http://www.nba.com/preview2005/gmsurvey_moves.html
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2203601
Spurs will repeat, league's GMs predictAssociated Press
NEW YORK -- The San Antonio Spurs are overwhelming favorites to repeat as NBA champions, according to an NBA.com survey of the league's general managers.
The Spurs received 77 percent of the vote among the approximately 25 GMs who responded. That percentage is the highest a team has received in the four years the survey has been conducted. The defending champions got 96 percent of the vote to win the Western Conference and 100 percent to win the Southwest Division.
Miami also was a unanimous pick to win the Southeast. Results were posted beginning Tuesday on NBA.com.
San Antonio star Tim Duncan got more than 78 percent of the votes as the league's top power forward and is the favorite to win another MVP award. Other popular choices among the league GMs were Miami's Shaquille O'Neal, who got 84 percent as the top center, and Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki (77 percent) as the league's top international player.
Lakers guard Kobe Bryant received the most votes in two categories: best shooting guard and the player wanted to take a shot with the game on the line. Reigning MVP Steve Nash replaced Jason Kidd as the point guard -- the first year Kidd didn't receive the most votes at that position -- and Tracy McGrady of Houston was picked as the top small forward.
New Knicks coach Larry Brown was picked as the best coach.
GM Survey: Offseason Moves
Oct. 25 -- In 2005-06, who will be the MVP? Rookie of the Year? Most improved team? And who's going to win it all?
NBA.com posed these questions and more to the league's general managers, and a high majority of the GM's responded to our survey.* Here's what the guys who call the shots think about the new season.
Which team made the best moves overall?
Miami Heat 41.7%
Cleveland Cavaliers 37.5%
San Antonio Spurs 20.8%
Which one player acquisition will make the biggest impact?
Larry Hughes, Cleveland 50.0%
Joe Johnson, Atlanta 16.7%
Michael Finley, San Antonio 12.5%
Others receiving votes: Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Sacramento, Raja Bell, Phoenix, Bobby Simmons, Milwaukee, Antoine Walker, Miami, Earl Watson, Denver
What was the most underrated player acquisition?
Raja Bell, Phoenix 22.7%
Michael Finley, San Antonio 13.6%
Marko Jaric, Minnesota 13.6%
Stromile Swift, Houston 11.4%
Others receiving votes: Caron Butler, Washington, Antonio Daniels, Washington, Damon Jones, Cleveland, Donyell Marshall, Cleveland, Bobby Simmons, Milwaukee, Darius Songaila, Chicago, Nick Van Exel, San Antonio
Which team will be most improved in 2005-06?
Golden State Warriors 28.0%
Milwaukee Bucks 12.0%
Cleveland Cavaliers 10.0%
Indiana Pacers 10.0%
Others receiving votes: Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans/Oklahoma City, New York, Orlando, Utah
Which team had the best offseason?
Miami Heat 38.0%
San Antonio Spurs 32.0%
Cleveland Cavaliers 12.0%
Milwaukee Bucks 12%
Others receiving votes: Atlanta, New Jersey
What was the most surprising move of the offseason?
Joe Johnson to Atlanta 37.5%
Antoine Walker to Miami 12.5%
Larry Hughes to Cleveland 8.3%
Earl Watson to Denver 8.3%
Others receiving votes: Rafer Alston to Houston, Larry Brown leaving Detroit, Kwame Brown to Lakers, Eddy Curry to New York, Michael Finley to San Antonio, Phil Jackson returns to Lakers, Bobby Simmons to Milwaukee, Fran Vazquez returns to Europe, Jason Williams to Miami
What was the least surprising move of the offseason?
Shaquille O'Neal re-signing 20.0%
Larry Brown leaving Detroit 15.0%
Ray Allen re-signing 10.0%
Michael Redd re-signing 10.0%
Jason Williams to Miami 10.0%
Others receiving votes: Rafer Alston leaving Toronto, Michael Finley waived by Dallas, Amare Stoudemire contract extension, Antoine Walker to Miami, Earl Watson to Denver, Bonzi Wells traded, Yao Ming contract extension
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2203601
Spurs will repeat, league's GMs predictAssociated Press
NEW YORK -- The San Antonio Spurs are overwhelming favorites to repeat as NBA champions, according to an NBA.com survey of the league's general managers.
