League's general managers vote on C's favorably

[campybatman]

I'm curious of what Boston fans reaction to this is. Click on the links, and see for yourselves.

Is the best defensive player in the league debatable? If I were asked... I wouldn't have thought of D. Howard first. I would've thought of players such as Garnett, Artest, Battier, G. Wallace or Duncan. Maybe they're saying based on this past season. I don't know, I still wouldn't have thought of Howard before this past season.

I disagree, V. Carter won't prove to be a bigger impact than the off-season acquisitions of Artest or R. Wallace, in my opinion.

Some of the other individual categories I'm sure are debatable. Because they contradict themselves: How is Duncan voted the best power forward, and then voted the second best center? Huh?

Dwight Howard's really a power forward, and Ming is the best center when he's healthy.

Pierce's name could've shown up in a few categories, in my opinion.

"Who is the best small forward in the NBA?"
"Which player is the best at getting his own shot?"
"Who is the toughest player in the NBA?"
"Which player is the best leader?"

Boston should have had been voted on for...

"Which team is the most fun to watch?"

NBA.com recently conducted a poll of the league’s general managers on a wide range of topics and the Celtics were well represented. But in the most important category, it was the Lakers that were voted as the overwhelming favorite to repeat as champions. The Lakers got 60.7 percent of the vote, while the Celtics were tied for second with the Cavaliers at 17.9 percent.

The Celtics got the slight edge as the Eastern Conference favorites over the Cavs (50 percent to 42.9 percent) and had no challenger in the Atlantic Division (100 percent of the vote).

Here is a look at where the Celtics players and coaches ranked in a number of other categories:

Not surprisingly, the Celtics were the clear-cut favorite as the league’s best defensive team (60.7 percent). They also received votes as one of the most improved teams in the league, which is saying something considering the C’s won 62 games last season.

Ray Allen received votes as the top shooting guard, though Kobe Bryant ran away with the vote (89.7 percent). Allen was the runaway winner in the best pure shooter category (57.1 percent) and third in the moving without the ball category. Allen was fourth in the voting for best future coach among active players.

Kevin Garnett was the second-rated power forward, behind only Tim Duncan. Garnett was tied with Ron Artest for second best defensive player, behind Dwight Howard. Garnett ranked behind only Howard as the best interior defender.

Garnett ranked high in the intangibles categories, tying for third as the league’s toughest player and ranking fourth as the best leader in the league.

Rajon Rondo got a lot of respect for his defensive ability. He received votes as the top defensive player in the league, was voted fourth-best as a perimeter defender and was tied with Kobe Bryant as the best on-the-ball defender in the league. Rondo also received votes as one of the fastest players in the league with the ball.

The Rasheed Wallace acquisition got the attention of the GM’s. The move was voted the second most underrated move of the offseason, and Wallace was tied for second as the new acquisition that will make the biggest impact, behind the Magic’s Vince Carter. The C’s signing of Marquis Daniels also got votes as one of the most underrated acquisitions.

Paul Pierce only ranked in one category, but it was a big one. Pierce finished second (6.9 percent) to only Bryant (89.7 percent) as the player GM’s want taking the shot with the game on the line.

http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/sport ... is-season/



2009-10 GM Survey Results: Predictions
http://www.nba.com/news/features/gmsurv ... index.html

2009-10 GM Survey Results: Player Predictions
http://www.nba.com/news/features/gmsurv ... index.html

2009-10 GM Survey Results: Defense
http://www.nba.com/news/features/gmsurv ... index.html

2009-10 GM Survey Results: Offseason Moves
http://www.nba.com/news/features/gmsurv ... index.html

[captain green]

you hear that, that's the Rondo haters coming to post soon, what do gm's know? or nba players know? or fans? etc... duncan is either a center or pf I always thought that was dumb.

[campybatman]

Then the NBA needs to say "F/C" as oppose to "C" or "PF." Because these players tend to complicate the category of center. Especially, with the All-Star voting ballot. Not one of them is a true center. The NBA should move toward simply designating the starting five as being three forwards and two guards. Because these types of players are rendering the position of center obsolete or less important.

There just aren't enough true centers anymore. The NBA game's too fast or what have you.

