76ERS NOTEBOOK: LYNCH RETURNS FROM FOOT INJURY.

Byline: Steve Dilbeck Staff Writer

PHILADELPHIA - They were at least making it suspenseful before the start of Game 4.

Forty-five minutes before tipoff, the Philadelphia 76ers were still saying they were uncertain whether forward George Lynch would make his Finals debut.

Lynch had a final X-ray taken shortly before the game that team doctor Jack McPhilemy was examining before giving him a final seal of approval.

``Nothing new's come up, this is just part of the final process,'' McPhilemy said.

Finally, minutes before the game began, the Sixers released a statement from McPhilemy giving Lynch the OK.

``X-rays show that he has evidence of further healing and clinical examination is consistent with this,'' McPhilemy's statement said. ``He is, however, not completely healed. In a meeting with (coach) Larry Brown and (general manager) Billy King, we explained the possible risks and complications that can occur as a result of him playing. George has made the decision to play.''

Lynch missed the past 13 Sixers playoff games after fracturing a bone in his left foot during Game 4 of Philadelphia's second-round series against Toronto.

``I'm thrilled he's dressing,'' Brown said. ``After what he went through to get himself ready after the Toronto series, it's nice to have that option.''

Lynch entered the game to a standing ovation with 3:58 to play in the first quarter. He played four minutes in the opening quarter, taking a rebound and picking up a steal, but otherwise appeared a step slow, like someone who had not played in a month.

He played five minutes in the first half, he did not take a shot and had one rebound and one steal.

--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: 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 76er 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 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 at 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.''

--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.''

--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 a 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.''

--Scoring up front: The Sixers have been unable to get any offensive production out of starting forwards Hill and Jumaine Jones, but Brown said he's not concerned.

Through the first three games, Jones was averaging 3.3 points and Hill 2.7 points against the Lakers.

``To be honest, I think we're scoring enough,'' Brown said. ``We're a painful team offensively.

``But one of the problems we're having is they're a great rebounding team. Some of our big people get baskets off the boards.''

--Odds and ends: Jesse Jackson again met privately with guard Allen Iverson for several minutes prior to Wednesday's game. ... Brown said he'd grade his Finals performance at only about 33 percent but 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.'' ... Philadelphia's Department of Commerce said the city is expected to reap a boost of $15 million from playing host to the Finals.

Karen Crouse contributed to this report.

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Photo:

Philadelphia 76ers president Pat Croce hung this sign on the Walt Whitman Bridge in Philadelphia.

William Thomas/Associated Press