GM survey

NBA general managers predict the Los Angeles Lakers to defeat the Boston Celtics in The Finals according to respondents of the Seventh Annual NBA.com GM Survey. The complete NBA.com GM Survey results are now posted on NBA.com.

Forty-six percent of GMs believe the Lakers will win their 15th NBA title in 2009. The defending NBA champion Boston Celtics received 19 percent of the vote, followed by the New Orleans Hornets with 12 percent. For the first time in five years, the majority of GMs did not select the San Antonio Spurs (eight percent) to win the title.

Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James (56 percent) was selected by GMs for the third consecutive year to win the regular season MVP. Reigning MVP, Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers received 37 percent of the vote and the New Orleans Hornets' Chris Paul garnered seven percent.

For the seventh consecutive season, Bryant (89 percent) was selected by GMs as the player they most want taking the shot with the game on the line. Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks (67 percent) was voted the top international player and James (67 percent) was voted as the top player GMs would sign to start an NBA franchise.

Here's some other fun answers:
· Spurs' Gregg Popovich - best head coach in the NBA (54 percent)
· Utah Jazz - best home-court advantage (44 percent)
· Celtics' Kevin Garnett - best defensive player (44 percent)
· Lakers' Andrew Bynum - most likely to have breakout season (19 percent)
· New Orleans Hornets - most fun team to watch (27 percent)
· Portland Trail Blazers and Miami Heat - most improved team (each 26 percent)
· Knicks' Mike D'Antoni - head coach that runs the best offense (54 percent)
· Hornets' Chris Paul - fastest player with the ball (37 percent)
· Blazers' Rudy Fernandez - which international rookie is most ready to contribute this season (52 percent)