BasketNews' GM survey 2021: Final Four, MVP, and Coach of the Year predictions / News - Basketnews.com

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BasketNewsproudly presents its very first survey of the general managers from the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague clubs.

The majority of the EuroLeague GMs shared their opinions about off-season moves, revealed their possible strategies, and took part in predicting what’s going to happen in the upcoming season.

In the first part of the survey, we present answers from the off-season moves category. The survey was anonymous, so the participants were able to be as genuine as possible.

You can find the first part of the survey here.

Who will win the EuroLeague?

FC Barcelona led the way in this category, getting 45.5% of respondents’ votes. CSKA Moscow were the runners-up with 36.4% of the votes cast.

Last year’s champions Anadolu Efes Istanbul and third-place finishers AX Armani Exchange Milan received 9.1% of votes each.

Team Vote cast FC Barcelona 45.5% CSKA Moscow 36.4% Anadolu Efes Istanbul 9.1% AX Armani Exchange Milan 9.1%

Who will win the regular season MVP award?

In this segment, Vasilije Micic dominated the poll. The reigning EuroLeague MVP gained 54.6% of favorable answers. Mike James was second with 18.2%.

Zenit’s newcomer Shabazz Napier, CSKA’s double-double machine Nikola Milutinov, and Vasilije Micic’s co-partner Shane Larkin got 9.1% of votes each.

Interestingly, Barca’s leader Nikola Mirotic was not among the mentioned athletes. It seems that averages of 15.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1 assist in last season did not convince the GMs.

Player Vote cast Vasilije Micic 54.6% Mike James 18.2% Shabazz Napier 9.1% Nikola Milutinov 9.1% Shane Larkin 9.1%

Who will be the Coach of the Year?

Two-time EuroLeague Coach of the Year (2016, 2019), Dimitris Itoudis, shared the victory in this category with Barcelona’s bench boss Sarunas Jasikevicius. Both masterminds received 27.3% of all votes each.

Basketball professor and four-time EuroLeague champion Ettore Messina got 18.2% of respondents’ trust.

Between the honorable mentions were Real’s long-time coach Pablo Laso, Fenerbahce’s Aleksandar Djordjevic, and Zenit’s tactician Xavi Pascual. All three well-known head coaches collected 9.1% of votes each.

Coach Vote cast Dimitris Itoudis 27.3% Sarunas Jasikevicius 27.3% Ettore Messina 18.2% Pablo Laso 9.1% Aleksandar Djordjevic 9.1% Xavi Pascual 9.1%

Who will advance to the Final Four?

All participants of the survey believe that Barca and Efes will secure a spot in the Final Four. CSKA followed the leaders, getting 81.8% of all possible votes.

Real Madrid, with summer reinforcements of Nigel Williams-Goss, Thomas Heurtel, Adam Hanga, and Guerschon Yabusele collected 45.5% of votes.

Milan’s squad was fifth and made it to 36.4%.

Team Vote cast FC Barcelona 100% Anadolu Efes Istanbul 100% CSKA Moscow 81.8% Real Madrid 45.5% AX Armani Exchange Milan 36.4% Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul 18.2% Zenit St. Petersburg 9.1% Olympiacos Piraeus 9.1%

Who will enter the All-Euroleague team?

No surprise that MVP Vasilije Micic led the route there, receiving 81.8% of all possible votes. Mirotic was honored as a runner-up with 63.6%.

Another two Barca players Brandon Davies and Cory Higgins, were among the athletes who assembled 36.4% of votes. Without the Catalans’ dynamic duo, such a number of votes got Shane Larkin and Nikola Milutinov.

Will Clyburn, the “European LeBron James” and dominant force under the baskets Walter Tavares gathered 27.3% of EuroLeague GMs’ votes.

Player Vote cast Vasilije Micic 81.8% Nikola Mirotic 63.6% Brandon Davies 36.4% Cory Higgins 36.4% Shane Larkin 36.4% Nikola Milutinov 36.4% Will Clyburn 27.3% Walter Tavares 27.3% Rokas Giedraitis 18.2% Vincent Poirier 18.2% Nick Calathes 18.2% Mike James 9.1% Alexey Shved 9.1% Shavon Shields 9.1% Nicolo Melli 9.1% Shabazz Napier 9.1% Nikola Kalinic 9.1% Marius Grigonis 9.1% Nando De Colo 9.1% Ioannis Papapetrou 9.1% Like what we are doing? You can express your gratitude here.