The revamped Clippers are the favorites to win the NBA championship in this year’s survey of league general managers, writes John Schuhmann of NBA.com. Forty-six percent of respondents believe the moves that brought in Kawhi Leonard and Paul George will result in the first title in the nearly 50-year history of the franchise.
The Bucks ranked second at 36%, followed by the Lakers at 11%. The Warriors and Trail Blazers were the only other teams to collect votes.
Milwaukee was an overwhelming choice to repeat as the top seed in the Eastern Conference at 76%, with the Sixers (24%) getting all the remaining votes.
GMs are predicting the following Eastern Conference playoff order: Bucks, Sixers, Celtics, Nets, Raptors, Pacers, Heat and Magic. Out West, the Clippers were picked as the top team by 66% of GMs, with the Lakers at 14% the only other team in double figures. Still the Nuggets slipped into second in the playoff order, followed by the Lakers, Jazz, Rockets, Warriors, Trail Blazers and Spurs.
Here are a few more highlights from the annual survey:
- Fifty-two percent believe Giannis Antetokounmpo will win his second straight MVP award. There was a three-way tie for second with Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis and Leonard at 10%, followed by Nikola Jokic at 7%. James Harden, LeBron James and Damian Lillard also received votes. Antetokounmpo was picked by 86% of GMs as the player they would like to build a franchise around, while De’Aaron Fox was tabbed as the most likely to have a breakout season.
- The choices for best player at each position were all fairly decisive, with Curry (90%) at point guard, Harden (86%) at shooting guard, Leonard (62%) at small forward, Antetokounmpo (59%) at power forward and Jokic (48%) at center.
- Eighty-two percent said the Clippers made the best offseason moves, followed by the Pelicans at 11%. The Nets and Jazz both got votes. Leonard (67%) was named the player acquisition most likely to have the biggest impact, while Utah’s trade for Mike Conley was the most underrated move (36%).
- Zion Williamson was a clear choice for Rookie of the Year and the rookie who will be the best player in five years, with both numbers at 68%. Ja Morant received 29% support in the ROY poll, while Darius Garland was at 4%.
- Leonard was picked as both the best overall defender (45%) and the best perimeter defender (59%) in the league. Rudy Gobert was selected as best interior defender (93%), while Draymond Green was named the most versatile (38%).
- Gregg Popovich was a runaway winner as best coach at 55%, followed by Erik Spoelstra (17%), Mike Budenholzer (10%) and Steve Kerr (7%).
- The Nuggets were chosen as the most fun to watch by 31% of GMs and the team with the best home-court advantage by 38%.
Clippers win the title? Not a chance with their management. Something will blow up either on the bench, in the locker room or in the front office. They won’t win the Pacific Division.
According to numerous NBA experts, the Clips’ front office is one of the best, if not the best, in the league. And a good front office trickles down and leads to good overall management. Respectfully, I have no idea where you got your opinion.
To be the champ you have to beat the champ. And he’s a clipper now… and he’s runnin’ with PG13…. Of course the clippers are the favorites.
In the WC I’ll take the #2 team that got better over the #8 team that got better still but also got more fragile.
DEN vs PHL
That would be such an epic final, Jokic v Embiid… Ooooh boy, sooo good!
Also a MIL v LAL, would be a good one AD v Giannis!
Whichever GM picked the Blazers to win needs to be fired. No disrespect to them and a healthy Nurkic at some point in the season should make a huge difference, but I’m not buying it.