Too-Early Predictions for Every Major NBA Award in 2012-13

An NBA season is often defined by a consistent display of patterns and trends. For instance, every year we will see the unfortunate injuries and breathtaking buzzer-beaters. We'll have our upsets, our blowouts and, of course, the games that find their way onto ESPN Classic. A few monster scoring outbursts can also be expected.

The one occurrence that remains true to form in every sense of the word, however, is that of the NBA awards process. The greatest players this game has to offer will be honored, and the debates will begin about who was snubbed or wrongly crowned.

Fortunately, those labels will be given much earlier than six months from now. In fact, the following slides will present each reader with a launching pad for debate, as is the consistent result with NBA award predictions.

Scoring Title

Although the scoring title is not recognized as an official award by the NBA, the value of such an achievement has grown marginally over the past decade. Such has proven true, as Kevin Durant has won three consecutive scoring crowns and has instantly become a choice for one of the great players in the world today.

So who will be the next in the line of great scorers?

The last time a player won the NBA scoring title four years in a row was when Michael Jordan won it every year from 1987 to 1993. Wilt Chamberlain also achieved it seven consecutive seasons, from 1960 to 1966.

Will Durant be the next player to etch his name into the record books? The answer to that question is a resounding yes.

Durant arguably is the most dynamic scorer the NBA has ever seen. He's a 6'9" forward who can shoot the lights out, take an opponent off the dribble and finish both at the rim and from beyond the arc.

As of the 2011-12 NBA postseason, Durant also has established himself as the best clutch performer the league has to offer. Tack on an extra three to six points in the final two minutes of a game, and you have Durant's second career 30-point-per-game season.

Carmelo Anthony will come close, but Durant will walk away with the scoring title for the fourth straight season.

Ogden's Pick: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

Runners-Up: Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks; Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers; LeBron James, Miami Heat; Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

Rookie of the Year

I think it's safe to say that this will be one of the tightest battles for the Rookie of the Year award we've ever seen.

Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Hornets is the virtually unanimous favorite due to his status as the first overall draft choice. His playing with Team USA during the 2012 London Olympics only further strengthens his odds to take home the honor.

Bradley Beal, meanwhile, has drawn comparisons to both Eric Gordon and future Hall of Famer Ray Allen. He will be playing alongside former first overall draft pick John Wall, who averaged 8.0 assists in 2012 with virtually no one to pass to.

This time around, Wall will have Beal to hit on the perimeter for a handful of three-pointers each night out.

Although he was drafted during the 2011 NBA draft, Jonas Valanciunas will finally join the Toronto Raptors this season. The stop-minded big man will join a top-10 defense and likely will become the centerpiece early in the year.

None of these players will garner as many votes as the rookie point guard, though, who could guide his team to a first-year postseason berth.

Damian Lillard came from virtual obscurity to become the sixth overall draft choice in the 2012 NBA draft. He was the first point guard selected and is entering a situation in which an All-NBA-caliber power forward, LaMarcus Aldridge, is at his disposal.

Lillard also will have J.J. Hickson, who broke out in a major way during his short time with Portland a year ago. On the perimeter, Lillard will be able to toss the ball to elite three-point shooters Wesley Matthews and Nicolas Batum.

As long as he scores as he's expected to, there won't be a statistical comparison between what Lillard is doing and what other rookie point guards have achieved. With his competing for the eighth seed in the West, which is a major toss-up, Lillard's award odds improve significantly.

Ogden's Pick: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

Others Receiving Votes: Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards; Anthony Davis, New Orleans Hornets; Jonas Valanciunas, Toronto Raptors

Most Improved Player of the Year

The Most Improved Player of the Year award is often decided by significant statistical improvement. For that reason, this will become a two-man race between Evan Turner of the Philadelphia 76ers and Lamar Odom of the Los Angeles Clippers—both of whom play at a greater level than their 2011-12 stat line would suggest.

Although Odom has more room for improvement, it will be Turner who takes home this award. His versatility is similar to that of Odom, and he likely will rival the big man in both rebounds and assists with his move to small forward.

A significant increase in scoring also can be expected as Turner enters his third year in Doug Collins' system and his first without Andre Iguodala stealing the ball-handling duties.

For that reason, it's fair to estimate that Turner will see upwards of six rebounds and four assists per contest. With close to 15 points per game also being poured in, as well as a handful of nationally televised games due to the arrival of Andrew Bynum, Turner should become a fan favorite early.

As Ryan Anderson has shown us, that oftentimes has more bearing on the award than how much you've actually improved.

With all of this being noted, there is a third name to consider for this award.

JaVale McGee, who has come leaps and bounds since joining George Karl in Denver, will see a statistical improvement of his own. What's truly significant about his improvements, however, will be his fundamental improvements from what he displayed in Washington.

Through all of the commotion, Turner remains the choice here.

Ogden's Pick: Evan Turner, Philadelphia 76ers

Others Receiving Votes: JaVale McGee, Denver Nuggets; Lamar Odom, Los Angeles Clippers

Sixth Man of the Year

Many will write James Harden on their respective ballots and label him the sure-fire winner for a second consecutive Sixth Man of the Year award. The fact of the matter is no player since Detlef Schremp in 1991 and 1992 has won consecutive Sixth Man of the Year awards.

As great as Harden may be, that trend will not change. A second-time winner, however, will be crowned.

After spending a majority of the NBA season sidelined by injury, Manu Ginobili proved during the London Olympics that he has maintained his elite abilities. Ginobili consistently scored at will and even took on some facilitating duties.

As the 2012-13 NBA regular season approaches, expect his play with Argentina to carry over.

