The frustration is obvious. Trailing the Boston Celtics 2-0 in their best-of-five playoff series after a brutal 93-85 road loss Thursday night, the 76ers returned to Philadelphia today, and had a film session, followed by two airings of grievances.
No surprise, the subjects were Larry Brown and Allen Iverson. In separate 17-minute interviews, the star and the coach collided on basketball philosophies, distinctions and labels, then disappeared into Brown's office for a five-minute meeting.

What was obvious afterward was that Brown and Iverson are upset and desperately want to win. They just express themselves differently.

Asked if, as the Sixers "franchise player," he needs to make things happen tomorrow when the Celtics visit the First Union Center for Game 3, Iverson replied:

"I don't feel like I'm a franchise player, first of all, but I feel like as one of the leaders of the team, it is my responsibility to try to step my game up the best that I can. But it's important for me not to put all the pressure on myself, and go out there and try to do too much."

Asked why he doesn't feel like the franchise player when he is a captain, has the highest salary, averaged 31.4 points during the regular season, and took nearly twice as many shots as any other Sixer, Iverson said, "I'm just not. I know I'm not. I don't feel like that. Without even getting into it, and I've felt like this for a long time, and it doesn't have anything to do with this season. I just know I'm not a franchise player on this squad."

Iverson back-pedaled later, saying it was no big deal, but clearly he was perturbed.

Said Brown: "It depends on what day you're going to ask him. Let's not go there. I don't even know what that means."

The Sixers have many reasons to be irritated. After losing Game 1, 92-82, they had a legitimate chance to win Game 2, but could not close the Celtics out.

In two games back since missing the final 14 games of the regular season with a broken hand, Iverson has made just 15 of 45 shots, averaging 24.5 points. Eric Snow, a big contributor in Iverson's absence, has missed 21 of 25 attempts against Boston for a dismal .160 shooting percentage.

With the Celtics playing a tight zone, the Sixers have struggled to score from outside and Boston has shut down Dikembe Mutombo (averaging 9.5 points in two games) and Derrick Coleman (11 points per game).

Everyone is edgy.

After the loss Thursday, Brown commented on how much he likes watching the Celtics all-stars Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker, saying, "I think their star players are thinking about winning the game and not dominating the game."

Apparently, Iverson took Brown's words as a personal slap.

"I don't know why he would think that I don't want to win," Iverson said. "I don't care nothing about being dominant. As a matter of fact, that's a lie. Because I do want to be dominant, so he's right about that. I want to be dominant, and I want to win. . . . If he doesn't tell you I want to do both, then obviously the time he's been around me, I didn't show him that, and I don't think that's the case."

"I think I'd rather have him say he wants to win and then dominate," Brown said. "But he's trying to win."

The Sixers watched film this afternoon, with only a few players - Snow and Mutombo included - sticking around the gym to shoot. Tomorrow morning they will regroup to prepare for Sunday's game.

If they lose, Brown acknowledged he will have to do "damage control" because the team did not meet expectations. Iverson acknowledged if the Sixers flame out, even he might be traded.

"As long as they don't send make to the CBA, I'm good," Iverson said. "Any team I go to, we're going to contend, I guarantee you that. . . . I always said from Day One, I want to be a Sixer. I want to remain a Sixer for the rest of my career, and I'm not going to let anybody drive me out of here, but if people think me leaving is the best for this team, then make the decision, and I won't feel bad about it.

"Put me in another NBA uniform, and I'll try to do the same thing that I've tried to do here, just play every game like it's my last, and that should be enough for whatever team I go to. Somebody will be satisfied, or somebody will appreciate me."