Posted Oct 28 2008 6:07PM
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
Which team has the best home-court advantage?
1. Utah -- 44.4%
2. Boston -- 25.9%
3. L.A. Lakers -- 7.4%
Others receiving votes: Dallas, Detroit, Golden State, Miami, Portland, San Antonio
Which player is the most athletic?
1. LeBron James -- 59.3%
2. Josh Smith -- 22.2%
Others receiving votes: Kobe Bryant, Shawn Marion, Jamario Moon, Dwyane Wade, Gerald Wallace
Which player is the best pure shooter?
1. Ray Allen -- 61.1%
2. Jason Kapono -- 14.8%
3. Peja Stojakovic -- 9.3%
4. Kyle Korver -- 7.4%
Michael Redd -- 7.4%
Which player is the fastest with the ball?
1. Chris Paul -- 37.0%
2. Tony Parker -- 18.5%
3. T.J. Ford -- 14.8%
4. Leandro Barbosa -- 11.1%
5. Allen Iverson -- 7.4%
Others receiving votes: Monta Ellis, Jason Kidd, Rajon Rondo
Which player is best at moving without the ball?
1. Richard Hamilton -- 76.9%
2. Ray Allen -- 7.7%
Others receiving votes: Kobe Bryant, Caron Butler, Manu Ginobili, Paul Pierce
Which player is the best at getting his own shot?
1. Kobe Bryant - 81.5%
2. Tracy McGrady -- 7.4%
Others receiving votes: Manu Ginobili, Ben Gordon, LeBron James
Which player is the best offensive rebounder?
1. Tyson Chandler -- 38.5%
2. Dwight Howard -- 30.8%
3. Reggie Evans -- 11.5%
Others receiving votes: Carlos Boozer, Elton Brand, Jeff Foster, Pau Gasol, Luis Scola
Which player is the best passer?
1. Steve Nash -- 44.4%
2. Chris Paul -- 33.3%
3. Jason Kidd -- 18.5%
4. Deron Williams -- 3.7%
Which player is the best in the open court?
1. LeBron James -- 37.0%
2. Chris Paul - 22.2%
3. Steve Nash -- 11.1%
Dwyane Wade -- 11.1%
5. Kobe Bryant -- 7.4%
Others receiving votes: Manu Ginobili, Jason Kidd, Deron Williams
Who is the best finisher?
1. LeBron James -- 63.0%
2. Kobe Bryant -- 7.4%
Dwight Howard -- 7.4%
Tony Parker -- 7.4%
Others receiving votes: Shawn Marion, Josh Smith, Amare Stoudemire, Dwyane Wade
Which player does the most with least?
1. Bruce Bowen -- 12.5%
2. Reggie Evans -- 8.3%
Steve Nash -- 8.3%
Fabricio Oberto -- 8.3%
Mehmet Okur -- 8.3%
Luke Walton -- 8.3%
Others receiving votes: Shane Battier, Carlos Boozer, Udonis Haslem, LeBron James, Andre Miller, Paul Millsap, Kendrick Perkins, Luis Scola, Robert Swift, Kurt Thomas, David West
Who is the toughest player in the NBA?
1. Ron Artest -- 37.0%
2. Kobe Bryant -- 14.8%
3. Matt Harpring -- 7.4%
Chris Paul -- 7.4%
5. Manu Ginobili -- 5.6%
Others receiving votes: Raja Bell, Bruce Bowen, Joey Dorsey, Kevin Garnett, Allen Iverson, Kenyon Martin, Andres Nocioni, Ben Wallace
Which player is the best leader?
1. Kevin Garnett -- 51.9%
2. Tim Duncan -- 11.1%
Steve Nash -- 11.1%
Chris Paul -- 11.1%
5. Jason Kidd -- 7.4%
Others receiving votes: Derek Fisher, LeBron James
Which player in the NBA would you want taking a shot with the game on the line?
1. Kobe Bryant -- 88.9%
Others receiving votes: Gilbert Arenas, LeBron James, Paul Pierce
* - Percentages are based on the pool of respondents to each question of the survey, rather than all 30 general managers.
 | Celtic's on the Run The Celtic's complete the fast break with Rondo threading the needle to Chris Wilcox for the slam. |
 | Bulls vs. Celtics: First half Rajon Rondo scores 16 points in the first half and the Celtics lead the Bulls 48-43 heading into the break. |
 | Stiemsma Blocks and Rondo Scores Greg Stiemsma makes the block and Rajon Rondo races to the basket for the easy deuce. |
 | Rondo's Between the Legs Pass In his attempt to save the ball, Rajon Rondo makes a between the legs pass to Chris Wilcox, who flushes it home. |
 | Bryant's Game Winner Kobe Bryant sinks a jumper with four seconds left on the clock to give the Lakers' a one-point lead. |
 | DeRozan's Baseline And-1 DeMar DeRozan cuts down the baseline for the layup plus the foul. |
 | Big to Big Pass Pau Gasol throws an over the top lob to Andrew Bynum, who flushes home the two-handed dunk. |
 | Bynum to the Rescue Andrew Bynum tips in Kobe's missed jumper right before the buzzer sounds. |
 | Johnson's Rim Rocker James Johnson takes advantage of the Lakers listless defense and heads straight to the rack for the two-handed dunk. |
 | Johnson's Coast-to-Coast Dunk After collecting the rebound, James Johnson goes coast to coast to the rim and slams it with authority. |
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