Annual GM Survey

[Roy H.]

https://www.nba.com/news/2023-24-nba-gm-survey

Some Celtics-related answers:

Which team will win the 2024 NBA Finals?

T-1. Boston Celtics – 33%
T-1. Denver Nuggets – 33%
3. Milwaukee Bucks – 23%
4. Phoenix Suns – 7%
5. LA Clippers – 3%
» Last year: Milwaukee Bucks – 43%

96% of GMs predicted us to finish first (53%) or second (43%) in the East.

Who will win the 2023-24 Kia MVP?

1. Nikola Jokic, Denver – 43%
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee – 20%
3. Jayson Tatum, Boston – 13%
4. Luka Doncic, Dallas – 10%
» Also receiving votes: Anthony Davis, L.A. Lakers; Kevin Durant, Phoenix; Joel Embiid, Philadelphia; Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City
» Last year: Luka Doncic – 48%

Who is the best small forward in the NBA?

1. Jayson Tatum, Boston – 47%
2. Kevin Durant, Phoenix – 20%
3. Luka Doncic, Dallas – 17%
4. LeBron James, L.A. Lakers – 13%
5. Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers – 3%
» Last year: Kevin Durant – 45%

Which team made the best overall moves this offseason?

T-1. Boston Celtics – 23%
T-1. Milwaukee Bucks – 23%
3. Portland Trail Blazers – 17%
4. Los Angeles Lakers – 13%
T-5. Dallas Mavericks – 7%
T-5. Houston Rockets – 7%
» Also receiving votes: Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns
» Last year: Cleveland Cavaliers – 41%

Which one player acquisition will make the biggest impact?

1. Damian Lillard, Milwaukee – 47%
2. Jrue Holiday, Boston – 13%
3. Bradley Beal, Phoenix – 10%
T-4. Kristaps Porzingis, Boston – 7%
T-4. Fred VanVleet, Houston – 7%
T-4. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio – 7%
» Also receiving votes: Dillon Brooks, Houston; Jusuf Nurkic, Phoenix; Marcus Smart, Memphis
» Last year: Donovan Mitchell – 59%

(I love that somebody voted Nurkic.)

What was the most underrated player acquisition?

1. Marcus Smart, Memphis – 17%
2. Grant Williams, Dallas – 14%
T-3. Dillon Brooks, Houston – 7%
T-3. Bruce Brown, Indiana – 7%
T-3. Jusuf Nurkic, Phoenix – 7%
T-3. Max Strus, Cleveland – 7%
T-3. Fred VanVleet, Houston – 7%
» Also receiving votes: Deandre Ayton, Portland; Miles Bridges, Charlotte; Jrue Holiday, Boston; Tyus Jones, Washington; Jordan Poole, Washington; Kristaps Porzingis, Boston; Dennis Schroder, Toronto; Obi Toppin, Indiana; Sasha Vezenkov, Sacramento; Gabe Vincent, L.A. Lakers
» Last year: Malcolm Brogdon – 28%

What was the most surprising move of the offseason?

1. Holiday/Lillard trade – 43%
2. Smart/Porzingis trade – 20%
3. Chris Paul to Golden State – 17%
T-4. Bradley Beal to Phoenix – 7%
T-4. Bruce Brown to Indiana – 7%
» Also receiving votes: Fred VanVleet to Houston, Grant Williams to Dallas
» Last year: Rudy Gobert to Minnesota – 47%

Who is the best defensive player in the NBA?

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee – 40%
2. Jrue Holiday, Boston – 13%
T-3. Draymond Green, Golden State – 10%
T-3. Marcus Smart, Memphis – 10%
T-4. Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis – 7%
T-4. Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers – 7%
» Also receiving votes: Alex Caruso, Chicago; Anthony Davis, L.A. Lakers; Luguentz Dort, Oklahoma City; Rudy Gobert, Minnesota
» Last year: Giannis Antetokounmpo – 48%

Who is the best perimeter defender in the NBA?

