RealGM

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.

bonsaiflipflops wrote:
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?"

bonsaiflipflops wrote: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.

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