NBA GMs survey offers high praise for Joe Mazzulla

Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla. | Don Juan Moore/GettyImagesEach year before the NBA season tips off, the league's general managers -- or whoever they ask to do it for them -- fill out a survey about an abundance of topics regarding the upcoming campaign.

This go-around came with an appreciation for what might be Joe Mazzulla's best attribute: his ability to connect with people. Among the Association's head coaches, he and Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors received the third-most votes for the "best manager/motivator of people." Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat garnered the most votes. Ime Udoka of the Houston Rockets placed second.

As newcomer Josh Minott noted at the Boston…