Philadelphia — In economics, the principle is called the law of diminishing returns.
It's the point beyond which adding more capital yields less than proportional returns.
So, if the latest brushfire concerning Sixers coach Larry Brown that he has been thinking of resigning has truth to it, it's time for the organization to start wondering if Brown still is worth the headaches.
Ever since he said he didn't initially want this job after being hired by the Sixers five years ago, Brown continually has hinted through word and deed that he's just another meltdown away from bailing out.
How many times has Brown implied he wanted to quit? A half-dozen times?
On Tuesday night, a local television station reported that general manager Billy King was flying to Phoenix, where the Sixers played Wednesday night, to try to persuade Brown not to resign.
Wednesday, at the Sixers' shootaround, Brown flatly denied the story.
"It never came from me," he said. "I've been here. I was going to retire (last) summer and I got over that. I was seriously thinking about it, but I'm still here."
That sounds good. That sounds solid. Unfortunately, that's not where Brown stopped. When asked directly by a reporter if he was going to be with the Sixers until the end of the season, Brown said, "Come on, let's talk about something ... I'm here, doing my job."
It wasn't a difficult question. A simple "yes" or "no" would have sufficed it.
Yet Brown couldn't do it, and that's the problem. He's never affirmed his commitment to the Sixers. He's never done a thing to end the constant speculation that he's stepping out the door.
Rather than say he's going to honor the terms of the generous contract the Sixers have given him, Brown wallows in the wind, always hinting that his signature is hardly his bond.
It's beyond aggravating, and this organization doesn't need it anymore. It deserves better.
Brown needs to make a decisive statement about his future. At this point, I no longer care what that will be. If he's going to stay, then say it unequivocally. If he wants to quit, then quit.
Brown is one of the best coaches. He's constructed the team in his vision, and it's hard to imagine that anyone else will be able to coach it.
But if Brown no longer has the heart, energy and dedication to guide the team for the long haul, he should go find his greener pasture, because it will be worthless for the Sixers to keep him around. Right now, his wishy-washy ways are hurting this organization at a time when it desperately needs stability.
The Sixers are in a state of crisis. They are 13-18 and have looked like a shell of the team that went to last season's NBA Finals.
Now more than ever, the Sixers need Brown to act like a strong, decisive general who's fully committed to getting this team headed in the right direction.
Last season, the Sixers were 18-6 when Brown considered quitting, then took a two-day sabbatical to recharge himself. But that team was playing with confidence. It had the character, strength of will and determination to overcome Brown's idiosyncrasies.
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