NBA GMs not impressed with Suns
October 22nd, 2008, 11:17 am · Post a Comment · posted by jerrybrown
The NBA’s general managers agree with the rest of the pundits who say the Suns are no longer a serious threat in the Western Conference.
Not a single executive picked the Suns to win the Pacific Division in the annual GM survey. The Lakers – who are picked to avenge their loss to the Celtics last season and beat Boston in the NBA Finals – were the only unanimous choice to win their division.
When asked who would win the Western Conference, two out of three GMs picked the Lakers (66.7 percent), followed by three teams that play in the same division – New Orleans (18.5 percent), Houston (7.4 percent) and San Antonio (7.4 percent).
LeBron James (55.6 percent) was the choice to win the MVP over Kobe Bryant (37 percent) and is also the choice of the one player the GMs would like to start their franchise with (66.7 percent).
Steve Nash has been supplanted as the choice as best point guard by Chris Paul of New Orleans– who is now the overwhelming choice (88.9 percent). Nash is still seen as the league’s best passer. Amare Stoudemire (11.1 percent) is the No. 3 choice at power forward behind Tim Duncan (51.9 percent) and Kevin Garnett (25.9 percent).
Philadelphia’s acquisition of Elton Brand was selected as the best offseason acquisition, ahead of Houston’s trade for Ron Artest. Miami’s Michael Beasley (48.1 percent) is the pick to win the Rookie of the Year over Portland’s Greg Oden (29.6 percent), but Oden is the pick when GMs were asked who would be the best player in five years.
Suns center Robin Lopez was picked by 12 percent of GMs to be the “sleeper” pick of the draft, finishing second to J.J. Hickson of Cleveland.
As for coaches, San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich (53.8 percent) is the runaway pick as best coach over Phil Jackson of the Lakers (23.1 percent), but Jacksonis seen as the best motivator (44 percent). New Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni (53.8 percent) runs the best offense and Popovich (65.4 percent) draws up the best defense.
Here’s a look at the whole survey:
