Regularly, NBA.com writers weigh in on important stories and trending topics from around the league.
The 2023-24 NBA GM Survey will be conducted. What is one thing you agree with and one thing you disagree with?
steve ashburner
I agree that Phoenix’s Devin Booker is the best shooting guard in the NBA.. He received 63% of the vote and received overwhelming support from GM.
No other player scored more than 10%, and that was Stephen Curry. He’s more accurately a point guard, albeit a hybrid. In fact, in “Positionless Basketball,” point guards and small forwards received votes in this slot, and only Booker’s W was confirmed.
I don’t agree that Denver’s Nikola Jokic is the frontrunner to be named MVP.. No one disputes his value to the Nuggets, but the field is wide open considering Kier has won MVP the last two times and was recognized with the team’s championship in June. think.
Over the past five awards, voters have focused on just three players: Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid. Now, a lot of people will want some variety, but Boston’s Jayson Tatum (13%, and my preseason pick) and Dallas’ Luka Doncic (10%) are likely to benefit. think. Don’t forget, too, that GMs have correctly guessed his MVP only four times in 21 years.
brian martin
I agree that Anthony Edwards is most likely to break out in the 2023-24 season. Edwards has already made strides in his third season in the NBA, becoming a top 20 scorer and earning his first All-Star selection, albeit as an alternate. Don’t expect him to need a commissioner’s call this season.
Although the American team failed to win a medal at the FIBA World Cup, Edwards established himself as the “man” of the national team.
Edwards, 22, remains one of the league’s most explosive talents, but his IQ has increased with three years of NBA experience, and his blend of athleticism and intelligence is indicative of a breakout season.
I disagree that the Nuggets will have the most efficient offense in the league this season. To accomplish this, the Nuggets would have to jump over four teams from last season: New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and Sacramento.
The Kings posted the highest offensive rating in league history (118.6) last season, effectively regressing the same team, but their biggest addition is another great shooter in EuroLeague MVP Sasha Bezenkov. . Can the Nuggets do that? Granted, I wouldn’t put them in anything other than Nikola Jokic at this point, but I wouldn’t make them favorites to win.
Sean Powell
I agree that if you’re going to start a team, you should build it around Nikola Jokic. The evidence is where you can see it. At an altitude of 5,280 feet, you may have to duck your neck. Jokic is literally the centerpiece of a championship team, and all the pieces revolve around him.
He is the Nuggets’ best scorer, rebounder, interior defender, and of course passer (historic for a center).
And he’s been doing all of that for the last four or five years, winning MVP two of those years (he probably should have won three). Everything about the Nuggets runs through Jokic, and aside from his skills, his basketball IQ is extremely high. He will often make the right decisions.
The best news is that Jokic hasn’t faltered yet. So, if you’re building a team for the next few years, he’s your guy.
I disagree that Jrue Holiday is the best perimeter defender in the league. I don’t mean to disrespect Jrue, who did a great job on defense, but this honor belongs to Mikal Bridges.
First, Bridges is young. Second: Bridges is more athletic. Third: Bridges is long. Fourth: Bridges defend multiple positions. Fifth: The bridge is higher. Number 6: As you can imagine, Bridges is very good.
Put him 10, 15, 20 feet away from the hoop and he comes into his own. He has lateral quickness that is second to none, can cover 3-point shooters, brings solid instincts, and is versatile. My only concern, and I may be overstating it, is that now that Bridges is such an offensive threat in Brooklyn, will he expend too much energy on that end of the floor? is.
Anyway, the bridge covers about the same amount of flooring as the paint. Just ask the player in front of you.
John Schumann
I agree that Stephen Curry will force opposing coaches to make maximum adjustments.. Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, and Joel Embiid are good answers to this question because they (generally) can’t guard one-on-one.
But Curry terrorizes defenses whether he has the ball or not. If he is dribbling off a ball screen, he has to be on the 3-point line to prevent the screener’s defender from pulling up.
And he never stops moving even after he lets go of the ball, and he always has to take responsibility. It must be tiring for opposing players and coaches to protect him.
I disagree that the Celtics are the best defensive team. Boston finished second in defensive efficiency last season and lost three of its most important defenders in Marcus Smart, Grant Williams and Robert Williams III.
Smart was replaced by Jrue Holiday (great on the ball, not so great off the ball), but the Cs traded Williams and Williams III for Kristaps Porzingis to improve their front-line defense (and switching ability). lost significantly.
The Cleveland Cavaliers had the league’s top-ranked defense last season and didn’t lose a single player critical to their success. Isaac Okoro’s reduced playing time could hurt the defense, but Max Strus and Georges Niang are not completely responsible on that end of the floor and were each top-10 defensemen last season. was playing in
Michael C. Wright
I agree that the Oklahoma City Thunder will be the most improved team. In the past, I was probably guilty of rushing this team’s rebuilding schedule too quickly.
But with Chet Holmgren back healthy, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander developing into one of the best talents in the league, and Josh Guidy taking another step in his development, this is a team that could potentially win 50 games. (Yes, that’s a 10-win improvement from 2022). 23 is lofty).
We got a glimpse of how OKC will use Holmgren this season on Monday, and it’s clear he’s capable of a lot on offense while providing rim protection. Jaylen Williams could emerge as a rookie and become a star in the 2022-23 season.
I disagree that Anthony Edwards is the player most likely to have a breakout season. Edwards, who averaged 24.6 points, was selected as an NBA All-Star for the 2022-23 season, and performed well on the international stage this summer, could he already be making a splash?
Looking at this advantage, Zion Williamson is the frontrunner for a breakout season. Yes, he has already appeared in the NBA All-Star Game twice. However, Williamson has yet to play in more than 61 games due to various injuries.
If healthy, Williamson will step up to make a huge impact on a Pelicans team that is consistently poised for a postseason berth.