Campbell Has Been Powerless in Series

Wherefore art thou, Elden?

After an encouraging end to the regular season and a nice showing in the Lakers’ first-round series against the Portland Trail Blazers, Elden Campbell has disappeared just in time for the Western Conference semifinals, with repercussions now evident.

Saturday afternoon, he played only 19 minutes in the 110-95 loss to the Utah Jazz, the briefest appearance for a healthy Campbell since Jan. 28.

“I’m not going to question his decisions,” Campbell said of Coach Del Harris. “We’ve got to stay together on this.”

The starting power forward is averaging 28 minutes in the four games, but only 4.3 rebounds. And, he’s shooting 38.2%.

“We do want him to be involved so [Karl] Malone has to play defense,” Harris said.

“We run plays for him. It’s important for him to be in position to score, instead of being rooted out. He hasn’t shot the ball real well. And the Jazz are a good defensive team.”

The brief appearance in Game 4 only compounded the problems. This time, small forward Robert Horry and center Shaquille O’Neal also had to defend Malone. “You’ve just got to hope he takes bad shots,” Horry said, “which isn’t very often.”

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Byron Scott, questionable heading into Saturday’s game because of his sprained wrist, made it to the third quarter before the pain flared anew, a setback that brings his status for Monday’s game in Salt Lake City into question. “I always think the same thing,” the backup shooting guard said after playing 16 minutes, enough to contribute four points and five assists. “I’m going to hopefully be able to play.”

Scott, who suffered the original injury when he extended the right arm to break his fall after a driving layup, said the pain has shifted to another part of the wrist. The joint also stiffened, making it difficult to turn it much.

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Jazz center Greg Ostertag, knocked out of Game 3 because of a sprained left knee, played 32 minutes Saturday with the help of a brace. “It felt like new,” he said.

The knee, maybe. Otherwise, it was the Ostertag of old: two points, five rebounds, five fouls.