Two days after the fact, Milwaukee Bucks players were still scratching their heads over coach George Karl's tirade Saturday.

Karl was so perturbed by his team's play in a disappointing 86-81 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers that he said it might be time to trade one of his front-line players or fire the coach.

Guard Ray Allen said Monday that he did not understand the motivation behind Karl's comments.

"My phone was ringing off the hook (Sunday)," he said. "My mom was unhappy. I'm her son and she's hearing my coach rip me and my teammates in the paper and on TV. (A trade) is the worst for us as players."

Allen said it would be different if the team was in New York or one of the bigger markets where such things are more frequent.

"Here in Milwaukee, the media has been good to me and the team. Coming from the coach, it's disheartening because it's from in your house.

"I don't understand why. What is the purpose of saying that? What is he trying to do? Does he want to be fired? If I say I want to be traded, it means I want to be traded. Being traded is not fun. I don't use the term loosely. That changes a player's life."