Wednesday, June 6 Lynch hoping to return by Game 4 By Joe Lago ESPN.com Lynch LOS ANGELES -- One of the 76ers' wounded soldiers could return to the front line when the NBA Finals shift to Philadelphia next week. Sixers forward George Lynch, who has not played since the Eastern Conference semifinals against Toronto due to a broken bone in his left foot, hopes to be back by Game 4 if he continues a pain-free rehabilitation from last month's surgery. Lynch ran in the sand barefoot for about 45 minutes without any pain on Tuesday. Passing that first test cleared him to put on his sneakers and shoot around at the team's first practice at Staples Center. "No cutting, but I did run and come to a complete stop today on the heel," Lynch said. "But the surfaces from wood to sand are totally different. I'm not going to do any cutting or running today. The doctor just wants me to shoot around and see how I feel walking on the floor. And we'll take it from there. "I'm hoping to play in Game 4 if everything goes well." Lynch has not played since the third quarter of Game 4 in the Eastern semis when he broke a metatarsal bone in his left foot. He suffered a stress fracture in the same foot in August. "I felt pain then, and I'm sure I'm going to feel pain probably until September or October," said Lynch, the only Sixer to play all 82 regular-season games. "It's not one of those situations where because I don't feel any pain it's totally healed." "I feel I could play tomorrow, but I don't know how much I could help the team," added Lynch, who was averaging 6.9 points and 5.8 rebounds in the playoffs. "I haven't done the things I would have to do on the basketball court." Coach Larry Brown informed reporters that Lynch could be back as he left the Staples Center interview room, but downplayed the story. However, the revelation was news to Allen Iverson, who eagerly asked "George is gonna play?" Jumaine Jones, a second-year pro, has filled Lynch's small forward spot in the starting lineup the last 10 games. The 6-foot-7 Lynch, however, would give the Sixers veteran experience and a much-needed defensive boost against the defending champion Lakers, who hope to streak to the first-ever 15-0 postseason. "The Lakers are a bigger team than any team we've played in the East," Lynch said. "At this point, we need as many big bodies as possible." Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories

AUDIO/VIDEO  As if the Lakers weren't enough, the Sixers are a team still battling the injury bug. RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN Cable Modem