There is hardly any debate on who is the best player in the NBA (and the world). The rest of the league will have to be content in determining the best at each position. For power forward, it is now Kevin Love of the Minnesota Timberwolves vs. LaMarcus Aldridge of the Portland Trailblazers.

Lebron James is a hard lock on best player in the league. It is not even about his 4 MVP awards (in the span of 5 years). The other contenders, Kevin Durant and Paul George, share the same position (small forward) thus, the other superstars of the league can battle for the other four spots.

The power forward position flourished after the Michael Jordan era (the best player of all time transcends any position debate) and in the early 2000s, became the most important position when Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan were the top players of the league and contending for MVP awards almost every year.

When making a list of the greatest players, Tim Duncan would undoubtedly be in a better place than KG. Duncan had 2 MVP awards and four championships while KG had only one. Duncan is a model citizen of the NBA, while Garnett's intensity has bordered on being a head case. Is the gap really that wide, or was Timmy lucky to enter a solid organization with an established franchise player?

It is quite a coincidence that this year's power forward debate involves a similar situation, and that Minnesota is involved again. Or that their power forwards are both named "Kevin." Kevin Love has already claimed this title a few seasons ago, but his absence in the post season has led observers to question that.

His numbers don't lie. From nba.com:  "Love can score (25 points per game), rebound (13.6 rebounds per game), pass (4.0 assists per game, career-high and third among power forwards). Love is also hitting 2.5 3-pointers per game, 10th in the league and second among power forwards.

LaMarcus Aldridge was in a similar place last season. His team's mediocrity and utter lack of bench strength has led people to question his franchise player (or even all-star) tag. He almost gave up when he requested a trade last summer to become the second/third man for a contender. Fortunately, the Blazers refused, and executive of the year candidate Neil Olshey solved all of those dilemmas in a series of under the radar moves last summer, and the Blazers are at the top of the NBA, beating fellow contenders OKC Thunder and the Indiana Pacers.

His stat line of 23 points, 11 rebounds and 3 assists are not as impressive as Love's but the argument is that he doesn't have to pile that stat sheet. They have a rising star in Damian Lillard, and talented wingmen in Nic Batum and Wesley Matthews. The team is winning, and no one argues with success.

In their first meeting, Love was in "beast mode." Probably fueled by the matchup, he compiled 29 points, 15 rebounds, and 9 assists. Aldridge looked tired, as they had tough matchups the past week. He had 15 points and 14  rebounds.

Round 1 goes to Love, and they have two more regular season meetings. Now, Love has to prove himself better and drag his team to the playoffs.