I pasted all the on-topic answers. Full article here. What was the most surprising move of the offseason? 1. LeBron James going to Miami 67.3% 2. Wesley Matthews' contract with Portland 11.5% What was the most underrated player acquisition? 1. Al Jefferson, Utah 21.4% 2. Steve Blake, L.A. Lakers 14.3% Which international player is most likely to have a breakout season in 2009-10? 1. Rodrigue Beaubois, Dallas 21.4% 2. Nicolas Batum, Portland 10.7% 2. Omri Casspi, Sacramento 10.7% 2. Tiago Splitter, San Antonio 10.7% Which team will win the Northwest Division? 1. Oklahoma City 63.0% 2. Portland 22.2% 3. Utah 11.1% 4. Denver 3.7% - Last year: Portland 42.9% Which player is most likely to have a breakout season in 2010-11? 1. Blake Griffin, L.A. Clippers; Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City 14.8% 3. Derrick Rose, Chicago 11.1% 4. Darren Collison, Indiana; Jrue Holiday, Philadelphia; JaVale McGee, Washington 7.4% Also receiving votes: Marcus Aldridge, Portland; Which head coach has the best defensive schemes? 1. Doc Rivers, Boston 28.6% 2. Gregg Popovich, San Antonio 25.0% 3. Stan Van Gundy, Orlando 10.7% 4. Larry Brown, Charlotte 7.1% 4. Nate McMillan, Portland 7.1% Which team has the best home-court advantage? 1. Utah 46.4% 2. L.A. Lakers 21.4% 3. Oklahoma City 7.1% Also receiving votes: Boston, Dallas, Denver, Golden State, Miami, Portland, San Antonio Which player is the best at getting his own shot? 1. Kobe Bryant 70.4% 2. Dwyane Wade 11.1% 3. Carmelo Anthony 7.4% Also receiving votes: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City; LeBron James, Miami; Brandon Roy, Portland Which player is the best offensive rebounder? 1. Dwight Howard, Orlando 37.0% 2. Kevin Love, Minnesota 11.1% 3. Pau Gasol, L.A. Lakers; Brendan Haywood, Dallas; Zach Randolph, Memphis; Josh Smith, Atlanta 7.4% Also receiving votes: Al Jefferson, Utah; David Lee, Golden State; Paul Millsap, Utah; Greg Oden, Portland; Luis Scola, Houston; Anderson Varejao, Cleveland Which player has the best basketball IQ? 1. Steve Nash, Phoenix 46.3% 2. Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers 22.2% 3. Jason Kidd, Dallas 14.8% Also receiving votes: Shane Battier, Houston; Chauncey Billups, Denver; Andre Miller, Portland; Chris Paul, New Orleans; Tayshaun Prince, Detroit
I would assume so. At the time, criticizing the size of the contract seemed a valid concern. Still does, IMO. I hope Wes lives up to it and develops into a 6th Man OTY candidate.
Funny how Doc Rivers (who no one before boston ever confused with a tactics coach) is #1, while his Defensive Coordinator Thibodeaux is now a head coach and implementing his schemes somewhere else yet nowhere on the list. If it's just BBIQ I'd have kidd over Nash. Swap them if you want to add "ability to execute on it". OKC twice as likely to win the NW than everyone else combined? What did they add to make their leap?
Kevin Durant makes their hype this year > our hype last year before the injuries. KD is good, but OKC is a bit overrated right now.
KD had an all-time great season last year. Even if he ups it by 5% or so and has the best season anyone's ever had, what does that do for their win total with no center to speak of--assuming that Westbrook and Green progress upward a bit they still have Collison, Ibaka, BJ Mullens, Cole Aldrich and Nenad Krstic anchoring their front line. Color me not as impressed as an NBA GM. Their team finished behind us last year, with all of the injuries. Our guys are still about as young as theirs (excepting Miller for Krstic). I ask again, what did they add?
I don't understand the infatuation with OKC. Their bigs are just as bad as the group of bigs in PHX and they're due to have some injuries this year, after that fluke of a season injury-wise last year.
The suns have just one player who will rebound and contest shots with Lopez in the post, the Thunder at least have Ibaka and Collison, who are either good on defense or are decent glass cleaners, and Aldrich might end up being half way decent.
The margin between OKC and the Blazers in that poll seems absurd to me at this moment. The GMs must have got the Stern memo about what players and teams will be 'favored' this season.
