Woeful 76ers fire GM, coach

The Philadelphia 76ers fired general manager Brad Greenberg andhead coach Johnny Davis on Sunday, one day after finishing the seasonwith the third-worst record in franchise history.

Team president and part-owner Pat Croce said he made thedecision because he "lost confidence in the management of thebasketball operation."

Croce, who persuaded former owner Harold Katz to sell the teamto a partnership he helped form in March, 1995, would not takequestions about possible replacements."My immediate focus is a search for the best people to run thisteam," Croce said.One candidate who has been mentioned is Kentucky coach RickPitino, who said last week that he has had conversations with Croce,although not specifically about taking over the 76ers. Pitinorepeatedly has said he is not interested in leaving the Wildcats.Other possible candidates are Indiana Pacers coach Larry Brown,who has asked to be released from the final two years of hiscontract, and former Detroit Pistons and New Jersey Nets coach ChuckDaly.Davis led the 76ers to a 22-60 record in his coaching debut thisseason. Attempts to reach him for comment were unsuccessful, butbefore his last game Saturday, he said, "Not many coaches, not evenveteran coaches, have had to endure a lot of things that I have."MOTTA REPORTEDLY TO BE FIRED: Denver Nuggets head coach DickMotta will be fired this week, the Denver Post reported.Assistant coaches Gene Littles, Jim Brovelli and Kip Motta alsowill be let go by vice president of basketball operations AllanBristow, sources told the newspaper.The firings have been expected since Bristow was hired inFebruary to replace Bernie Bickerstaff, who left the Nuggets to coachthe Washington Bullets.The Nuggets finished the season 21-61, including 5-29 since theAll-Star break.