NBA.com annual GM Survey

[Moranis]

http://www.nba.com/news/features/john_schuhmann/nba-com-2015-16-gm-survey/index.html

Some of the more interesting ones are below as well as all the times Boston was mentioned.  There are a lot more questions and answers on the site.

> 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%

2015-16 GM Survey: Eastern Conference rankings
Team    1st    2nd    3rd    4th    %Total
Cleveland    96.6%             38.9%
Chicago    3.4%    65.5%    13.8%    6.9%    24.7%
Atlanta       13.8%    34.5%    17.2%    12.8%
Miami       13.8%    20.7%    31.0%    11.5%
Washington       3.4%    24.1%    17.2%    7.6%
Toronto          6.9%    10.3%    2.4%
Milwaukee       3.4%       10.3%    2.1%
%Total = Percentage of total points (4 for 1st, 3 for 2nd, 2 for 3rd, 1 for 4th)

Last year: 70.4 percent picked Cleveland to win the East.

> 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%

> 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%

> What rule (regarding play, Draft/Lottery, playoff format, etc.) most needs to change?
1. Change Lottery odds/system -- 24.0%
2. Add rights to D-League players (longer Draft) -- 16.0%
Playoff format (Seed 1-16) -- 16.0%
4. Reduce length/number of timeouts -- 12.0%
5. Adopt FIBA goaltending/basket interference rules -- 8.0%
Also receiving votes: Adjust salary cap exceptions for teams in states with no income tax; Advance-the-ball rule; Remove coach's mic; Remove cameramen from the baseline; Adjust schedule to remove division weighting; Widen court.
Last year: N/A

Here are the ones where Boston was mentioned

> What was the most underrated player acquisition?
1. Ty Lawson, Houston -- 10.3%
Paul Pierce, L.A. Clippers -- 10.3%
David West, San Antonio -- 10.3%
4. Amir Johnson, Boston -- 6.9%
David Lee, Boston -- 6.9%
Greg Monroe, Milwaukee -- 6.9%
Also receiving votes: Al-Farouq Aminu, Portland; Nicolas Batum, Charlotte; Marco Belinelli, Sacramento; DeMarre Carroll, Toronto; Tyson Chandler, Phoenix; Roy Hibbert, L.A. Lakers; Reggie Jackson, Detroit; Brandon Knight, Phoenix; Robin Lopez, New York; Tiago Splitter, Atlanta; Amar'e Stoudemire, Miami; Jason Thompson, Golden State; Marcus Thornton, Houston; Brandan Wright, Memphis
Last year: Tyson Chandler -- 17.9%

> 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%

> 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%

> 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%

> 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%

> Which player is the fastest with the ball?
1. John Wall, Washington -- 53.4%
2. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City -- 32.8%
Also receiving votes: Ty Lawson, Houston; Ish Smith, Washington; Jeff Teague, Atlanta; Isaiah Thomas, Boston
Last year: John Wall & Russell Westbrook -- 40.7%

> What bench player makes the biggest impact when he enters the game?
1. Andre Iguodala, Golden State -- 37.9%
2. Isaiah Thomas, Boston -- 17.2%
3. Jamal Crawford, L.A. Clippers -- 10.3%
4. Tony Allen, Memphis -- 6.9%
Also receiving votes: Marco Belinelli, Sacramento; Corey Brewer, Houston; Taj Gibson, Chicago; Manu Ginobili, San Antonio; Draymond Green, Golden State; Nikola Mirotic, Chicago; Tristan Thompson; Lou Williams, L.A. Lakers
Last year: N/A

> Who is the league's best role player?
1. Andre Iguodala, Golden State -- 20.7%
2. Draymond Green, Golden State -- 17.2%
3. Kyle Korver, Atlanta -- 13.8%
4. Danny Green, San Antonio -- 10.3%
Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio -- 10.3%
6. Manu Ginobili, San Antonio -- 6.9%
Also receiving votes: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee; Marco Belinelli, Sacramento; Jamal Crawford, L.A. Clippers; Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City; Isaiah Thomas, Boston; Lou Williams, L.A. Lakers
Last year: Boris Diaw & Kenneth Faried -- 11.1%

[bdm860]

2015-16 GM Survey: Eastern Conference rankings
Team    1st    2nd    3rd    4th    %Total
Cleveland    96.6%             38.9%
Chicago    3.4%    65.5%    13.8%    6.9%    24.7%
Atlanta       13.8%    34.5%    17.2%    12.8%
Miami       13.8%    20.7%    31.0%    11.5%
Washington       3.4%    24.1%    17.2%    7.6%
Toronto          6.9%    10.3%    2.4%
Milwaukee       3.4%       10.3%    2.1%
%Total = Percentage of total points (4 for 1st, 3 for 2nd, 2 for 3rd, 1 for 4th)

Last year: 70.4 percent picked Cleveland to win the East.

This is probably a gut punch to some of the more optimistic C's fans for this season.  Not one GM thought Boston would even be 4th best in the East, while 7 different teams got multiple votes.

