A healthy Marcus Camby is feeling the pressure to stay healthy for the Nuggets.
With Camby starting at center, the Nuggets have filled the roles of Kenyon Martin (season-ending knee surgery) and Nene (knee contusion) with veterans Eduardo Najera, Reggie Evans and Joe Smith. Nene, who has missed the past nine games, said Wednesday he could return “maybe next week.”
But if the do-it-all Camby gets hurt, he knows there is no replacement for him.
“I feel it. Nobody will just really come out and say it, though,” Camby said. “The rest of the ‘bigs’ we have, those guys are, I don’t want to use the word role players, but they’re not really starters. The guys we are missing are starters, guys who are productive and are going to start the ballgame.
“I need to not only be out there in games, but in practice. Being a captain and leader of this team, guys have to see me out there on the practice and in the game.”
With the spotlight on high-scoring Carmelo Anthony, Camby’s mass production goes unnoticed.
Camby, averaging 11 points, entered Wednesday ranked eighth in the NBA in rebounds per game (11.2), fifth in blocked shots per game (2.54), seventh in double-doubles (nine), fourth in defensive rebounds per game (9.4) and tops in defensive rebounds per 48 minutes (13.8) and was second on his team in steals (21). He had 14 points, 10 rebounds and three blocked shots Tuesday in the Nuggets’ 108-96 loss to Memphis.
“Marcus has got to be an all-star candidate,” Nuggets coach George Karl said.
Smith said of Camby: “He’s playing well on both ends of the floor. I think a lot of people now are starting to respect his (midrange) shot. … Defensively, he’s doing what he’s always done in the past. Alter shots, block shots and clog the lane down. When you have a center that can do that, it goes a long way in this league.”
Camby, who missed 23 games with various injuries last season, never played more than 72 games in any of his previous 10 seasons. He hasn’t missed a game this season and says he has only normal aches and pains like every player.
While Camby has heard talk he is injury-prone, he ignores it.
“People are always going to have something to say,” Camby said. “I don’t mind. I’ve been playing basketball for 11 years. … I just want to be held accountable by my team, and thus far I’m doing it.”
Footnotes
Karl torched the Nuggets, the NBA’s worst defensive team, the entire practice Wednesday because of poor defense against Memphis. “George was a lot more animated than he normally is,” Camby said. Said Karl: “I vented.” … Nuggets guard Earl Boykins is shooting 28.4 percent from the field, has shot 4-for-19 in the past three games and was 0-for-5 against Memphis. He came to practice early and made 200 shots. “I’m still going to shoot the ball,” Boykins said. … Nuggets vice presidents Rex Chapman and Mark Warkentien and consultant Bret Bearup attended the Colorado State-Denver game Wednesday to watch Rams star Jason Smith.
Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-954-1098 or mspears@denverpost.com.