The San Antonio Spurs are a team built by depth and excellent coaching. As displayed during the Western Conference finals, however, Ginobili's individual abilities remain pivotal to their success as a unit.

With the opportunity to use a healthy Ginobili for the entirety of a season, don't expect Gregg Popovich to hesitate using the crafty veteran.

After being inactive for a majority of the previous regular season, Ginobili is likely to be out to prove himself. He'll penetrate at will, light it up from distance and be his usual menacing self in the passing lanes.

Leading the San Antonio Spurs to an outstanding regular-season record will simply put the icing on the cake.

Ogden's Pick: Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs

Others Receiving Votes: Jamal Crawford, Los Angeles Clippers; James Harden, Oklahoma City Thunder; Antawn Jamison, Los Angeles Lakers

Coach of the Year

Rick Adelman led the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 21-20 record before Ricky Rubio went down and the season was lost. The T-Wolves ended up closing the season out with a 5-20 collapse, thus failing to make the postseason for the eighth consecutive season.

With a revamped roster that was created with Adelman's design, however, the ninth year will be the charm.

As history has shown us, the voters for NBA Coach of the Year often take a liking to the man behind a turnaround season. Sam Mitchell with the Toronto Raptors in 2007, Byron Scott with the New Orleans Hornets in 2008 and Scott Brooks with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2010 are prime examples.

Expect Adelman to join that lineage.

Another truly deserving winner here is Tom Thibodeau of the Chicago Bulls. Much like he did during the 2011-12 NBA season, Thibs is poised to lead his squad to the top of the Eastern Conference without Derrick Rose available to play.

That's simply what happens when a team has such a phenomenal system to play within.

Other coaches to be considered would be Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs, Scott Brooks of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Avery Johnson of the Brooklyn Nets. Although Johnson will have created the same turnaround as Adelman, the Nets have not been the laughingstock of the NBA as long as the T-Wolves have.

For that reason, Adelman's ability to bring the Minnesota Timberwolves to the postseason will garner him his first career Coach of the Year honor.

Ogden's Pick: Rick Adelman, Minnesota Timberwolves

Others Receiving Votes: Scott Brooks, Oklahoma City Thunder; Avery Johnson, Brooklyn Nets; Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs; Tom Thibodeau, Chicago Bulls

Defensive Player of the Year

Tyson Chandler may have won Defensive Player of the Year during the 2011-12 NBA season, but let's be real: This is Dwight Howard's award to lose each and every year that he plays the game, especially now that he has the bright lights of Los Angeles upon him.

Chandler will be in the running, as will shot-blocking extraordinaire Serge Ibaka. Joining those men on the ballot will be Chris Paul, who has led the league in steals for two years running.

Regardless of what those individuals are able to accomplish, however, nothing can compare to the best defender in the game today.

Howard will anchor a team that many believe is destined to sit atop the Western Conference by year's end. For that reason, it is fair to assume that team success will breed individual glory; if not, reputation will find its way into the voting process.

Fortunately, that reputation deserves the respect it garners.

Howard will remain one of the game's elite rebounders and will display equally dominant proficiency as a shot-blocker and shot-alterer. D-12 will hold down the paint and, in turn, return the Lakers to their usual status as an elite defensive team.

Regardless of which argument you use to justify this selection, it's as much of a gimme as any you'll find. Howard will reclaim his crown and will become the third man in NBA history to win four Defensive Player of the Year awards (the other two being Ben Wallace and Dikembe Mutombo).

Ogden's Pick: Dwight Howard, Los Angeles Lakers

Others Receiving Votes: Tyson Chandler, New York Knicks; Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City Thunder; Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers

Most Valuable Player

Much like the Defensive Player of the Year award is Dwight Howard's to lose, LeBron James has ownership of the gold for MVP. Unlike D-12, however, King James will be losing his crown during the 2012-13 NBA season.

The man doing the dethroning just so happens to be one of James' greatest rivals.

Before we get to who that fortunate player will be, it's time to acknowledge the other names on the ballot.

Kobe Bryant, for instance, is an annual inclusion and will receive consideration as he always does. Alongside him will be double-double machine Kevin Love and arguably the game's best point guard, Chris Paul.

The truth of the matter is, however, no one in the NBA will turn heads like Rajon Rondo. His status as the game's best facilitator will remain intact, while his perimeter defense and scoring each will see a boost in terms of production.

For that reason, he is going to be the first name you see on the closing MVP ballots.

You know, the first name under the eventual winner.

The Oklahoma City Thunder boast two of the best young players this game has to offer. Both arguably crack the top 10 in terms of players in the world, and each scores the ball as well as any we've seen in recent memory.

Those two players, of course, are Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.

As previously stated, Durant is on pace to take home his fourth consecutive scoring title. Westbrook, meanwhile, is in store for a season in which he averages career highs in both assists and steals.

Should both of these projections come true, the vote may come down to two teammates.

So, who takes home the hardware?

Already proven unpopular, the choice here is Westbrook. While Durant will garner the fan attention, Westbrook has proven to be the more aggressive player who will take action and lead. Durant, meanwhile, is a soft-spoken scorer who lacks the necessary grit to lead a championship team.

While Durant will find that quality during the postseason, this regular season will belong to Westbrook, whether you like it or not.

Westbrook will maintain his scoring pace and flirt with 10 assists per game. He also will continue displaying elite perimeter defense and will finally translate the beautiful form on his jump shot into consistent production.

After all, the NBA loves it some scoring guards. Doesn't it, Derrick Rose?

Ogden's Pick: Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

Others Receiving Votes: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers; Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder; LeBron James, Miami Heat; Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves; Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers; Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics