New York Knicks: Slighted In The GM Survey

The NBA released the general manager survey on Tuesday. Every year, all 30 general managers answer 56 questions relating to the best players, coaches, teams, and fans around the league. To no surprise, LeBron James and the Miami Heat dominated most of the categories. The Heat or one of their players received votes in 31 out of 40 eligible questions. Sixty-nine percent of GMs believe LeBron James will win his fifth MVP, which would tie him with Michael Jordan and Bill Russell for the second-most in NBA history. Just short of 76 percent said the Miami Heat will be the sixth team to ever three-peat. Five other teams, however, received votes to win the 2014 Finals, the most in five years.

GMs voted Tim Duncan the best power forward after a three-year absence. For the first time in history of the survey (12 years), they did not vote Kobe Bryant as the best shooting guard and 39 percent of GMs want Kevin Durant taking the last shot.

As the GMs praised the Miami Heat, they seemed to bash the New York Knicks. Only 24 percent think that the Knicks will win the Atlantic Division for the second year in a row. The remaining 76 percent went to the Knicks’ crosstown rivals, the Brooklyn Nets. Although, there may not be much weight to this answer. Last year, 66 percent of GMs believed the Boston Celtics would win the division and look how that turned out.

Carmelo Anthony not universally loved by NBA general managers. (Flickr.com photo by Keith Allison)

As for the Knicks’ star, Carmelo Anthony, he received some praise and some neglect. Anthony did receive some votes for the 2013-14 MVP. LeBron James and Kevin Durant, however, dominated the category, combining for 93 percent of the votes. Also, nearly 17 percent of GMs voted Anthony the best at getting off his own shot, while 7 percent said they would want the ball in his hands with the game on the line.

The neglect came in two other categories. Anthony did not receive a single vote in the “best pure shooter” category nor the “best small forward.” Stephen Curry almost received the majority for best pure shooter, whereas LeBron James and Kevin Durant tallied up 100 percent of the votes in the latter category.

A few other categories where Knicks players or coaches were recognized include, most surprising offseason acquisition (Andrea Bargnani), best interior defender (Tyson Chandler), best assistant coach (Darrell Walker) and toughest player in the league (Metta World Peace).

What do you think about the survey? Let us known in the comment section below.

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