shaq and Wade. Detroit Had the Wallaces manning the post but that was Chauncey Billups team. The Lakers with Shaq and Kobe, the Bulls with Michael, the Rockets with Hakeem all won without a power forward to speak of.
In the 80's the Pistons were led by number 11 and the Lakers were led by Magic and K.A.J. The Celtics had McHale but it was Larry Legend who led them to glory. In 83 the 76ers won with Dr. J leading the way.
I can hardly imagine a scenario where Blake Griffin is not an All Star for the next decade.
Don't believe me? Go ask Karl Malone....
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