[TimesPicayune] Foot injury slows Lynch
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Foot injury slows Lynch
Injured feet, limited playing time affect his performance
Monday, December 06, 2004
By Benjamin Hochman
Staff writer
Each morning during the past month, George Lynch warily
stepped out of bed wondering if it would be the day he
could do so without pain. Each morning in the past month,
his first steps were excruciating, a harbinger for a day
filled with agony because of aching pain in his feet.
"My feet," the Hornets' forward said, "are killing me."
Since training camp, the 34-year-old has dealt with
continuous pain in his feet, especially his right foot.
He ices his feet often. He has spoken with the designers
of his orthotics and hopes that new sneakers will
alleviate some pain. He has been offered cortisone shots,
but does not want to go that route. The best treatment he
can get, Lynch said, is rest. And he is not going that
route.
"We're already shorthanded," said Lynch, who has five
teammates injured and inactive, including forward David
West, whose knee injury should keep him out of action this
week for the Hornets (1-14). "We have too many guys hurt,
resting, for me to take a game or two off. It's one of
those situations where I have to fight through it until
everyone gets healthy."
While Lynch perseveres, the consequences have been his
lackluster performances. He began the season as the starter
at small forward -- he started 51 of the 82 games last
season, replacing the oft-injured Jamal Mashburn. In the
first three games this season, he scored a combined 22
points. In the next 12, he scored a combined 31. His playing
time decreased in the first eight games -- he played 18
minutes in Game No. 8 against Minnesota, the last game he
started. He is, however, probable to replace West in the
starting lineup Tuesday.
Lynch attributed his statistics to his injury.
"I think it's the biggest reason," said Lynch, who is
averaging 3.9 points per game in his 12th NBA season.
"Normally, I'm here at practice early, getting shots off. I
get five or six looks a game, and you have to make them
(Lynch has shot 3-for-17 in the seven games as a reserve.).
"And I haven't been able to be aggressive defensively. The
rebounding is down. All the things, the hustle plays, I can't
do it. It's one of those situations where hopefully my feet
get better. When your foot is hurting, everything is hurting."
Coach Byron Scott is quick to say Lynch hasn't necessarily
been demoted, rather, Lee Nailon has been promoted. In the
same Minnesota game when Lynch was essentially a non-factor
on the floor, Nailon had his coming-out game, scoring 21
points with six rebounds in 30 minutes.
Nailon became the starter at small forward and averaged 15.2
points in the next seven games.
"The one thing we need right now is scoring," said Scott,
whose team is 29th in the NBA at 86.5 points per game. "Lee
is a much better offensive player. He's proven that as a
starter. Lee's just a better fit in the offense right now."
For Lynch, watching game film has been like watching a horror
film. Sure, he is not that kid fresh out of Chapel Hill, N.C.,
more than a decade ago. But he thinks he can contribute more
effectively, if only his feet would cooperate.
"Your coaches are saying, 'Make that play, make that play,' "
Lynch said of film sessions. "A lot of it is defensively,
getting rebounds, and doing little things that make a team
better -- and I can't do it right now."
The Hornets are back in action Tuesday at Houston. Then the
Hornets host the New York Knicks on Wednesday at New Orleans
Arena, where they are winless.
"The fans are probably getting a little frustrated with us,"
Lynch said. "But it happens in sports -- you get injuries,
and sometimes they're too much to overcome."
. . . . . . .
Benjamin Hochman can be reached at bhochman@timespicayune.com
or (504) 826-3405.
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