The NBA’s general managers have sided overwhelmingly with the Nets over the Knicks.
The Nets racked up 75.9 percent of the votes in an annual poll of the NBA’s 30 general managers to win the Atlantic Division this season. The Knicks picking up the remaining 24.1 percent.
However, none of the GMs gave the Nets a chance to emerge from the Eastern Conference, let alone win the title. The Heat claimed 86.2 percent of the votes to win the East, while the Pacers finished with 10.3 and the Bulls with 3.4.
The Nets were not particularly bothered by the snub.
“I mean, Miami has won the last two years,” Deron Williams said. “They’re the favorites, so we’ve got some work to do. I think it’s tough to come together and win a championship in the first year. I’m not saying it can’t be done. We’re looking to do that, but as far as people not picking us, it’s all right.
“We’re worried about us and worried about getting better. We feel like if we get to the playoffs and we’re healthy, we can beat anybody.”
Paul Pierce said: “I really don’t keep up with what everybody else thinks of us. I guess the obvious choice would be Miami. They’ve won two in a row, so why would anybody pick us right now? We still have a lot to prove.”
The Nets also were snubbed in the “best point guard” and “best center” categories as Williams and Brook Lopez were shut out of the voting. Chris Paul led the point guard category with 70 percent of the vote, with Derrick Rose getting 20 and Tony Parker the other 10. At center, Dwight Howard led the way with 65.5 percent, followed by Marc Gasol (20.7), Tim Duncan (10.3) and Roy Hibbert (3.4).
The Nets had plenty of other mentions in the survey, which prohibited general managers from voting for their own teams or personnel. After splashing owner Mikhail Prokhorov’s cash this summer, including trading for Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry and signing Andrei Kirilenko, the Nets finished second behind the Rockets – which signed Dwight Howard in free agency – for the best offseason with 24.1 percent of the vote.
In addition, the blockbuster trade between the Nets and Celtics tied with Golden State signing Andre Iguodala as the most surprising move of the offseason (21.4 percent), and the Kirilenko signing finished third (14.3 percent). The Kirilenko signing also was tied with Jrue Holiday being traded to New Orleans and Luis Scola being deal to the Pacers as the most underrated move of the offseason with 10 percent of the vote. Pierce’s acquisition also received one vote.
Lawrence Frank, Jason Kidd’s former head coach and top aide, was tapped as the best assistant coach in the league, claiming 21.4 percent of the vote.
The Nets were one of five teams – along with Cleveland, Houston, Minnesota, New Orleans and Washington – to finish tied for second with 13.3 percent of the vote in the most improved team category, trailing only Detroit (16.7 percent).
Garnett’s name was all over the survey. He received a vote as the best power forward in the NBA, finished second behind Duncan for “best leader” (23.3 percent), tied for third (6.9 percent) in “toughest player” and received a vote for which player acquisition will make the biggest impact this season.
Other players to be mentioned were Mirza Teletovic, third behind Toronto’s Jonas Valanciunas and Minnesota’s Ricky Rubio as the international player most likely to have a breakout season with 7.1 percent of the vote; Reggie Evans, who finished fourth in the “best offensive rebounder” category with 10.3 percent of the vote; and Bojan Bogdanovic, whose rights are owned by the Nets and who received one vote as the best international player who isn’t in the NBA.
The Nets also finished tied with the Spurs for fourth (6.9 percent) — behind the Warriors, Clippers and Thunder — in the “which team is most fun to watch” category.
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Here are some notable survey results from the rest of the league:
— For the first time in the 12 years of the survey, Kobe Bryant was not picked as the NBA’s best shooting guard. Even coming off a torn Achilles and entering his 18th NBA season, Bryant received 20 percent of the vote and finished second behind Houston’s James Harden.
— The Heat were the overwhelming choice to claim their third straight title (75.9 percent) and LeBron James to claim another MVP award (69 percent).
— Last year’s No. 1 overall pick, Anthony Davis, was tapped as the player most likely to have a breakout season, with Detroit’s Andre Drummond second and Utah’s Derrick Favors – who just signed a big contract extension and was the key piece going the other way in the Deron Williams trade two-and-a-half years ago – was third.
— Victor Oladipo, who went No. 2 in the draft to the Magic, was tapped as the likely rookie of the year, claiming 80 percent of the vote. The Indiana product also received 40 percent of votes for which rookie will be the best player in five years. Celtics rookie Kelly Olynyk was tapped as the biggest steal in the draft after going 13th overall.
— Tony Parker wrested away the title of “best international player” from Dirk Nowitzki after leading the Spurs to the 2013 Finals. He finished with 53.3 percent of the vote. Marc Gasol was second at 26.7 and Nowitzki took the remaining 20 percent.
— San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich was named the game’s best coach, as well as its best offensive mind. Chicago’s Tom Thibodeau was credited for being the best defensive coach.