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Notebook Sixers' Lynch hopes for quick comeback
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- George Lynch, the only member of the Philadelphia 76ers to play all 82 games in the regular season, hopes to return from foot surgery to play in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. Lynch was cleared by doctors to shoot the ball Tuesday when Philadelphia practiced at Staples Center for the first time. The Finals begin Wednesday against the Los Angeles Lakers. "I'm definitely looking forward to try and come back in Games 3 or 4," said Lynch, who played his first three NBA seasons with the Lakers. "If I can play for two minutes to give the guys a blow, then that's OK." Lynch was injured May 13 playing in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against Toronto. He had surgery on his left foot the same day. Doctors inserted a screw in his metatarsal bone, where Lynch had a stress fracture last August. "As the week goes on, I'm looking to see if I can move side-to-side," he said. "That's going to be the issue, if I can play defense. There's no pain running straight ahead." Lynch, who averaged 8.4 points and 7.2 rebounds during the regular season, tested his foot earlier Tuesday by running in the sand at a park. "His presence alone would bring energy," guard Eric Snow said. "He's a proven veteran who could definitely help."
Six more foulsSixers forward Matt Geiger, the target of much disdain in Philadelphia for his slow recovery from a knee injury, says he will be in uniform for the entire series. "I was ready the last two games, and I'm ready now," he said. "I told coach today that I'll do whatever it takes." Back in October, when the Sixers began training camp, Geiger injured his left knee 15 minutes into the first practice. He had surgery and missed the first nine games of the season, then developed tendinitis in his right knee. He missed 26 more games after more surgery, then played 18 of the final 19 games during the regular season. After playing in all four games against Indiana during the first round, Geiger sat out seven of Philadelphia's final 10 playoff games because of quadriceps tendinitis. Geiger will be Philadelphia's backup power forward behind Tyrone Hill. He also can spell Dikembe Mutombo and Todd MacCulloch at center if they get into foul trouble. "I feel my injury has come a long way, and I'm also starting to take some new medicine for it and it seems to be helping with the pain," he said. "I'm at the point now where I don't care if I have to drag my leg up and down the court. I'm going to do that if that's what helps our team."
Comic reliefCharlotte point guard Baron Davis made it to the NBA Finals. The Hornets lost to Milwaukee in the Eastern Conference semifinals, but Davis roamed the court Tuesday, chatting up members of the Lakers and 76ers. He was there to film a segment for "NBA Inside Stuff." Davis, who is from Santa Monica and starred at UCLA, popped up behind reporters who were questioning Lakers forward Horace Grant. "Elden Campbell had to introduce you to a lot of girls in college because you were shy. Has that changed?" Davis asked with a semi-straight face. Grant howled with laughter before replying, "Elden introduced me to a whole bunch of people. Most of them are in jail now."
Being IversonThe Lakers have designated guard Tyronn Lue to act as 76ers star Allen Iverson in practice. Lue even donned a white sleeve on his right arm, similar to the protective one Iverson wears. "I wanted to do that as a fun thing for the team," he said. So how did he replicate Iverson's drives to the basket? "A couple crossovers and pushing the ball in transition, just trying to get penetration like he does," Lue said. "It's hard to score like Iverson. I got through the first couple guys, then I had Shaq [Shaquille O'Neal] waiting for me. I had to pass more than I wanted to." Lue impressed his teammates in one way, though. "He's shot a lot. Say no more," forward-center Greg Foster said, laughing. "We told him he could be Iverson, and he got it in his mind he can shoot all the balls," guard Ron Harper said. "Speed-wise he [Lue] may be a little faster, but scoring-wise he's not there yet."
Waiting gameThe Lakers' Greg Foster, missing in action for all but three minutes of the playoffs, is doubtful for the Finals. Hampered by a sore right foot, he hasn't played since early in the postseason. The center-forward said he has a torn ligament and some shattered bone in his foot. "I'm feeling better, but I'm not 100 percent," he said. "I'm moving, I can run and jump. I'll have to play with a little pain." Foster said he's excited to see the Lakers doing so well, but frustrated that he hasn't been able to contribute. "Maybe I'll get a few minutes here in the Finals," he said. "It'll be interesting to see if coach Jackson will use me. Maybe he's confident in the rotation he's got."
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