GM Survey: Defense

Will the Boston Celtics be the first NBA team to repeat as champions since the 2002 Lakers? Perhaps it will be the latest version of the Lake Show to stop them? Is this the year that the King gets crowned MVP? Which team helped themselves the most this summer? Will the Rookie of the Year come from this year's draft class or last year's?

NBA.com posed these questions and more to the league's general managers, and nearly all of the GM's responded to our survey.*

Here's what the guys who call the shots think will transpire this season.

• Predictions
• Players
• Moves
• Rookies & International
• Defense
• Coaches
• Miscellaneous
• Q&A with Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak
• 2008-09 NBA Expert Predictions
• 2008-09 NBA Celebrity Predictions
• 2007-2008 GM Survey

Who is the best defensive player in the NBA?
1. Kevin Garnett -- 44.4%
2. Ron Artest -- 22.2%
3. Kobe Bryant -- 11.1%
4. Bruce Bowen -- 7.4%
Tim Duncan -- 7.4%
Others receiving votes: Marcus Camby, Tyson Chandler

Who is the best perimeter defender in the NBA?
1. Bruce Bowen -- 44.4%
2. Kobe Bryant -- 25.9%
3. Ron Artest -- 14.8%
Others receiving votes: Shane Battier, Raja Bell, James Posey, Tayshaun Prince

Who is the best interior defender in the NBA?
1. Kevin Garnett -- 40.7%
2. Tim Duncan -- 18.5%
Dwight Howard -- 18.5%
4. Marcus Camby -- 7.4%
Tyson Chandler -- 7.4%
Others receiving votes: DeSagana Diop, Josh Smith

Who is the best on-the-ball defender in the NBA?
1. Kobe Bryant -- 26.9%
2. Ron Artest -- 19.2%
Bruce Bowen -- 19.2%
Rajon Rondo -- 19.2%
Others receiving votes: Devin Harris, Kirk Hinrich, Josh Howard, Mickael Pietrus

Which player best defends the passing lanes in the NBA?
1. Allen Iverson -- 26.9%
2. Trevor Ariza - 11.5%
Caron Butler - 11.5%
4. Kobe Bryant -- 7.7%
LeBron James -- 7.7%
Chris Paul -- 7.7%
Others receiving votes: Ron Artest, Leandro Barbosa, Baron Davis, Andre Iguodala, Kevin Martin, James Posey, Rajon Rondo

* - Percentages are based on the pool of respondents to each question of the survey, rather than all 30 general managers.