What do forwards do in basketball?

Answer

Small forward

The small forward, or, colloquially, "the three", is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically somewhat shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers, but on occasion are just as tall. Perhaps "small" forward is a misnomer, then, as some of the top players at the position in today's NBA are anything but "small": for example, Rashard Lewis of the Seattle SuperSonics, Tim Thomas of the Chicago Bulls, and Hedo Turkoglu of the Orlando Magic all stand 6'10". Those players are usually exceptions, though, as most small forwards usually range between 6'5" and 6'11" (1.96–2.13 m) in height.

Small forwards are primarily responsible for scoring points, although a few play as point forwards and have considerable passing responsibilities. Most small forwards in professional basketball however are prolific scorers. The styles with which small forwards amass their points vary widely, as some players at the position (like Indiana's Peja Stojakovic) are very accurate shooters, while others (like former stars Larry Johnson and Anthony Mason) prefer to "bang inside", initiate and/or not shy for away from physical contact with opposing players, to get their points. One common thread between both kinds of small forwards is an ability to "get to the line", that is have opposing players called for committing shooting fouls against them, as fouls are frequently called on the defense when offensive players "take the ball hard" to the basket, that is, aggressively attempt post-up plays, lay-ups, or slam dunks. Therefore, accurate foul shooting is an imperative skill for small forwards, many of whom record a large portion of their points from the foul line.

Defense is not always a major concern for small forwards, whose obligations at that end of the court may be limited to seeking steals and rebounds. Yet some small forwards happen to be excellent defensive players - Ron Artest is generally regarded as one of the best defensive players in the NBA today; Larry Bird was an extremely smart defender, despite a lack of speed; Scottie Pippen was one of the best one-on-one defenders in the NBA for most of his career, and Bruce Bowen of the San Antonio Spurs who, unlike Artest, Bird, and Pippen, is not a star offensive player at the NBA level by any means but a masterful, tenacious defender, both on the perimeter and closer to the hoop. Few consider he would be an NBA player, who has also been instrumental in his teams championship success, without his defensive skill and better than average three point shooting ability. Generally speaking however, the energy being so active on the offensive end small forwards consume, as well as their sheer value to their team as scorers, sees many small forwards less active as defenders both to conserve energy and not be called for fouls and ultimate dismissal from games.

Many small forwards can also play shooting guard; those who switch between the two positions are called "swingmen" or "wings". Among the most dominant small forwards of the past were Scottie Pippen, Larry Bird, Dominique Wilkins, Julius Erving, and James Worthy. Notable NBA small forwards who are currently playing include Artest, Lewis, Anthony, Grant Hill, Lamar Odom, Peja Stojakovic, Tayshaun Prince, Shawn Marion, Andrei Kirilenko and LeBron James. Dirk Nowitzki is another notable player with excellent small forward skills; however, because he is 7 feet tall, he has spent most of his time at power forward over the course of his NBA career.

Power forward

Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as "the four" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low blocks". They play offensively with their back to the basket on offense and position themselves defensively under the basket in a zone defense or against the opposing power forward on defense in man-to-man defense. In the past, power forwards were expected to have more of an impact on defense and rebounding than the center, leaving scoring to other players; however, today, with the emergence of skilled power forwards like Chris Webber, Dirk Nowitzki, and Kevin Garnett, the power forward is asked to shoulder more of a scoring role and somewhat less of a defensive role than the center.

Typically, a power forward is one of the larger players on the court, not as tall as the center but more muscular. They are usually expected to be aggressive when pursuing rebounds and score most of their points on the low post (no more than six feet (2 m) from the basket), as opposed to taking jump shots from farther away. Power forwards can be imposing presences on defense, but they usually defer to the center in terms of blocking shots and general intimidation. In the NBA, a typical power forward is between 6'8" and 7'0" (2.03 to 2.14 m) in height and 230 to 260 pounds (105 to 120 kg) in weight, and is often asked to play center in specific game situations or when a particular team lacks a taller player.

Famous power forwards include Bob Pettit, Elgin Baylor, Jerry Lucas, Elvin Hayes, Kevin McHale, Charles Barkley, Rasheed Wallace, Karl Malone, Dennis Rodman, Lauren Jackson, Kevin Garnett, and Tim Duncan. Another notable power forward is Dirk Nowitzki, but while he is noted for his strong inside game (he is consistently among the NBA leaders in rebounds), many of his skills, particularly his strong reliance on the jump shot, are much closer to those of a typical small forward. Also, many argue that Ben Wallace, though listed as a center by the Pistons, is actually a natural power forward (this goes back to his days as PF for the Washington Wizards). Nevertheless, he is still considered one of the best centers in the league. One example of an effective power forward who did not fit the standard physical description for that position was Dennis Rodman, who was able to outrebound and defensively shut down rival power forwards despite being only 6 ft 6 in, 210 lb (1.98 m, 95 kg) He even defended players as big as Shaquille O'Neal. Likewise, Charles Barkley was widely considered as one of the most dominating power forwards of his time, despite being listed as 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m), and standing probably closer to 6 ft 5 in or even 6 ft 4 in (respectively 1.95 m and 1.93 m); however, his playing weight of roughly 255 lb (116 kg) was typical for the position.

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