Campbell Keeps Coming Up Big

Overlooked in the Lakers’ disappointment that was Sunday afternoon at the Forum--a game lost, Robert Horry lost--was that Elden Campbell continued to do his Shaquille O’Neal imitation with impressive accuracy.

Campbell has averaged 23 points, 10.8 rebounds and two blocks in five games as the starting center, one in early January when O’Neal had a sprained ankle and four recently because of injuries to both knees. Sunday against the Seattle SuperSonics, he had a season-high 17 rebounds, along with 20 points. Three games earlier, he had posted his career-high 34 points against the Chicago Bulls.

“He’s stepped into that spot,” Coach Del Harris said. “We need that from him. We need other teams to respect him in there.

“We feel Elden is a good player. He has established himself over the years as a guy who is going to average around 14 [points] a game, but he has the potential for a 25-point night any time. That’s what opponents have to guard against.”