Popovich rips into Sixers fans that don't like Brett Brown

The pupil versus the teacher is always an interesting matchup, even if the latter is coaching a team that's not remotely close to his Spurs dynasty of old.Brett Brown is of the Gregg Popovich coaching tree, which includes Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer. "Pop" is arguably the best coach of this generation because of his dominant San Antonio teams that weren't flashy, but still won five championships from 1999 to 2014. Brown is trying to build that consistency with the 76ers, fighting extremely high expectations this season.Basically, if Sixers fans don't get closer to what they desire—seeing their team win an NBA Championship—they're going to want Brown gone. In fact, some already wanted the organization to move on in past years."Fans don't know crap about who should be the coach or who should not be the coach," Popovich said pregame. "Brett's one hell of a guy. He's the most positive guy I've ever known in my life. He knows his stuff. He's gonna work his (rear) off, and you should be glad he's your coach."The admiration is mutual—material meant for motion pictures."There's a respectful fear, an appropriate fear, that I have anytime you play San Antonio," Brown said about facing a San Antonio team that was on a seven-game losing streak heading into Friday night."He requires no lift. All's he gotta do is look over his left shoulder and see a bunch of rings and a bunch of memories…He is as competitive a person as I have been around…I've played them when they've won 10, 14 games in a row, and now they're on a losing streak, and it doesn't influence me one way or another how I think. I look down, I see Pop and I know you're in a fist fight."Would Brown like to coach as long as Popovich has in the NBA?"I mean, I hope so," Brown said. "I've said candidly to Philadelphia, 'My job has been in question since the day I took it.' It's the life I live. I'm kind of immune to it."Brown is proud of what he's built in Philly, but understands it won't last forever. Truth is, pure speculation—if the Sixers don't get past the second round this season—it would be shocking if the likable New England native would see a seventh season on the bench at Wells Fargo Center. But, that's neither here—nor there—in late November. There's a lot of season to go, and in the meantime, Brown got to coach against his mentor Friday night for the 13th time since joining the Sixers."What do you enjoy most about coaching against (Popovich)," this media member asked Brown."Nothing," Brown said humorously."What do you enjoy most about coaching against (Brett)," I asked Popovich."Nothing," he responded without knowing what Brown had said.Two peas in a pod. The question is—will Brown come close to the success Popovich had in San Antonio?