Can the Golden State Warriors make it three straight and four out of five? The league’s decision-makers think so, though a few of them have left the door open for a new champ.
In the 17th annual NBA.com GM Survey, the Warriors are once again the overwhelming favorite to win the 2019 championship, just not quite as overwhelming a favorite as they were a year ago, when 93 percent of GMs picked them to repeat. With LeBron James moving to the Western Conference, the GMs have picked the Boston Celtics to return to The Finals after a seven-year absence, and there’s some belief out there that the Celtics can dethrone the champs.
The Celtics are led by the new “best head coach in the NBA,” have one of the league’s most promising young cores, and a star that one GM tabbed to win the MVP this season. But Kyrie Irving was just one of nine MVP candidates, the most in the history of the survey. There’s no consensus on the player GMs would most like to start a franchise either, with four different players receiving at least five votes on that question.
One of those four is LeBron James, who is entering his 16th season and his 13th season as the league’s best small forward, according to GMs. He also remains the player that forces coaches to make the most adjustments, the best passer, the best leader, the most versatile player, and the player with the best basketball IQ.
The GMs responded to 49 different questions about the best teams, players, coaches, fans, and offseason moves. General managers were not permitted to vote for their own team or personnel. Percentages are based on the pool of respondents to that particular question, rather than all 30 GMs.
PREDICTIONS
Which team will win the 2019 NBA Finals?
1. Golden State – 87%
2. Boston – 7%
Houston – 7%
Last year: Golden State – 93%
Rank the top four teams in the Eastern Conference
Last year: 86 percent picked Cleveland to win the East. Order after the Cavs was Boston, Washington, Toronto, Milwaukee and Charlotte/Miami.
Rank the top four teams in the Western Conference
Last year: 97 percent picked Golden State to win the West. Order after the Warriors was Houston, San Antonio, Oklahoma City, Minnesota and Portland.
