1. The eye for talent on blogs isn't very high. And sometimes personal preference trumps being correct. That was evident when anyone thought Powe was better.. They aren't very close and never were.
This statement is so condescending... I'll just keep my mouth shut before I get myself in trouble.
Is Big Game Davis a better player, overall, than Powe? Sure, today.
How much of a difference, though, Big Game Davis versus pre-injury Powe?
Powe was a *much* better rebounder. Davis, he gets some offensive boards but overall isn't a great rebounder. Powe grabbed a lot of offensive boards in his time, too.
Powe was a *much* better finisher inside. Davis' struggles getting his shot blocked at *not*, in fact, myth. Davis has a much better outside jumper, although it's not necessarily a strength of his game.
Powe gets to the free throw line a *lot*, his first couple seasons in the league and he's drawing fouls like he's Paul Pierce.
Powe's a very mature guy. Davis... a bit less so.
Powe's a HORRIBLE defensive player, even before he got hurt. Davis is a pretty good defensive player, although he'll never be great just due to his lack of size (were he 6'10", he's be one of the better defensive players at the 5, but that's neither here nor there, he ain't getting any taller).
Both guys have stepped up their games when the lights shone the brightest. For all of Davis' accolades in the playoffs, let's not forget how Powe helped us win in '08.
So, is Davis the better player? Today, yes. Before Powe's last injury? Maybe. Different players, different skillsets, I'm not convinced that you can clearly say one is head and shoulders better than the other.
You want a guy to rebound? Pick Powe.
You want a guy to play D? Pick Davis.
You want a guy to finish inside and get the other team in foul trouble? Pick Powe.
You want a guy to hit an elbow jumper? Pick Davis.
With the injury, you'd clearly take Davis. To me, that's really the only thing that skews it towards Davis, otherwise it looks more-or-less like a wash to me.