76ERS NOTEBOOK: LYNCH BACK, BUT FALTERS.

Byline: Steve Dilbeck Staff Writer

PHILADELPHIA - The heroics were there, if somewhat muted, but it just didn't make any difference for the Philadelphia 76ers.

Forward George Lynch, who wasn't given the OK to play until moments before tipoff, returned after being out a month with a fracture in his right foot.

And not unlike Derek Anderson's return for the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference finals, he was ineffective.

Part of that was almost by design, Sixers coach Larry Brown getting such weak approval from team physician Jack McPhilemy that he sounded almost afraid to use him.

Lynch did not score in his eight minutes of play, taking two rebounds, picking up two steals and passing out one assist. He did not take a shot, had trouble defensively and looked a half-step slow.

McPhilemy was examining a new X-ray a half-hour before the game started and even then gave a tentative endorsement, leaving it up to Lynch whether he wanted to risk re-injury. Lynch naturally wanted to play.

``After speaking to Dr. McPhilemy prior to the game, I didn't think we'd get anymore than eight minutes out of him, and we had to be real careful,'' Brown said. ``Because of what he's done since I've been here, because of what he's done this year, he wanted to be on the floor.

``I was a nervous wreck, but he helped us. I was just nervous as can be watching him play.''

Said Lynch: ``My foot felt fine. Once I got going, it didn't bother me too much, but when I came to a stop or sat down on the bench, it started to tighten up on me. It was just good to be out there. I just wish I could have done more to help my team.''

--Hey, get ahead: The Sixers are in the bad habit of falling behind in every game. They've trailed by double-digits in each game in the Finals and had to turn each effort into a comeback attempt.

Brown desperately wants the Sixers to break out quickly Friday.

``It's been critical in every series we've had,'' Brown said. ``We've had horrible first quarters and first halves.

``We're playing pretty good teams, but it's so hard to keep coming back. There are too many things that can deflate you, like a 3-pointer by (Tyronn) Lue or (Robert) Horry.''

The Lakers led by as many as 22 points in the third quarter before the Sixers made a charge. Philadelphia scored the first 11 points of the fourth quarter to pull within seven, but a Shaquille O'Neal slam restored order, and then Brian Shaw and Lue hit 3-pointers to kill the rally.

--Playing tough: Don't tell Tyrone Hill this is the best time of his life. Appearing in the NBA Finals may be every player's dream but the last month has been a nightmare for the 10th-year veteran out of Xavier.

Hill's father is home in Cincinnati recovering from a stroke he suffered during the 76ers' third-round series against Milwaukee. While 76ers fans prayed that their team would survive to play another round, Hill was praying his dad would live to see another day.

``I'm keeping track of what's going on at home,'' Hill said. ``I could have gone home and stayed there but I knew my teammates were counting on me. I had a job to do and I wasn't going to let them down.''

His dad's health has stabilized - ``My dad's doing better. Thanks a lot for asking,'' Hill said.

Now if Hill can just revive his offense. He missed 13 of 16 shots in the first three games. The Lakers' defense on him has been good - but not that good.

``I know my role is not to let Tyrone Hill go off,'' the Lakers' Horace Grant said. ``I'm just fortunate he's missed some shots he usually makes.''

Hill has struggled to find his niche since the 76ers acquired Dikembe Mutombo from the All-Star break. The ball doesn't find Hill on offense as much as it used to. As Lakers coach Phil Jackson noted, ``They're not going to feature him as a scorer. If they do that, Mutombo's not going to get as many touches.''

The Philly fans who are vilifying Hill, ``don't realize how small the margins are that I have for an offensive game now,'' Hill said. But he digressed. ``I haven't made no excuses all season. I'm not going to make any now.''

--May it proudly wave: It's not exactly going to make the city forget about Betsy Ross, but Philadelphia saw a new flag unfurl Wednesday morning, courtesy of the Sixers' high-energy president Pat Croce.

Croce climbed the 397-foot Walt Whitman Bridge to hang a banner that read: ``Go Sixers, Beat L.A.''

``It was great fun,'' Croce said. ``I got up there on the top of the bridge and looked over at the First Union Center and I could just feel the city energized for the Sixers. It was cool.

``I just wanted to continue to push the energy in Philadelphia for the Sixers to new heights.''

Croce previously hung a banner on a local water tower during the Sixers series against Toronto that read: ``Go Sixers.''

``That one's still up,'' Croce said.

Croce did get some coverage for walking up the one-foot metal cable while checked with a safety rope.

``There were six helicopters from TV stations,'' he said. ``One came so close, I could feel the draft.''

--Playing tough, continued: Sixers guard Aaron McKie, whom Brown said was fatigued in Game 3, did have an IV to boost his electrolytes.

McKie has a chip fracture in his right ankle, and a sore right shoulder.

``Every time I ask him in the timeouts and the huddles, he always tells me he's fine,'' Brown said. ``If anybody is enjoying this experience more than him, I don't know who it is. Maybe me.

``He just wants to play.''

--The last stand: No team has ever come back from a 3-1 deficit in the Finals. Only six have in other playoff series.

Iverson still is claiming the Sixers can pull it off.

``We've got to feel that way,'' Iverson said. ``If we don't feel that way, there's no use even coming out of the locker room Friday. I don't want to come out and get embarrassed, and if we don't think we can win, that's what's gonna happen against a team like that.''

Iverson is 52 of 130 in the four games, .400 percent.

--Yes, he's cool: Croce may be the only head of an NBA team sporting a pair of tattoos on his forearms.

On Croce's left forearm is a tattoo of an old sailing ship.

``It's a pirate ship,'' Croce said. ``I just always loved pirates, loved the way they went after their booty with no holds barred.''

The tattoo on his right arm shows a queen of hearts surrounded by a dragon.

``The queen of hearts is my wife,'' he said. ``The dragon is because I'm into martial arts.''

--Odds and ends: Jesse Jackson again met privately with Iverson for several minutes prior to Wednesday's game. ... Brown said he'd grade his Finals performance only at about 33 percent but still is thrilled about coaching for his first NBA championship: ``The novelty's not wearing off. This is phenomenal. I'll cherish every minute of this.''