NBA General Managers make their picks for 2007-08
GM Survey: Defense

Is this the year that the Spurs repeat? Or do the Suns finally break through? Is LeBron poised for an MVP season? Can anyone challenge Kevin Durant for the Rookie of the Year award? Will Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen make the Celtics the most improved team?

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.


Heat
Bruce Bowen
Who is the best defensive player in the NBA?
1. Bruce Bowen, San Antonio 38.5%
2. Tim Duncan, San Antonio 28.8%
3. Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers 9.6%
4. Ben Wallace, Chicago 7.7%
Others receiving votes: Ron Artest, Sacramento: Raja Bell, Phoenix; Marcus Camby, Denver; Dikembe Mutombo, Houston
Last year's pick: Ben Wallace


Heat
Bruce Bowen
Who is the best perimeter defender in the NBA?
1. Bruce Bowen, San Antonio 53.8%
2. Ron Artest, Sacramento 23.1%
3. Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers 19.2%
4. Raja Bell, Phoenix 3.8%
Last year's pick: Bruce Bowen


Heat
Tim Duncan
Who is the best interior defender in the NBA?
1. Tim Duncan, San Antonio 46.2%
2. Marcus Camby, Denver 15.4%
Ben Wallace, Chicago 15.4%
Others receiving votes: Tyson Chandler, New Orleans; Kevin Garnett, Boston; Dwight Howard, Orlando; Alonzo Mourning, Miami; Dikembe Mutombo, Houston; Rasheed Wallace, Detroit
Last year's pick: Ben Wallace


Heat
Bruce Bowen
Who is the best on-the-ball defender in the NBA?
1. Bruce Bowen, San Antonio 46.2%
2. Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers 23.1%
3. Ron Artest, Sacramento 7.7%
Kyle Lowry, Memphis 7.7%
Others receiving votes: Chauncey Billups, Detroit; Luol Deng, Chicago; Devin Harris, Dallas; Kirk Hinrich, Chicago
Last year's pick: N/A


Heat
Allen Iverson
Which player best defends the passing lanes in the NBA?
1. Allen Iverson, Denver 19.2%
2. Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers 11.5%
Caron Butler, Washington 11.5%
4. Jason Kidd, New Jersey 7.7%
Others receiving votes: Ron Artest, Sacramento; Leandro Barbosa, Phoenix; Shane Battier, Houston; Raja Bell, Phoenix; Bruce Bowen, San Antonio; Baron Davis, Golden State; Manu Ginobili, San Antonio; Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia; LeBron James, Cleveland; Andrei Kirilenko, Utah; Kevin Martin, Sacramento; Tayshaun Prince, Detroit; Gerald Wallace, Charlotte
Last year's pick: N/A
FULL RESULTS
- Defense
PAST RESULTS


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