Once again the NBA’s smartest leaders weighed in on its most interesting questions.
The NBA general managers (or their clerical assistants if you’re a conspiracy theorist) gave answers to 48 different questions about the upcoming season and this past off-season. Naturally GMs can’t vote for their own team or players. Here’s a quick recap on how the survey pertains to Canadian fans. You can read the full survey done by John Schuhmann here.
Two-horse race
The Golden State Warriors got 69 per cent of the vote and the Cleveland Cavaliers got 31 per cent to win the NBA championship this season. The rest of the NBA got zero votes. Not surprising that these were the leading vote getters. It is a bit surprising that all of the executives believe we’ll have the same contenders for the title for the third straight year, however.
Which team will win the 2017 NBA Finals?
1. Golden State – 69.0%
2. Cleveland – 31.0%
Last year: Cleveland – 53.6%
Still second
Sixty per cent of the GMs picked the Toronto Raptors to finish second in the East. Cleveland is picked to top the conference at 96.7 per cent. The Boston Celtics are the only other team to get a first-place vote. Despite the fact that nine different teams in the East received votes to finish in the top four, Toronto received 26.7 per cent third-place votes and 10.7 per cent fourth-place votes. The vast majority of GMs believe Toronto will be hosting a first-round playoff game once again.
LeBron for MVP
Nearly half the votes go to LeBron James for MVP. Like Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal before him the NBA writers have grown tired of awarding James as the MVP. The league executives resoundingly still believe he will be the Most Valuable Player this season. Also interesting to note, the last two league MVPs, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, both cannibalized some votes from each other playing on the same team.
Who will win the 2016-17 MVP?
1. LeBron James, Cleveland – 46.7%
2. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City – 23.3%
3. Stephen Curry, Golden State – 10.0%
4. James Harden, Houston – 10.0%
5. Kevin Durant, Golden State – 6.7%
6. Paul George, Indiana – 3.3%
Last year: LeBron James – 39.3%
Wiggins to break out (again)
Last season the survey suggested Andrew Wiggins was going to take a giant leap. This year, under new coach Tom Thibodeau, the GMs feel he’s got more room to grow, although Devin Booker was the most popular pick to have a breakout year.
Which player is most likely to have a breakout season in 2016-17?
1. Devin Booker, Phoenix – 31.0%
2. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota – 13.8%
3. Myles Turner, Indiana – 10.3%
4. D’Angelo Russell, L.A. Lakers – 6.9%
5. Andrew Wiggins, Minnesota – 6.9%
Last year: Andrew Wiggins – 17.2%
Best players by position
Despite having two all-stars no Raptors player received a single vote as a top player at his position. Here are the top vote getters at each position.
Who is the best point guard in the NBA?
Stephen Curry, Golden State – 63.3%
Last year: Stephen Curry – 55.2%
Who is the best shooting guard in the NBA?
James Harden, Houston – 56.7%
Last year: James Harden – 79.3%
Who is the best small forward in the NBA?
LeBron James, Cleveland – 76.8%
Last year: LeBron James – 89.3%
Who is the best power forward in the NBA?
Anthony Davis, New Orleans – 29.0%
Last year: Anthony Davis – 82.1%
Who is the best center in the NBA?
DeAndre Jordan, L.A. Clippers – 33.3%
Last year: Marc Gasol – 65.5%
Timberwolves drafting gems
For the third straight year it looks like Minnesota will have the NBA rookie of the year. Raptors lottery pick Jakob Poeltl didn’t receive any votes for rookie of the year and Canadian Jamal Murray was an honourable mention.
Who will win the 2016-17 Rookie of the Year?
1. Kris Dunn, Minnesota – 46.7%
2. Buddy Hield, New Orleans – 13.3%
3. Ben Simmons, Philadelphia – 13.3%
4. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia – 10.0%
5. Brandon Ingram, L.A. Lakers – 10.0%
Also receiving votes: Marquese Chriss, Phoenix; Jamal Murray, Denver
Last year: Jahlil Okafor – 44.8%
Siakam steal
Although there wasn’t love for Toronto’s first pick in the 2016 there was some for their second. Pascal Siakam received a vote as the biggest steal in the draft.
