PHILADELPHIA -- Larry Brown explained his two-day absence by
saying he just needed a break -- from himself, from basketball and
from his team.
After missing two days of practice, Brown returned to the
Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday and coached in a 91-89 loss to the
Utah Jazz.
|  | | Larry Brown was back on the Sixers' bench following a two-day respite. "I feel good," he said. |
The Philadelphia Inquirer, citing several team sources, reported Wednesday that Brown contemplated resigning as coach and head of basketball operations over the weekend.
Brown, whose team entered the game with the best record in the
NBA at 18-6, denied any rift with star guard Allen Iverson.
"I feel good. I needed it. I'm OK," Brown said before the
game. "I've given guys personal days off on this team and it
hadn't been an issue. It's an issue when a coach does it."
Brown skipped practices on consecutive days following a dispute
with his team last weekend amid signs of a renewed feud with
Iverson.
Brown assailed his players in a 30-minute meeting after an
18-point loss to Dallas at the First Union Center last Friday.
The next morning, during a team meeting in Chicago before a game
against the Bulls, Iverson angered his coach by telling him he's
treating the players as if they were losing.
|
“ |
Larry is a guy that mopes when things
aren't perfect. He's not leaving. He's not leaving
that city or that fat contract he just got. He's
unhappy with how the team has played since Eric
Snow went out and this is his way of showing his
displeasure. ” |
|
|
— David Aldridge, in his Wednesday chat |
The 76ers beat Chicago 99-91 behind 33 points from Iverson, but
Brown appeared withdrawn on the bench. Brown and Iverson have had a
contentious relationship since the coach arrived in Philadelphia
four years ago. Both are sensitive to criticism from the other.
"A lot of the stuff in the meeting is family (business) and
reading some of the comments and anonymous things, there was a lot
of things that really weren't factual," Brown said.
Brown said he didn't have any unresolved issues with Iverson,
who has been on his best behavior this season. Iverson, fined
repeatedly for lateness last year, has reported early to practices,
improved his play on the court and led the team to a franchise-best
10-0 start.
"I think our relationship is pretty good. I know it's good,"
Brown said. "I know there will be bumps, but I can say that about
any one of the other guys in the locker room."
Iverson said he was pleased Brown rejoined the team.
"I think everybody is making this out to be a little more than
what it is," Iverson said. "Coach had personal issues to handle.
Everyone is trying to dig in between the lines to find out what it
really is when it is actually just that.
"We are always having meetings all throughout the year. A
meeting is supposed to make things better, not to make things
worse."
Brown signed a $30 million, five-year contract extension last
March, and he intends to keep coaching. He said he did not consider
resigning, but contemplated when he would return.
"I'm a pretty emotional guy and a lot of things enter my mind
and I get frustrated with myself more than anybody," Brown said.
Brown said he wasn't happy with the way he reacted after the
loss to Dallas and said it bothered him that he only played Nazr
Mohammed 59 seconds in the victory over Chicago.
Mohammed, a reserve center and native of Chicago, had 32 friends
and family members attend the game against the Bulls, including his
mother, who flew in from Ghana.
"That really bothered me because I didn't realize that until
after the game," Brown said. "I would've played him more. I
always do that."
When he was coaching the Los Angeles Clippers, Brown once
started reserve guard Randy Woods -- a Philadelphia native -- in a
game against the 76ers at the Spectrum.
The 60-year-old Brown has worked straight through last season's
playoffs, the Olympics (where he was an assistant coach), training
camp, preseason and the first 24 games of this season.
He admitted he needed time off, but wouldn't use that as an
excuse.
"He is one of our leaders, the main leader," guard Aaron McKie
said about Brown. "He got us to this point here and it's a good
thing that he's back now."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
|
|
ALSO SEE
Jazz spoil Sixers' harmony with come-from-behind win
AthletesDirect: Larry Brown's official Web site
AUDIO VIDEO
 Larry Brown says that taking time off was the right thing to do.
wav: 78 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Allen Iverson didn't expect Larry Brown to be a changed man when he came back.
wav: 104 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
|
