Boston Celtics: 5 thoughts, highlights from NBA GM Survey

Were the Celtics snubbed on any questions?

Well, the short answer is “no.” GMs are generally very high on Boston this year. But if we put on our Green Teamer hats, we can certainly come up with a couple.

Marcus Smart did not receive any votes for best perimeter defender, and that’s a little weird. His defensive impact is well documented, so you’d think he’d earn some place in this discussion. Similarly, with Al Horford in the Defensive Player of the Year discussion, you’d have expected him to earn some votes as the best interior defender – especially considering Dwight Howard somehow earned votes.

And here’s one: the GMs were asked which player is best at moving without the ball. Guards and wings earned all the votes, which makes sense; we tend to think of off-ball movement as shooters running around off screens. But if the GMs had been a little bit more creative, Al Horford could definitely have entered this discussion. He is constantly active on offense, setting screens and directing traffic.

Centers don’t really get considered in this poll, but perhaps they should. But considering that plea for creativity is where we’re at, let’s draw the line. There aren’t any real snubs to speak of. GMs are on the Boston hype train as much as fans are. Take that as a good sign, Celtics nation.