Campbell Loses His Starting Job

Robert Horry has officially become the Lakers’ starting power forward, for Friday night against the New York Knicks, for the foreseeable future and until further notice, which passes as being set in stone in this matter.

Coach Del Harris has treaded lightly around the matter for some six weeks, not wanting to make a statement he would later reverse and not wanting to lose Elden Campbell emotionally by delivering news that he had become the former incumbent. Even Thursday, after saying Horry would start against the Knicks, Harris noted, “I just don’t like to lock myself into anything. Let’s see how this works.”

By Friday, though, Campbell had learned he would be a reserve for the first time since 1992-93, just before A.C. Green left as a free agent. It has been Campbell’s job ever since for the most part, barring injury and when he filled in at center, until now, a move set in motion months ago by the arrival of Rick Fox to play small forward, thereby allowing Horry to play power forward.

Campbell said he was “not really” surprised to get the news from Harris. Because?

“Because I know that everybody has been pushing for that, as far as the media goes,” he replied.

As if Harris cares what the media says?

“Yeah,” Campbell said, “a little bit.”

So went the transition.

*

Shaquille O’Neal, limited to around 25 minutes against the Knicks by doctor’s orders, is expected to play with time restrictions for the next four or five games, a span that would include Sunday night’s home game against the Golden State Warriors and then at least the three-game Texas trip that begins Tuesday in Dallas.

As with all similar situations, the call when to lift the limit will come from team physician Steve Lombardo, even if O’Neal lobbies for a change sooner.

“It’s not up to him,” Harris said. “It’s a medical situation. The doctor is behind me.”

*

After playing only two games the first seven days of the regular season, Friday marked the start of a stretch in which the Lakers will play five games in eight days.

The pedestrian start turned out to be an assist, the Lakers not having to survive much without O’Neal, either because of injury or suspension. It’s also a significant contrast to last season, when they opened with four back-to-back sets in the opening month, especially noteworthy since they were a team still adjusting to a roster overhaul.

“We all complain about the schedule off and on through the years,” Harris joked. “But what always balances out with the NBA schedule is that you can tell it’ll be no good.”