Merged: Annual GM Survey Released

[DaRizzle]

Here you go:

This time, the Lakers will defeat the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.

At least, that's what NBA general managers would envision based on an annual NBA.com survey to be released today.

Almost half the general managers -- 46% -- predicted the Lakers would win the championship, while 19% picked the Celtics and 12% picked New Orleans. San Antonio received 8% of the vote and was not the preseason favorite for the first time in five years.

The survey was not without its surprises.

If the general managers are correct, Cleveland forward LeBron James will dethrone Bryant as the league MVP. James received 56% of the vote, Bryant received 37%, and New Orleans guard Chris Paul was a distant third with 7%.

Bryant, however, received 89% of the vote when general managers were asked which player they would want taking a shot with the game on the line. It was the seventh consecutive season in which Bryant received the most votes in the category.

Big things were also predicted for Bynum, who received the highest percentage of votes (19%) for the player most likely to have a breakout season.

Source: LA Times

 

[BenDavis503x]

Annual GM Survey Released

http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/55012/20081022/annual_gm_survey_released/

Pretty interesting. We got mentioned a few times.

... GM vote to win the 2008-09 NBA Rookie of the Year Award. 2007 top overall draft pick Greg Oden of the Portland Trail Blazers, who sat out the 2007-08 season with an injury, received 30 percent

Portland Trail Blazers and Miami Heat – most improved team (each 26 percent)

Blazers’ Rudy Fernandez – which international rookie is most ready to contribute this season (52 percent)

w00t

 

[DaRizzle]

Re: Annual GM Survey Released

you didnt mention who would be breakout player of the year...

 

[roydezlaw]

Re: You guys always told me to ask GM's on their opinion of Bynum

That's just a safe preseason prediction. They don't want to go on record and look foolish with what they really think. After all the Blazers are too young for them to look sane if they predicted Red and Black.

 

[THE HCP]

Cool stuff!

 

[LittleAlex]

How can Bynum have a "break out" season when he was playing well last year until his unfortunate injury? Near as I could tell, he pretty much broke out during that stretch of good play. At the very least, he had a ton of people hailing him as the next great Laker big man. I would think that a player who breaks out would have to come out of nowhere.

 

[SodaPopinski]

Blazers voted second most fun team to watch, slightly behind New Orleans and well ahead of Golden State and the Lakers (who are tied for third).

-Pop

 

[DaRizzle]

How can Bynum have a "break out" season when he was playing well last year until his unfortunate injury? Near as I could tell, he pretty much broke out during that stretch of good play. At the very least, he had a ton of people hailing him as the next great Laker big man. I would think that a player who breaks out would have to come out of nowhere.

I agree with this. I guess since it was a short period of great play AND had the injury killing all his momentum justifies him being in that category...at least to them it does

 

[bluefrog]

GM Survey on NBA.com

http://www.nba.com/2008/tipoff/10/21/gmsurvey.rookies/index.html

Oden voted rookie to be the best player in five years and 2nd for ROY

Rudy voted rookie most ready to contribute this season and international player most likely to have a breakout season in 2008-09

There are some other Blazers ranked in other categories too

 

[Nate4Prez]

Re: GM Survey on NBA.com

Which team will be most improved in 2008-09?
1. Miami -- 25.9%
Portland -- 25.9%
3. Milwaukee -- 14.8%
Philadelphia -- 14.8%
5. Oklahoma City -- 11.1%
Others receiving votes: Charlotte, Houston

Which player is most likely to have a breakout season in 2008-09?
1. Andrew Bynum -- 18.5%
2. Kevin Durant -- 11.1%
Others receiving votes: Elton Brand, Rudy Fernandez, T.J. Ford, Randy Foye, Danny Granger, Jeff Green, Andre Iguodala, Greg Oden, Brandon Roy, Louis Williams, Yao Ming

Who is the best head coach in the NBA?
1. Gregg Popovich -- 53.8%
2. Phil Jackson -- 23.1%
3. Jerry Sloan -- 7.7%
Others receiving votes: Rick Adelman, Rick Carlisle, Nate McMillan, Stan Van Gundy

Which head coach is the best manager/motivator of people?
1. Phil Jackson -- 44.0%
2. Gregg Popovich -- 28.0%
3. Doc Rivers -- 12.0%
4. Nate McMillan -- 8.0%
Others receiving votes: Rick Adelman, Jerry Sloan

Which team has the best home-court advantage?
1. Utah -- 44.4%
2. Boston -- 25.9%
3. L.A. Lakers -- 7.4%
Others receiving votes: Dallas, Detroit, Golden State, Miami, Portland, San Antonio

Which team will win the Northwest Division?
1. Utah -- 92.6%
2. Portland -- 7.4%