One more week and the NBA 2015-2016 season tips off, but experts say there'll be a different champion once the season concludes.
Majority of the general managers in the NBA are in agreement that the defending champions Golden State Warriors will not make a repeat of their successful blitz last season. Instead, they concur that the team who will be hoisting the Larry O'Brien trophy are last season's runner-ups, the Cleveland Cavaliers.
30 NBA general managers were surveyed by NBA.com and asked who they think will go all the way to win the NBA 2015-2016 season. 53.6 percent of them, over half of the GMs questioned, are convinced that LeBron James and the rest of the Cavs will be successful the second time around, with James nabbing his fifth MVP plum.
The Cleveland Cavaliers were also picked to be the most dominant team in the Eastern Conference this coming season, according to Examiner.
Experts pointed out James' return to the Cavaliers' fold as an important factor for the struggling franchise. With the addition of star forward Kevin Love last year, the Cavs formed its own Big Three, which is spearheaded by James and supported by Love and point guard Kyrie Irving.
Prior to James' return, the Irving-led Cavaliers registered an abysmal outing in the NBA 2013-2014 season. The team only won 33 games and dropped 44. Not even adult entertainment actress Ana Devine's fleshy offer was helpful in spurring the team to the playoffs.
James coming back to Cleveland for the NBA 2014-2015 season after a disappointing stint with the Miami Heat turned the Cavs into instant title contenders, with a record of 53 victories and 29 losses.
Of the GMs surveyed, only 17.9 percent believes the Golden State Warriors can pull a back-to-back run.
However, Warriors' GM Bob Myers shrugged off the prediction, the CSN Bay Area reports. Myers argued that many GMs have been wrong about their predictions and analysis more often than not.
The whole survey consisted of 49 questions about the best teams, pleases, coaches, and offseason decisions and business moves. Participants were not allowed to vote or select their own personnel or team.
