PHILADELPHIA (AP) The injuries piled up quicker than the losses. There was a public ripping from Allen Iverson over his teammates' lack of heart. Glenn Robinson grumbled about his minutes.

All of it played a role in the Philadelphia 76ers firing of Randy Ayers on Tuesday after less than a season as the coach.

``There wasn't one thing,'' general manager Billy King said. ``You have to do an overall evaluation. This was a very difficult decision. I've known Randy personally and professionally for a long time. I still think he's a good coach, but it just didn't work for us.''

The 76ers fired Ayers with the team 21-31 and 1{ games behind the Boston Celtics for the Eastern Conference's final playoff berth. Assistant Chris Ford will take over on an interim basis.

Ayers was the first casualty of the Sixers' underachieving season. If the team doesn't turn things around, other people might be on their way out, too.

King said he's willing to make trades that could help the 76ers make the playoffs. The deadline for deals is Feb. 19.

``We're going to be aggressive and see if we can do something to change the roster,'' King said. ``We still expect every player to play hard, be professional and play the right way.''

The Sixers, though, had seemingly quit on Ayers.

Ayers had sideline spats with Aaron McKie and Eric Snow, Iverson said the Sixers played with no heart and did not compete, and Robinson griped about playing time and the way he was being used.

Robinson, who apologized for not joining the team in the huddle during Sunday's loss at New Jersey, wasn't taking the blame.

``I don't feel responsible,'' Robinson said. ``I don't like to see anyone lose their job, but it's the nature of the business.''

Iverson was surprised and upset by Ayers' firing. He said he would have liked to have heard the news from King first. Now, the NBA's leading scorer with a 27.5-point average wants to have a say in whatever changes might come next.

``Just being called the franchise player, for being here as long as I've been here, I definitely feel like someone should have said something,'' said the league's MVP in the 2000-01 season. ``I feel like I'm supposed to be involved with a lot of stuff. ... I've earned the right to know some of the things that are going on.''

Iverson, in his eighth season, agreed with King that a shakeup could be needed, but wants to finish his career with the team he led to the 2001 NBA Finals with coach Larry Brown.

Ayers became the Sixers' head coach when Brown resigned after last season. Brown is now coaching the Detroit Pistons.

``I'm crushed,'' Brown said before Detroit's game at New Jersey on Tuesday night. ``He was an assistant for me for six years and he was wonderful. I was proud of him when he got the opportunity. You hate to see it happen.''

All but one of the Eastern Conference's 15 teams _ Atlanta and Terry Stotts _ changed coaches since the end of last season.

``You have to win at all costs,'' Brown said. ``When they give you a five-year plan, it's really a five-month plan.''

Now the 76ers have changed coaches twice in that span, asking Ford to reach the postseason.

``I'm not coming in with a magic wand and everything's going to be perfect,'' said Ford, whose first game in charge will be at home Wednesday against the Washington Wizards. ``I asked the players, 'Just give me an opportunity to coach you.'''

Ford joined the 76ers' staff last summer after two seasons as the coach at Brandeis. Ford led the Boston Celtics to division titles in 1991 and `92, and also coached the Bucks and Clippers, going 311-358 in a total of nine seasons.

His best season was his first, when the Celtics went 56-26 and reached the second round of the playoffs. Ford won NBA championships with the Celtics as a player (1981) and an assistant coach (1984, 1986).