While Dwight Howard, and Serbe Ibaka are both tremendous help defenders, they've both become painfully overrated for their ability to put up monster block numbers and then these guys end up being consideration the top defensive centers in the league. Marc Gasol plays man defense, plays help defense, blocks/alters shots, doesnt miss assignments, and is the catalyst of a very good defensive team (while playing beside a very inefficient defender in Z-Bo). Im not even necessarily saying hes a better than Dwight (altho he clearly has been during Dwight's baby garbage), its just that hes so far superior in other facets of the game. Offensively its not close, Gasol is a great passer, Gasol shoots FTs like a guard (a MASSIVE advantage over Howard, a star you cant even have in the game late because he cant hit a FT), and the difference in defense if you do consider Howard superior is no where near enough to elevate him above Marc.
Howard continues to be painfully overrated, I get that the dunks and big blocks are cool, and being able to grab 15 rebounds a game is fun, but this guy has progressed so little offensive over the years its sad. Hes so awkwardly bad offensively, has made a career of offensive rebounds and dunks, and still cannot hit a FT for his life. Wheres the progression? Dude has been severely overrated since his first dunk contest.