Halftime Hype

The NBA's general managers have cast their votes. Although the current Vegas odds have the Miami Heat winning the title, 63% of the league's general managers believe the Los Angeles Lakers will follow through on a three-peat. In contrast, only a third of GMs think the Larry O'Brien trophy is headed to South Beach.

They certainly have the resources to do so. On the sidelines, the team has Phil Jackson, who was voted best coach by 39% of GMs. In the post, they have Pau Gasol, who is tied with Dirk Nowitzki after receiving 29% of the votes. Of course, there's always Kobe Bryant. 79% voted picked Bryant as the player they most want taking the shot with the game on the line. Furthermore, 86% of GMs say that the Black Mamba is the best shooting guard.

Bryant was also voted second-most likely to win the MVP award with 26% of the votes. Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant finished first with 67% of the executives backing him.

Other results/facts (Source: Truehoop):
* The Wizards' John Wall, this year's top overall pick, earned 68 percent of the vote as this year's likely rookie of the year. Last year's top pick, the Clippers' Blake Griffin, will also be a rookie after missing a season to injury, and received 29 percent of the vote.

* For the first time, Deron Williams (50 percent) of the Utah Jazz was voted as the top point guard in the league, overtaking the New Orleans Hornets’ Chris Paul (36 percent).

* The Dallas Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki (29 percent) and Lakers’ Pau Gasol (29 percent) finished tied as the best power forward in the league, replacing the San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan, who had been selected as the best at his position for the past eight years.

* The Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard (96 percent) was voted as the top center.

* The Heat’s James (68 percent) was named the best small forward.

* The Lakers’ Bryant (86 percent) was voted the best shooting guard. Bryant is currently the only player to have been selected as the best at his position every year of the survey.

* Thirty-nine percent of GMs believe the Heat will be the most improved team in 2010-11 while 14 percent of general managers feel the New York Knicks and Washington Wizards would be the most improved teams.

* For the ninth consecutive season, Bryant (79 percent) was also selected by GMs as the player they most want taking the shot with the game on the line.

* Nowitzki (57 percent) was voted the top international player.

* Durant (56 percent) was voted as the top player GMs would sign to start an NBA franchise.

* The Boston Celtics (100 percent) were unanimously picked to win the Atlantic Division, Chicago Bulls (82 percent) in the Central Division and the Miami Heat (74 percent) in the Southeast Division. In the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers (96 percent) were predicted to win the Pacific Division, the Dallas Mavericks (71 percent) in the Southwest Division, and the Oklahoma City Thunder (63 percent) in the Northwest Division.

* The Magic’s Dwight Howard was voted best defensive player (78 percent).

* The Bulls’ Derrick Rose was voted fastest with the ball (21 percent).

* The Suns’ Steve Nash won the vote as best passer (75 percent).

* The Clippers' Griffin tied the Thunder’s Russell Westbrook as the most likely to have a breakout season (15 percent).

* The Oklahoma City Thunder were called the most fun team to watch (52 percent).

* The Celtics’ Ray Allen was voted the best pure shooter (54 percent).

* The Utah Jazz were voted the team with the best home court advantage (46 percent).