1. Jrue Holiday, Boston – 50%
2. Mikal Bridges, Brooklyn – 13%
T-3. Alex Caruso, Chicago – 10%
T-3. Marcus Smart, Memphis – 10%
5. Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers – 7%
» Also receiving votes: Jimmy Butler, Miami; Luguentz Dort, Oklahoma City; Jayson Tatum, Boston
» Last year: Marcus Smart – 41%

Which is the best defensive team in the NBA?

1. Boston Celtics – 47%
2. Memphis Grizzlies – 17%
3. Milwaukee Bucks – 13%
4. Miami Heat – 10%
5. Cleveland Cavaliers – 7%
» Also receiving votes: Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers
» Last year: Boston Celtics – 69%

Which head coach has the best defensive schemes?

1. Erik Spoelstra, Miami – 40%
T-2. Taylor Jenkins, Memphis – 13%
T-2. Tom Thibodeau, New York – 13%
T-4. J.B. Bickerstaff, Cleveland – 7%
T-4. Tyronn Lue, LA Clippers – 7%
T-4. Frank Vogel, Phoenix – 7%
» Also receiving votes: Mike Brown, Sacramento; Mark Daigneault, Oklahoma City; Joe Mazzulla, Boston; Nick Nurse, Philadelphia
» Last year: Erik Spoelstra – 34%

Which GM did Joe pay off?

Who is the best assistant coach in the NBA?

1. Jordi Fernandez, Sacramento – 31%
T-2. Terry Stotts, Milwaukee – 10%
T-2. Kevin Young, Phoenix – 10%
T-4. Sam Cassell, Boston – 7%
T-4. Charles Lee, Boston – 7%
» Also receiving votes: David Adelman, Denver; Kenny Atkinson, Golden State; Chris DeMarco, Golden State; Darren Erman, New York; David Fizdale, Phoenix; Royal Ivey, Houston; Alex Jensen, Dallas; Chris Quinn, Miami; Jay Triano, Sacramento; Will Weaver, Brooklyn
» Last year: Kenny Atkinson / Charles Lee – 34%

Which active player will make the best head coach someday?

1. Chris Paul, Golden State – 20%
T-2. Mike Conley, Minnesota – 13%
T-2. Garrett Temple, Toronto – 13%
4. T.J. McConnell, Indiana – 10%
T-5. Jrue Holiday, Boston – 7%
T-5. Fred VanVleet, Houston – 7%
» Also receiving votes: Jose Alvarado, New Orleans; Desmond Bane, Memphis; Jalen Brunson, New York; Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana; Nikola Jokic, Denver; Tyus Jones, Washington; Patty Mills, Atlanta; Monte Morris, Detroit; Grant Williams, Dallas
» Last year: Chris Paul – 32%

Which team is the most fun to watch?

1. Denver Nuggets – 30%
2. Golden State Warriors – 23%
3. Sacramento Kings – 20%
4. Phoenix Suns – 7%
» Also receiving votes: Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder
» Last year: Golden State Warriors – 52%

Which team has the best home-court advantage?

1. Denver Nuggets – 37%
2. Golden State Warriors – 17%
3. Sacramento Kings – 13%
4. Utah Jazz – 10%
T-5. Boston Celtics – 7%
T-5. New York Knicks – 7%
T-5. Toronto Raptors – 7%
8. Philadelphia 76ers – 3%
» Last year: Toronto Raptors – 21%

Which team will have the league’s most efficient offense this season?

1. Denver Nuggets – 34%
2. Sacramento Kings – 21%
3. Golden State Warriors – 14%
4. Boston Celtics – 10%
T-5. Milwaukee Bucks – 7%
T-5. Phoenix Suns – 7%
» Also receiving votes: Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat
» Last year: Golden State Warriors – 38%

[Goldstar88]

Joe as an honorable mention for, “Which head coach has the best defensive schemes?”  Well, I’ll be [dang]ed… 

[wdleehi]

https://www.nba.com/news/2023-24-nba-gm-survey

Which one player acquisition will make the biggest impact?

