Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 10, 1995 TAG: 9505100079
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Orange County Register
DATELINE: SAN ANTONIO LENGTH: Medium
One Los Angeles Laker who had virtually disappeared resurfaced Monday night when another vanished against the San Antonio Spurs.
With small forward Cedric Ceballos struggling in Game 2 of the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series, Roanoke, Va., native George Lynch got a chance.
``He's not making shots, basically, as trite as that may sound,'' coach Del Harris said of Ceballos, who followed up a two-point effort in Game 1 with seven points. ``We're trying to give him enough time to work himself out, 26, 28, 30 minutes, whatever, in the ballgames. We do have an obligation to the games, so we've got to move on down the line.''
Waiting at the line was Lynch, who averaged only nine minutes in the first-round series against Seattle and was limited to seven minutes in Game 1 against the Spurs after sufferering a mild concussion.
Playing 27 minutes in Game 2, the second-year pro out of North Carolina made six of 11 field-goal attempts to score 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the Lakers' 97-90 overtime loss.
``I thought George was terrific,'' Harris said. ``He battled defensively and was alert and made big shots, particularly after recovering from a concussion in Game 1. I thought it was a magnificent comeback.''
Lynch, who lost his starting spot at power forward six games into the regular season, has not had much to be happy about this year, but this performance helped make up for it.
``I look at this year as a disappointing year for myself,'' Lynch said. ``It's a good thing I have extra games in the playoffs and I have to make the best of it.''
Lynch, who averaged 17 minutes a game in the regular season and missed 23 games because of a stress fracture in his right foot, cited his lack of playing time as the reason for his disappointment.
``It's just a disappointing year for me, and I don't want it to end,'' he said. ``Each chance I get on the floor, I'm going to give it 100 percent.''
Keywords:
BASKETBALL
by CNB