Just five more days until the NBA season’s tip off with three games – the Hawks versus the Pistons, the Cavs versus Chicago, and the Warriors hosting the Pelicans, where the Warriors receive their “Rings.” However, before the season starts, let’s look at the predictions and rankings from the NBA’s 30 General Managers in the annual NBA.com General Manager’s survey.
The NBA GMs responded to 49 different questions (including a few new ones) about the best teams, players, coaches, fans, and offseason moves. General Managers were not permitted to vote for their own team or personnel. Percentages are based on the pool of respondents to that particular question, rather than all 30 GMs.
I have extracted the answers to 25 of these questions below. For the full survey, go to this link.
http://www.nba.com/news/features/john_schuhmann/nba-com-2015-16-gm-survey/
Question # 1
Which team will win the 2016 NBA Finals?
1. Cleveland — 53.6%
2. San Antonio — 25.0%
3. Golden State — 17.9%
4. Oklahoma City — 3.6%
Last year: San Antonio — 46.2%
Question #2
Who will win the 2015-16 MVP?
1. LeBron James, Cleveland — 39.3%
2. Anthony Davis, New Orleans — 25.0%
3. Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City — 10.7%
James Harden, Houston — 10.7%
5. Stephen Curry, Golden State — 7.1%
Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City — 7.1%
Last year: LeBron James — 67.9%
Question # 3
If you were starting a franchise today and could sign any player in the NBA, who would it be?
1. Anthony Davis, New Orleans — 86.2%
2. Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City — 6.9%
LeBron James, Cleveland — 6.9%
Last year: LeBron James — 50.0%
Question # 4
Who is the best point guard in the NBA?
1. Stephen Curry, Golden State — 55.2%
2. Chris Paul, L.A. Clippers — 24.1%
3. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City — 17.2%
4. Mike Conley, Memphis — 3.4%
Last year: Chris Paul — 71.4%
Question # 5
Who is the best shooting guard in the NBA?
1. James Harden, Houston — 79.3%
2. Klay Thompson, Golden State — 10.3%
Also receiving votes: Jimmy Butler, Chicago; Stephen Curry, Golden State; Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City
Last year: James Harden — 63.0%
Question # 6
Who is the best small forward in the NBA?
1. LeBron James, Cleveland — 89.3%
2. Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City — 8.9%
3. Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio — 1.8%
Last year: LeBron James — 75.0%
Question # 7
Who is the best power forward in the NBA?
1. Anthony Davis, New Orleans — 82.1%
2. Blake Griffin, L.A. Clippers — 7.1%
LeBron James, Cleveland — 7.1%
4. LaMarcus Aldridge, San Antonio — 3.6%
Last year: LaMarcus Aldridge & Blake Griffin — 25.0%
Question # 8
Who is the best center in the NBA?
1. Marc Gasol, Memphis — 65.5%
2. DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento — 13.8%
3. Anthony Davis, New Orleans — 6.9%
Tim Duncan, San Antonio — 6.9%
DeAndre Jordan, L.A. Clippers — 6.9%
Last year: Dwight Howard — 42.9%
Question # 9
Which team made the best overall moves this offseason?
1. San Antonio — 79.3%
2. Houston — 6.9%
L.A. Clippers — 6.9%
Also receiving votes: L.A. Lakers, Portland
Last year: Cleveland — 89.3%
Question # 10
Which one player acquisition will make the biggest impact?
1. LaMarcus Aldridge, San Antonio — 79.3%
2. Ty Lawson, Houston — 10.3%
3. Greg Monroe, Milwaukee — 6.9%
4. DeAndre Jordan, L.A. Clippers — 3.4%
Last year: LeBron James — 96.3%
Question # 11
Which team will be most improved in 2015-16?
1. Oklahoma City — 25.0%
2. Milwaukee — 17.9%
3. New Orleans — 14.3%
4. Miami — 10.7%
5. Indiana — 7.1%
Also receiving votes: Boston, Denver, L.A. Lakers, Minnesota, New York, Orlando, Utah
Last year: Cleveland — 75.0%
Question # 12
What was the most surprising move of the offseason?
1. DeAndre Jordan back to Clippers — 24.1%
2. Greg Monroe to Milwaukee — 20.7%
3. David West to San Antonio — 17.2%
4. LaMarcus Aldridge to San Antonio — 6.9%
Tyson Chandler to Phoenix — 6.9%
Ty Lawson to Houston — 6.9%
Wesley Matthews to Dallas — 6.9%
Also receiving votes: DeMarre Carroll to Toronto; Paul Pierce to the Clippers; Tom Thibodeau fired
Question # 13
Who will win the 2015-16 Rookie of the Year?
1. Jahlil Okafor, Philadelphia — 44.8%
2. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota — 34.5%
3. Emmanuel Mudiay, Denver — 13.8%
Also receiving votes: D’Angelo Russell, L.A. Lakers; Myles Turner, Indiana
Last year: Jabari Parker — 75.0%
Question # 14
Who is the best international player in the NBA?
1. Marc Gasol, Memphis — 62.1%
2. Pau Gasol, Chicago — 17.2%
3. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas — 10.3%
4. Tony Parker, San Antonio — 6.9%
5. Goran Dragic, Miami — 3.4%
Last year: Dirk Nowitzki — 53.6%
Question # 15
Who is the best defensive player in the NBA?
1. Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio — 27.6%
2. Anthony Davis, New Orleans — 17.2%
3. LeBron James, Cleveland — 13.8%
4. Tony Allen, Memphis — 10.3%
5. Draymond Green, Golden State — 6.9%
DeAndre Jordan, L.A. Clippers — 6.9%
Also receiving votes: Tim Duncan, San Antonio; Marc Gasol, Memphis; Rudy Gobert, Utah; Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City; Andre Iguodala, Golden State
Last year: Joakim Noah — 35.7%
Question # 16
Who is the best perimeter defender in the NBA?
1. Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio — 44.8%
2. Tony Allen, Memphis — 17.2%
3. Jimmy Butler, Chicago — 10.3%
LeBron James, Cleveland — 10.3%
Also receiving votes: DeMarre Carroll, Toronto; Andre Iguodala, Golden State; Chris Paul, L.A. Clippers; Klay Thompson, Golden State; Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City
Last year: LeBron James — 25.0 %
Question # 17
Who is the best interior defender in the NBA?
1. Marc Gasol, Memphis — 27.6%
2. Anthony Davis, New Orleans — 17.2%
DeAndre Jordan, L.A. Clippers — 17.2%
4. Rudy Gobert, Utah — 10.3%
5. Dwight Howard, Houston — 6.9%
Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City — 6.9%
Also receiving votes: Tim Duncan, San Antonio; Roy Hibbert, L.A. Lakers;Timofey Mozgov, Cleveland; Joakim Noah, Chicago
Last year: Joakim Noah — 39.3%
Question # 18
Which is the best defensive team in the NBA?
1. Golden State — 58.6%
2. Memphis — 34.5%
Also receiving votes: Chicago, Cleveland
Last year: Chicago — 85.7%
Question # 19
Who is the best head coach in the NBA?
1. Gregg Popovich, San Antonio — 93.1%
Also receiving votes: Mike Budenholzer, Atlanta; Steve Kerr, Golden State
Last year: Gregg Popovich — 92.9%
Question # 20
Which head coach is the best manager/motivator of people?
1. Gregg Popovich, San Antonio — 48.3%
2. Doc Rivers, L.A. Clippers — 31.0%
3. Steve Kerr, Golden State — 13.8%
Also receiving votes: Brett Brown, Philadelphia; Erik Spoelstra, Miami
Last year: Gregg Popovich — 57.1%
Question # 21
Which head coach makes the best in-game adjustments?
1. Gregg Popovich, San Antonio — 37.9%
2. Rick Carlisle, Dallas — 31.0%
3. Steve Kerr, Golden State — 10.3%
4. Jason Kidd, Milwaukee — 6.9%
Also receiving votes: Steve Clifford, Charlotte; Erik Spoelstra, Miami; Brad Stevens, Boston; Stan Van Gundy, Detroit
Last year: Gregg Popovich –46.4%
Question # 22
Which head coach runs the best offense?
1. Steve Kerr, Golden State — 58.6%
2. Gregg Popovich, San Antonio — 27.6%
3. Mike Budenholzer, Atlanta — 6.9%
Also receiving votes: Rick Carlisle, Dallas; Brad Stevens, Boston
Last year: Gregg Popovich — 77.8%
Question # 23
Which head coach has the best defensive schemes?
1. Gregg Popovich, San Antonio — 31.0%
2. Dave Joerger, Memphis — 27.6%
3. Steve Kerr, Golden State — 13.8%
4. Steve Clifford, Charlotte — 6.9%
Jason Kidd, Milwaukee — 6.9%
Also receiving votes: Brad Stevens, Boston; Tom Thibodeau; Stan Van Gundy, Detroit; Frank Vogel, Indiana
Last year: Tom Thibodeau — 92.9%
Question # 24
Which new (or relocated) coach will make the biggest impact this season?
1. Alvin Gentry, New Orleans — 32.1%
2. Billy Donovan, Oklahoma City — 28.6%
3. Fred Hoiberg, Chicago — 17.9%
4. Scott Skiles, Orlando — 10.7%
5. George Karl, Sacramento — 7.1%
6. Mike Malone, Denver — 3.6%
Last year: N/A
Question # 25
Who is the best assistant coach in the NBA?
1. Ron Adams, Golden State — 24.1%
2. Tyronn Lue, Cleveland — 20.4%
3. Ettore Messina, San Antonio — 11.1%
Also receiving votes: J.B. Bickerstaff, Houston; Jim Boylen, Chicago; Dan Burke, Indiana; Lawrence Frank, L.A. Clippers; Tim Grgurich; Adrian Griffin, Orlando; Melvin Hunt, Dallas; Nate McMillan, Indiana; Micah Nori, Denver; Nick Nurse, Toronto; Monty Williams, Oklahoma City; Mike Woodson, L.A. Clippers
Last year: Alvin Gentry — 17.9%
That’s a lot of information to digest. Check back over the weekend and we’ll provide our take and analysis on some of these answers.
About the author – BILL HARVEY, Call Sign “Stats”, is the Editor of Hoops Business. He is a former basketball player, basketball referee, Army officer, and college instructor in technical writing with a public relations and journalism background. He is also the editor of the Net Set blog at http://thenetsetblog.com. BA degree from Xavier University and MA degree in Information Management.