Say this for Pacers Coach Rick Carlisle: He will go to any length to take care of his players.

Two years ago, in his first season with the Pistons, Carlisle telephoned hundreds of NBA writers and broadcasters to campaign for Ben Wallace as Defensive Player of the Year.

Now he?s stumping to end Wallace?s two-year reign as top defensive player. He is campaigning for Ron Artest win the award.

Get this: He was looking for a way to quantify Artest?s defensive ability, so he had two members of his video staff isolate and break down every defensive possession Artest had played through 71 games. It took each of them a week to gather the data. Carlisle not only wanted to know how Artest fared against his man, but also how he did against players on whom he switched off.

It took seven spreadsheets to compile all the data, but here?s what it turned up ? in those 71 games, the players Artest guarded averaged 9.4 shots and 8.4 points and shot slightly better than 40 percent.

?In my mind, that?s the most staggering defensive statistic I?ve ever heard in my life,? Carlisle said. ?Not only are you going to have trouble scoring on Ron Artest and not only are you going to have trouble getting good shots, you?re going to have trouble catching the ball. It?s the strongest statistical case I?ve ever seen for a perimeter player for Defensive Player of the Year.?