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By Dan McCarney
Coming off his second NBA Coach of the Year award, Gregg Popovich has added another honor to his résumé — landslide selection as the league’s best coach in an anonymous survey of general managers.
Popovich took 80 percent of the vote, according to NBA.com. It marked the fourth time in the past six years he’s finished atop the poll, which is conducted annually.
Popovich also finished first in the categories of best people manager/motivator and making the best in-game adjustments.
He took second in best offensive and defensive schemes, tying Minnesota coach Rick Adelman in the former category.
Popovich’s lead deputy, Mike Budenholzer, was named the league’s second-best assistant coach, finishing narrowly behind Brian Shaw of Indiana. Colleague Brett Brown also received a vote.
Multiple Spurs players were recognized across a broad array of categories:
– Kawhi Leonard — tied for second, player most likely to have a breakout season.
– Tim Duncan — tied for second, highest basketball IQ; tied for third, best leader; also received votes, best power forward; also received votes, toughest player.
– Manu Ginobili — third, best at moving without the ball; sixth, highest basketball IQ; also received votes, best shooting guard; also received votes, best international player; also received votes, toughest player.
– Tony Parker — fourth, best point guard; also received votes, best international player; also received votes, fastest with the ball.
– Tiago Splitter — also received votes, international player most likely to have a breakout season.
– Matt Bonner — also received votes, makes the most of limited natural ability.
– Danny Green — also received votes, makes the most of limited natural ability.
The Spurs tied with Golden State and the Los Angeles Clippers as the fourth-most entertaining team to watch.
Despite being a nearly unanimous pick to win the Southwest Division — general managers cannot select their own team or players — the Spurs did not receive any votes to win the Western Conference.
The Miami Heat were picked by 21 of 30 GMs to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals. GMs have successfully predicted five of the last 10 champions, including San Antonio in 2004-05 and 2006-07.
dmccarney@express-news.net
Twitter: @danmccarneySAEN