The Spurs received 77 percent of the vote among the approximately 25 GMs who responded. That percentage is the highest a team has received in the four years the survey has been conducted. The defending champions got 96 percent of the vote to win the Western Conference and 100 percent to win the Southwest Division.
Miami also was a unanimous pick to win the Southeast. Results were posted beginning Tuesday on NBA.com.
San Antonio star Tim Duncan got more than 78 percent of the votes as the league's top power forward and is the favorite to win another MVP award. Other popular choices among the league GMs were Miami's Shaquille O'Neal, who got 84 percent as the top center, and Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki (77 percent) as the league's top international player.
Lakers guard Kobe Bryant received the most votes in two categories: best shooting guard and the player wanted to take a shot with the game on the line. Reigning MVP Steve Nash replaced Jason Kidd as the point guard -- the first year Kidd didn't receive the most votes at that position -- and Tracy McGrady of Houston was picked as the top small forward.
New Knicks coach Larry Brown was picked as the best coach.
GM Survey: Offseason Moves
Oct. 25 -- In 2005-06, who will be the MVP? Rookie of the Year? Most improved team? And who's going to win it all?
NBA.com posed these questions and more to the league's general managers, and a high majority of the GM's responded to our survey.* Here's what the guys who call the shots think about the new season.
Which team made the best moves overall?
Miami Heat 41.7%
Cleveland Cavaliers 37.5%
San Antonio Spurs 20.8%
Which one player acquisition will make the biggest impact?
Larry Hughes, Cleveland 50.0%
Joe Johnson, Atlanta 16.7%
Michael Finley, San Antonio 12.5%
Others receiving votes: Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Sacramento, Raja Bell, Phoenix, Bobby Simmons, Milwaukee, Antoine Walker, Miami, Earl Watson, Denver
What was the most underrated player acquisition?
Raja Bell, Phoenix 22.7%
Michael Finley, San Antonio 13.6%
Marko Jaric, Minnesota 13.6%
Stromile Swift, Houston 11.4%
Others receiving votes: Caron Butler, Washington, Antonio Daniels, Washington, Damon Jones, Cleveland, Donyell Marshall, Cleveland, Bobby Simmons, Milwaukee, Darius Songaila, Chicago, Nick Van Exel, San Antonio
Which team will be most improved in 2005-06?
Golden State Warriors 28.0%
Milwaukee Bucks 12.0%
Cleveland Cavaliers 10.0%
Indiana Pacers 10.0%
Others receiving votes: Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans/Oklahoma City, New York, Orlando, Utah
Which team had the best offseason?
Miami Heat 38.0%
San Antonio Spurs 32.0%
Cleveland Cavaliers 12.0%
Milwaukee Bucks 12%
Others receiving votes: Atlanta, New Jersey
What was the most surprising move of the offseason?
Joe Johnson to Atlanta 37.5%
Antoine Walker to Miami 12.5%
Larry Hughes to Cleveland 8.3%
Earl Watson to Denver 8.3%
Others receiving votes: Rafer Alston to Houston, Larry Brown leaving Detroit, Kwame Brown to Lakers, Eddy Curry to New York, Michael Finley to San Antonio, Phil Jackson returns to Lakers, Bobby Simmons to Milwaukee, Fran Vazquez returns to Europe, Jason Williams to Miami
What was the least surprising move of the offseason?
Shaquille O'Neal re-signing 20.0%
Larry Brown leaving Detroit 15.0%
Ray Allen re-signing 10.0%
Michael Redd re-signing 10.0%
Jason Williams to Miami 10.0%
Others receiving votes: Rafer Alston leaving Toronto, Michael Finley waived by Dallas, Amare Stoudemire contract extension, Antoine Walker to Miami, Earl Watson to Denver, Bonzi Wells traded, Yao Ming contract extension
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