With Nuggets center Marcus Camby and Chicago Bulls center Ben Wallace set to share the court tonight at the United Center, a warning label along the perimeter of the free-throw key would be appropriate.

CAUTION: Entering this area may result in physical and/or mental harm. Side effects may include damage to field-goal percentage and self-esteem.

Often the last line of defense for their teams, Camby leads the NBA in blocked shots and Wallace has turned intimidation into an art form while earning a reputation as the league's best defensive center.

Clearly a matchup of NBA Defensive Player of the Year front-runners, right? Not necessarily.

With four weeks remaining in the regular season, historical statistics appear to be against both players. A look at the race, and why Camby and Wallace face long odds in being recognized as the NBA's top defender.

Second-place applicants need not apply

Not since Dikembe Mutombo in the 1997-98 season has the Defensive Player of the Year come from a team that didn't win its division.

The Nuggets are nine games behind first-place Utah in the Northwest Division, and the Bulls trail the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers in the Central.

Sidney Moncrief started the trend when he won the inaugural award in 1982-83 while playing for the Central Division champion Milwaukee Bucks. Since then, 17 of 24 winners have come from division champions.

"It's not just about stats," Camby said. "You definitely have to be on a winning team and a team that's in the playoffs."

Little help here!

Can the league's top defender play for a team not known for defense? Yes, but don't count on it.

Only three times in 24 years has the Defensive Player of the Year come from a team that finished outside the top 10 in scoring defense, something that ultimately figures to doom Camby.

The Nuggets have allowed 96.6 points during their five-game winning streak, but their season average of 103.4 ranks 27th in the NBA.

"One person can't stop everybody," Camby said. "I can just do what I do - rebound and block shots. Statistically, I think I'm in the top spots in those categories."

The Bulls are seventh in scoring defense (94.5), but Wallace's blue-collar reputation has taken a hit since he bolted Detroit and signed a four-year, $60 million contract with Chicago.

Like Shakira's hips, the numbers don't lie

During the Nuggets' nationally televised game March 11, ABC announcers talked up Camby's credentials, which rival any Defensive Player of the Year candidate.

Camby leads the NBA in total blocked shots (178) and blocks per game (3.18) and is sixth in rebounding (11.5). Camby averages 1.2 steals and has blocked at least four shots in a game 20 times this season.

Camby, enjoying some of the most durable years of his career, also is unafraid to stand his ground and take a charge.

On the campaign trail

Phoenix Suns forward Shawn Marion is not above self-promotion. After a double-overtime win last week against the Dallas Mavericks, Marion declared he was Defensive Player of the Year "hands down."

By keeping his hands up, Marion has made a strong case.

The Suns have clinched the Pacific Division, and Marion is averaging 10.2 rebounds (12th), two steals (seventh) and 1.55 blocked shots (22nd). Working against Marion: The Suns are 26th in scoring defense (103.1).

If the stats are there, voters don't mind a cocky candidate. Ron Artest had no problem talking up himself in 2003-04, and he received the defensive award after helping the Indiana Pacers to the Central Division title.

Artest, now with the Sacramento Kings and facing four misdemeanor charges after a dispute with his wife, has other things to worry about this season, but other viable candidates include Bruce Bowen of the San Antonio Spurs and Josh Howard of the Dallas Mavericks.

Sure beats a year's supply of Turtle Wax

Just as Ernie Els, Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh often play second fiddle to Tiger Woods, Camby has the misfortune of sharing the same position as Wallace.

Wallace, averaging 10.6 rebounds and 2.11 blocked shots, has been named Defensive Player of the Year four of the past five seasons. He has been a first-team All-Defensive selection, as voted by NBA coaches, for five years running.

Camby has been on the All-Defensive second team each of the past two years and has set his sights on supplanting Wallace.

"Hopefully, I can crack the first team this year," he said.

Nuggets at Bulls

• When: 6:30 MDT tonight.

• Where: United Center, Chicago.

• TV/radio: Altitude, WGN; KKFN-AM (950).

• Starting lineups

Denver (34-31) Pos. Ht. Pts.

15 Carmelo Anthony F 6-8 29.8

31 Nene F 6-11 11.0

23 Marcus Camby C 6-11 11.2

3 Allen Iverson G 6-0 27.8

25 Steve Blake G 6-3 6.1

Coach: George Karl

Chicago (39-30) Pos. Ht. Pts.

9 Luol Deng F 6-9 18.7

42 P.J. Brown F 6-11 5.9

3 Ben Wallace C 6-9 6.7

7 Ben Gordon G 6-3 21.1

12 Kirk Hinrich G 6-3 16.3

Coach: Scott Skiles

• Injuries: Nuggets - F Kenyon Martin (right knee surgery) is out. Bulls - F Andres Nocioni (right foot plantar fasciitis) is out.

• Notes: The Nuggets seek a sixth straight win, which would be their longest streak since winning seven in a row in January 2006. . . . The Nuggets have given up an average of 96.6 points during the streak, lowering their season average to 103.4. . . . Guard J.R. Smith scored a then-career-high 36 points in the only previous meeting this season between the teams, a 113-109 Nuggets home win Nov. 21. But Smith, briefly with the Bulls during the offseason before being traded to the Nuggets, has been slow in returning after undergoing left knee surgery Feb. 21. Smith has averaged 3.2 points in 11.2 minutes while shooting 28.6 percent in five games since returning.

lopezaa@RockyMountainNews.com

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