Sixers' Brown Just Took A Break

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 against the Utah Jazz.

Brown, whose team has the best record in the NBA (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.

The 76ers beat Chicago 99-91 behind 33 points from Iverson, but Brown appeared withdrawn on the bench.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 thaanybody," 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."

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