NBA 76ers' coach ponders retiring

Larry Brown has considered retirement before, but is more serious this time.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Larry Brown is considering retirement -- again.
One day after the Philadelphia 76ers' season ended with a disappointing overtime loss to Detroit in the Eastern Conference semifinals, Brown said he isn't sure if he'll return to coach the team next year.
This uncertainty is nothing new, though. The Hall of Fame coach has contemplated retiring after each of the last two seasons, too.
"I have to find out if I can make the team better by staying here," Brown said Saturday. "I don't want to hold this team back. This franchise has been good to me. I don't want to hold it back. If I feel by not being the coach, it will make us better, I'll do that."
The 62-year-old Brown insisted he's more serious about retiring this time. His players and general manager Billy King aren't buying it. "Let him take his time off, take a vacation," King said. "Until he tells us he's not coming back, we expect him back."
Longest tenure
Brown just completed his sixth season with the Sixers -- his longest tenure with any team in his 31-year coaching career. He was named coach of the 2004 U.S. Olympic men's basketball team last November and led the Sixers to the playoffs for the fifth straight year.
"He probably feels that maybe we need a jump start," point guard Eric Snow said. "I don't know if him stepping down will make that happen. I don't think it will. I think it's just frustration."
Brown and the rest of the Sixers have plenty to be frustrated about. They overcame myriad injuries and a 25-24 record at the All-Star break to finish 48-34, just two games behind the top-seeded Pistons in the East.
After beating the New Orleans Hornets in six games in the first round, Philadelphia lost to Detroit in six games. The Sixers lost twice in overtime to the Pistons and once on a last-second shot that was goal-tended.
"It's hard to deal with, but we have to get ready for the next season," forward Keith Van Horn said.
Allen Iverson had his best all-around year, averaging 27.6 points, 5.5 assists and an NBA-leading 2.7 steals while playing all 82 games for the first time in his seven seasons.
Iverson had some outstanding performances in the playoffs, scoring 55 points in Game 1 against the Hornets and 45 in Game 6 of that series. But he struggled at times, missing 20 of 25 shots in Game 5 against Detroit and 13 of his last 18 shots in Game 6.
Iverson also arrived just 32 minutes before the scheduled start time Friday night because he said he was stuck in a traffic jam.
"Another season has gone by and my dream didn't come true," Iverson said. "I have to look in the mirror. There's a lot more I can do to make us better."