Love, Howard, or Griffin?

[mqtcelticsfan]

I guess a follow up question would be, are Howard's defensive abilities so far and away untouchable that, 10 times out of 10, you take whatever he gives you offensively as long as he provides his defense?

Yes. 10 times out of 10, yes. Especially when you factor in that Dwight is going to give you 20 a night.

If Love was to develope the defensive abilities of, say, a nick collison, is that enough to make it a tougher call, or would he have to reach the levels of a bogut/noah? the latter two of whom i'm not sure he has the size to be.

The problem is that Love is not even remotely close to the level of a Nick Collison, who is better than Noah, for the record. If Love could turn into an elite defensive player in the low post, it'd change everything. But if Love could turn into a star defensively, who is to say Dwight doesn't turn into Shaq?

As it is, Dwight already gives you the same numbers that Love does offensively and better numbers than Griffin. Add in his transcendent defense, and there's simply no argument.