Also I'd consider Brad Stevens results underwhelming, as he only got one vote each for best in-game adjustments, running the best offense, running the best defensive schemes (wonder if it was all from the same GM?), while coming up blank in a couple of other categories.  Not that it means much, for all we know all 29 GM's outside of Boston might consider Stevens the 2nd best in every category, still for all the praise he gets as the best coach, best young coach, best [fill-in-the-blank], etc. on here, it would be nice to see some GM's across the league share that view.

[slamtheking]

interesting how Boston wasn't in the top 7 for the eastern conference rankings and that Indy is considered to have improved.  seems to match what I've been saying this summer & preseason --> C's will be in a dogfight with Indy for that 8th slot.

[slamtheking]

2015-16 GM Survey: Eastern Conference rankings
Team    1st    2nd    3rd    4th    %Total
Cleveland    96.6%             38.9%
Chicago    3.4%    65.5%    13.8%    6.9%    24.7%
Atlanta       13.8%    34.5%    17.2%    12.8%
Miami       13.8%    20.7%    31.0%    11.5%
Washington       3.4%    24.1%    17.2%    7.6%
Toronto          6.9%    10.3%    2.4%
Milwaukee       3.4%       10.3%    2.1%
%Total = Percentage of total points (4 for 1st, 3 for 2nd, 2 for 3rd, 1 for 4th)

Last year: 70.4 percent picked Cleveland to win the East.

This is probably a gut punch to some of the more optimistic C's fans for this season.  Not one GM thought Boston would even be 4th best in the East, while 7 different teams got multiple votes.

Also I'd consider Brad Stevens results underwhelming, as he only got one vote each for best in-game adjustments, running the best offense, running the best defensive schemes (wonder if it was all from the same GM?), while coming up blank in a couple of other categories.  Not that it means much, for all we know all 29 GM's outside of Boston might consider Stevens the 2nd best in every category, still for all the praise he gets as the best coach, best young coach, best [fill-in-the-blank], etc. on here, it would be nice to see some GM's across the league share that view.

I think if all coaches were free agents and there was a coaching draft, I'm pretty sure Brad would go top 5 but certainly no later than #8.  I think he's well respected for what he's already accomplished and how he's continued to develop as a coach.

[fairweatherfan]

2015-16 GM Survey: Eastern Conference rankings
Team    1st    2nd    3rd    4th    %Total
Cleveland    96.6%             38.9%
Chicago    3.4%    65.5%    13.8%    6.9%    24.7%
Atlanta       13.8%    34.5%    17.2%    12.8%
Miami       13.8%    20.7%    31.0%    11.5%
Washington       3.4%    24.1%    17.2%    7.6%
Toronto          6.9%    10.3%    2.4%
Milwaukee       3.4%       10.3%    2.1%
%Total = Percentage of total points (4 for 1st, 3 for 2nd, 2 for 3rd, 1 for 4th)

Last year: 70.4 percent picked Cleveland to win the East.

This is probably a gut punch to some of the more optimistic C's fans for this season.  Not one GM thought Boston would even be 4th best in the East, while 7 different teams got multiple votes.

I don't think any poll should be a gut punch for fans; they're notoriously inaccurate.  What percentage of GMs thought we'd make the playoffs last year?  I'm fairly confident it would've been 0.  I doubt anyone would've picked us even after the trade deadline when our roster was more or less finalized either.

[BitterJim]

2015-16 GM Survey: Eastern Conference rankings
Team    1st    2nd    3rd    4th    %Total
Cleveland    96.6%             38.9%
Chicago    3.4%    65.5%    13.8%    6.9%    24.7%
Atlanta       13.8%    34.5%    17.2%    12.8%
Miami       13.8%    20.7%    31.0%    11.5%
Washington       3.4%    24.1%    17.2%    7.6%
Toronto          6.9%    10.3%    2.4%
Milwaukee       3.4%       10.3%    2.1%
%Total = Percentage of total points (4 for 1st, 3 for 2nd, 2 for 3rd, 1 for 4th)

Last year: 70.4 percent picked Cleveland to win the East.

This is probably a gut punch to some of the more optimistic C's fans for this season.  Not one GM thought Boston would even be 4th best in the East, while 7 different teams got multiple votes.

I don't think any poll should be a gut punch for fans; they're notoriously inaccurate.  What percentage of GMs thought we'd make the playoffs last year?  I'm fairly confident it would've been 0.  I doubt anyone would've picked us even after the trade deadline when our roster was more or less finalized either.

Not to mention that I doubt most people expect us to be a top four seed this year

[Denis998]

GSW had a 3.6% chance of winning the championship this year. This survey means nothing.

[fairweatherfan]

GSW had a 3.6% chance of winning the championship this year. This survey means nothing.

No, it means exactly what it measures - the current opinions of all the general managers of NBA teams.

The mistake would be assuming it means something about what'll actually happen on the court in the next 8 months. 


...kinda wondering which GM picked the Warriors last year, though.  They can't vote for their own teams.