"Forguards": The next generation of Basketball

Until recently, it was clear that the most crucial three positions in a basketball team are 1,3 and 5. If you were a GM and budget restrictions got you under pressure you have to compromise, mostly on SG or PF positions. However, the game has changed as well as the concept of rather making a sacrifice on the SG and PF positions. Since, especially the PF position is experiencing a revival.

Power Forwards have a lot of advantages and many things to be grateful for: There are almost no tall, massive centers to find anywhere. As a result, many PFs were shifted to the newly invented 4.5 position. There, they can compete with centers who are not much bigger than them. Moreover, the game is becoming faster. Not only Steve Kerr but a lot of other coaches, too, prefer speed over size, more posessions per minute over traditionally slow anchor-based game plays in the paint. So, great news for you big guys out there! If you can run from one side of the court to the other in less than 6 seconds, you got a deal.

And if you got a great 3pt shot as a PF you'll perfectly fit the “Stretch Four” position. Almost any Euroleague team nowadays has at least one PF who's able to make it rain from the 3pt line. And, man, the advantages are more than obvious: You've got a shooter nobody can block, you've got more 3 pointers in a game and you force the opposing team to open up their defence (since one of their big men has to leave the paint and defend on the perimeter). And, last but not least, you're able to punish any team that's playing zone defence against you. However, there's a downside to this kind of game play: When your PF is far from the boards, he can't grab any rebounds.

Since last year the Euroleague's got a new thing. PFs like Miller, Randolph, Saric or Bender run the court in a different manner. They are an ultra-modern version of a Power Forward – neither stretch four nor PF in the traditional sense. They got handles, they're athletic, they're fast, they can pass the ball to their teammates and they're taking it to the hoop. And, for sure, they shoot from outside. Personally, I like to call them “Forguards” - an upgraded lean mean Power Forward machine with the assets of a Shooting Guard. Next season these kind of PFs could bring the Euroleague to a whole different level. And since distinct player positions become even more blurry thoughout the years, who knows what's gonna be the next best thing. Maybe a 2.11 Foward with playmaker qualities. Maybe his name is Giannis Antetokounmpo.