Dwight Howard
Tim Duncan
Amare Stoudemire
Jermaine O'Neal
Al Horford
Emeka Okafor
Pau Gasol
Ben Wallace
Andrea Bargnani

[celtxman]

The only number of relevance is Lakers 60% favorite to Celtics 18% of the GM's in regards to winning a championship. Wow. You would never think the 2007/8 season actually happened, including the championship series. Apparently the Spurs moves to improve themselves will be nothing but an annoyance to the Lakers. And KG running down the court - healthy - with no structural damage only a nasty bone spur isn't enough. Well these are GM's after all. They certainly know right? Just like 9 out of 10 of the ESPN "experts" picked the Lakers in the Finals in 2008. It is incredible that this Celtic team is a decided underdog to win it all amongst alleged knowledgeable people, but the numbers don't lie. A better Celtic team will hit the floor than the 2007/8 team and less than 1 in 5 of GM's thinks they'll win it. Nice bulletin board stuff.

[FakeScreenName123]

Is the best defensive player in the league debatable? If I were asked... I wouldn't have thought of D. Howard first. I would've thought of players such as Garnett, Artest, Battier, G. Wallace or Duncan. Maybe they're saying based on this past season. I don't know, I still wouldn't have thought of Howard before this past season.

Ummm how did he not come up? Give him some credit man. Howard is in his prime and is the 2nd best pure shot blocker in the league (Josh Smith is no. 1). He'll average over 11 boards and 3 blocks a game and you're gunna say he's not one of the best defensive players in the nba?

I disagree, V. Carter won't prove to be a bigger impact than the off-season acquisitions of Artest or R. Wallace, in my opinion.

Homer. You just threw in Artest to make your point more valid. You really think its sheed. Cmon man, VC is starting for them. VC was the go-to man in NJ last year averaging over 20 points a game. How is he not the biggest offseason acquisition?

Some of the other individual categories I'm sure are debatable. Because they contradict themselves: How is Duncan voted the best power forward, and then voted the second best center? Huh?

Cos he is. If you put him at Center thats where he'd be.

Dwight Howard's really a power forward, and Ming is the best center when he's healthy.

O.k. I can tell this bothers you.

Pierce's name could've shown up in a few categories, in my opinion.

"Who is the best small forward in the NBA?"
"Which player is the best at getting his own shot?"
"Who is the toughest player in the NBA?"
"Which player is the best leader?"

I love PP, but right now he is not top 5 SF.
I agree, PP shouldve ben at least top 3 in this.
Wheelchair incident, however unfair that is... he wont be on there. I mean, he did get stabbed like 19 times, but people have short memories.
Meh, i've never thought of PP as a huge leader. KG is more of that for the celtics.

Boston should have had been voted on for...

"Which team is the most fun to watch?"

Theyre somewhere in the 5-10 range for an average NBA fan i bet. Warriors are the best team to watch IMO, never know whats going on at any point with them. <3 NELLIE BALL.





So basically dude, you just wanted the celtics to win every category. Cmon man. Theres other great players on other teams and you have to give them their due.

[Jammer]

Paul Pierce only ranked in one category, but it was a big one. Pierce finished second (6.9 percent) to only Bryant (89.7 percent) as the player GM’s want taking the shot with the game on the line.

That means out of 30 votes, Kobe Bryant got 27, Paul Pierce got 2, and someone else got the other vote.

Don't make it like it was a land slide. Danny may have been one of Pierce's two supporters.

[campybatman]

The only number of relevance is Lakers 60% favorite to Celtics 18% of the GM's in regards to winning a championship.

Oftentimes, you've to ignore what the "consensus" is like you ignore those argumentative
posters, or the ones who like to single you out to nitpick on here. Just because the majority believe it doesn't make it absolute. Go with what you believe is true based on what's evident. Besides, the current Celtics tends to strive as the underdog, it makes it that much more sweeter if Boston prevails or an unexpected team wins the championship.

[Mahoney_jr]

Dwight Howard is the best defensive player in the league. Orlando is only because of him a top-defensive squad. The rest of the bunch is only funneling the slashers to Dwight who gets the job done in the paint. KG might be better if healthy, but right now it's clearly Howard. Battier is great one on one, but as a wing you have only little impact compared to post defenders.