Campbell Slowly Getting Comfortable as a Backup

Elden Campbell, after struggling to adjust to a return to the bench that accompanied the return of Shaquille O’Neal to the starting lineup, is showing signs of again finding his game.

The tailspin that had him at 28.2% shooting and 4.4 rebounds in 16.4 minutes over seven games has been replaced by showings the last two games that offer the Lakers hope. Campbell made four of six shots, though he grabbed only three rebounds in 20 minutes, last Wednesday at Phoenix and then was three of five with seven boards in 20 minutes Saturday at Seattle.

“I’m encouraged by what I see in Elden,” Coach Del Harris said.

Just as Campbell is encouraged by the increase in minutes.

“[The time] had been a little scarce, not as much as before,” Campbell said. “But that’s what being a backup is about.”

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An announcement on the all-star reserves will likely come today. Nick Van Exel and Eddie Jones have good shots to be selected, but the chances of both making it are not good with Kobe Bryant being voted a starter.

The possibility may even exist that neither makes it--Western Conference coaches want to add one of the Laker guards and Van Exel and Jones end up splitting the vote.

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The Lakers spent extra time in practice Monday on free throws. “No need to ask why,” Harris said. Not for anyone who saw them shoot 58.8%--20 of 34--in the six-point loss Saturday at Seattle. . . . With Bryant and O’Neal, the Lakers have two starters in the all-star game for the first time since 1990, when Magic Johnson, James Worthy and, in another choice by fans that went against a likely selection by coaches, A.C. Green.