(I love that somebody voted Nurkic.)

Biggest negative impact?   (like Kyrie going to Dallas)

[Vermont Green]

I agree with this one:

Who is the best small forward in the NBA?

1. Jayson Tatum, Boston – 47%
2. Kevin Durant, Phoenix – 20%
3. Luka Doncic, Dallas – 17%
4. LeBron James, L.A. Lakers – 13%
5. Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers – 3%
» Last year: Kevin Durant – 45%

But since when is Luka Doncic a small forward?

This one is interesting also:

What was the most underrated player acquisition?

1. Marcus Smart, Memphis – 17%
2. Grant Williams, Dallas – 14%
T-3. Dillon Brooks, Houston – 7%
T-3. Bruce Brown, Indiana – 7%
T-3. Jusuf Nurkic, Phoenix – 7%
T-3. Max Strus, Cleveland – 7%
T-3. Fred VanVleet, Houston – 7%
» Also receiving votes: Deandre Ayton, Portland; Miles Bridges, Charlotte; Jrue Holiday, Boston; Tyus Jones, Washington; Jordan Poole, Washington; Kristaps Porzingis, Boston; Dennis Schroder, Toronto; Obi Toppin, Indiana; Sasha Vezenkov, Sacramento; Gabe Vincent, L.A. Lakers
» Last year: Malcolm Brogdon – 28%

I am not sure how underrated Grant will turn out to be but I see Ayton as a player to watch.

[bdm860]

96% of GMs predicted us to finish first (53%) or second (43%) in the East.

Only because I'm a nerd about this.  It's probably 100% of eligible GMs.

16/30 = 53%
13/30 = 43%

So 29 of 30 GMs, voted for the C's, but you can't vote for your own team, so that 1 GM who didn't vote for the C's to finish 1st or 2nd in the East is Stevens because he couldn't.

[Celtics2021]

I always love this survey.  Thanks for sharing.

[Kernewek]

96% of GMs predicted us to finish first (53%) or second (43%) in the East.

Only because I'm a nerd about this.  It's probably 100% of eligible GMs.

16/30 = 53%
13/30 = 43%

So 29 of 30 GMs, voted for the C's, but you can't vote for your own team, so that 1 GM who didn't vote for the C's to finish 1st or 2nd in the East is Stevens because he couldn't.

Good shout bdm. I'd say the expectations are even higher than last season, if possible.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

96% of GMs predicted us to finish first (53%) or second (43%) in the East.

Only because I'm a nerd about this.  It's probably 100% of eligible GMs.

16/30 = 53%
13/30 = 43%

So 29 of 30 GMs, voted for the C's, but you can't vote for your own team, so that 1 GM who didn't vote for the C's to finish 1st or 2nd in the East is Stevens because he couldn't.

Good shout bdm. I'd say the expectations are even higher than last season, if possible.

Which concerns me, because this team has often struggled with the weight of high expectations.

[Kernewek]

96% of GMs predicted us to finish first (53%) or second (43%) in the East.

Only because I'm a nerd about this.  It's probably 100% of eligible GMs.

16/30 = 53%
13/30 = 43%

So 29 of 30 GMs, voted for the C's, but you can't vote for your own team, so that 1 GM who didn't vote for the C's to finish 1st or 2nd in the East is Stevens because he couldn't.

Good shout bdm. I'd say the expectations are even higher than last season, if possible.

Which concerns me, because this team has often struggled with the weight of high expectations.

That's true, but they did come storming out the gates last season on the back of making it to the Finals, so they certainly have it in them to be a very successful team for long stretches as well. They just have to make sure they're picking their spots so they don't peak too early, but then again the team is going to look very very different this year (hopefully).

[Donoghus]

My hope (and its certainly an optimistic hope) is the disappointment of the past two seasons, the maturing of the J's, & the added veteran leadership of Jrue & Zinger remove this sense of complacency, playing down to opponents, & lack of killer instinct that has plagued this team.

Mazz certainly has his faults but I think a lot of blame has to go to the players.