Which rookie was the biggest steal at where he was selected in the Draft?
1. Dejounte Murray (29), San Antonio – 23.3%
2. Kris Dunn (5), Minnesota – 16.7%
3. Patrick McCaw (38), Golden State – 13.3%
4. Henry Ellenson (18), Detroit – 10.0%
5. Marquese Chris (8), Phoenix – 6.7%
6. Skal Labissiere (28), Sacramento – 6.7%
7. Denzel Valentine (14), Chicago – 6.7%
Also receiving votes: Malcolm Brogdon (36), Milwaukee; Cheick Diallo (33), New Orleans; Thon Maker (10), Milwaukee; Pascal Siakam (27), Toronto; Ivica Zubac (32), L.A. Lakers
Last year: Justise Winslow – 31.0%
Canada not feeling the international love
Despite the explosion of Canadian players in the league over the last few years Wiggins was the only Canuck to receive a vote as best international player.
Who is the best international player in the NBA?
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee – 27.6%
2. Marc Gasol, Memphis – 24.1%
3. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas – 22.4%
4. Kristaps Porzingis, New York – 12.1%
5. Pau Gasol, San Antonio – 6.9%
Also receiving votes: Rudy Gobert, Utah; Andrew Wiggins, Minnesota
Last year: Marc Gasol – 62.1%
Nick Nurse gets love
Although Dwane Casey did not make any of the top coaching lists his long-time assistant Nick Nurse was recognized among the league’s best.
Who is the best assistant coach in the NBA?
1. Ron Adams, Golden State – 37.9%
2. Stephen Silas, Charlotte – 10.3%
3. James Borrego, San Antonio – 6.9%
4. Dan Burke, Indiana – 6.9%
Also receiving votes: J.B. Bickerstaff, Memphis; Larry Drew, Cleveland; Chip Engelland, San Antonio; Darren Erman, New Orleans; Tim Grgurich; Adrian Griffin, Oklahoma City; Ettore Messina, San Antonio; Nick Nurse, Toronto; Brian Shaw, L.A. Lakers; David Vanterpool, Portland; Mike Woodson, L.A. Clippers
Last year: Ron Adams – 24.1%
Jurassic Park extinct
The most surprising snub of Canada’s team was of its fans. Toronto didn’t register on the list of best home-court advantages.
Which team has the best home-court advantage?
1. Golden State – 58.3%
2. Denver – 16.7%
3. Oklahoma City – 10.0%
4. San Antonio – 6.7%
5. Utah – 5.0%
6. Portland – 3.3%
Last year: Golden State – 65.5%
Lowry’s toughness
In the most subjective of lists, Lowry rightfully received a vote for the toughest NBA player.
Who is the toughest player in the NBA?
1. Tony Allen, Memphis – 23.3%
2. Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio – 16.7%
3. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City – 13.3%
4. Steven Adams, Oklahoma City – 10.0%
5. Draymond Green, Golden State – 10.0%
6. Matthew Dellavedova, Milwaukee – 6.7%
7. LeBron James, Cleveland – 6.7%
Also receiving votes: Patrick Beverley, Houston; Jimmy Butler, Chicago; Kyle Lowry, Toronto; Isaiah Thomas, Boston
Last year: Tony Allen – 20.7%
Lowry among the smartest
Lowry was shown even more respect registering on the list of the league’s smartest players. Notice that it’s entirely composed of point guards. This is telling because in relation to his toughness, his on-court smarts is an under-appreciated aspect of his game.
Which player has the best basketball IQ?
1. LeBron James, Cleveland – 65.5%
2. Chris Paul, L.A. Clippers –24.1%
3. Stephen Curry, Golden State – 6.9%
4. Kyle Lowry, Toronto – 3.4%
Last year: Chris Paul – 46.4%
