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Former Sixers head coach Larry Brown isn't happy about the direction the franchise has gone in. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

(Bebeto Matthews)

The fiercest competition in Philadelphia sports isn't between Nick Foles supporters and detractors or common sense vs. Ruben Amaro. Instead, a war of words has begun between legendary basketball figure—and former Sixers head coach—Larry Brown and the current leadership atop the tank-happy organization.

Brown, serving as the head coach at Southern Methodist University, has taken exception to how the Sixers are tearing down the roster with an eye on building a long-term winner in Philadelphia.

"I hate what's going on in Philly," Brown told the Philadelphia Inquirer on Wednesday. "They don't have a basketball person in the organization. It makes me sick to my stomach.

"These analytics, they don't mean squat to me. Throw it up against the wall and see if it sticks. To say that these analytics guys have the answer is crazy. It doesn't apply to basketball. Everybody uses the data you get, but that's what coaching is. Maybe it will work, I don't know. But it's a shame what those fans are going through waiting to see if it will."

On Thursday morning, Sixers CEO Scott O'Neil fired back on 94WIP's Morning Show with Angelo Cataldi, per CBS Philly.

“You know, after seeing Larry Brown’s SMU team in the Final Four this year it was tough to hear those kind of comments,” O’Neil said, referencing Brown's team that missed the NCAA Tournament last year. “Was he in the Final Four this year?”

Brown is old school and likely can't see past day-to-day losses for the greater good of long-term competition in the current NBA landscape. O'Neil and the Sixers front office are punting the present for a shot a success in the future—even if it involves losing fans and ruffling feathers right now.

Who is right here? Are you on Brown's side? Or do you think the Sixers are doing the right thing by tanking now to win later?

Vote in our poll and sound off below in the comments section.

Joe Giglio may be reached at jgiglio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeGiglioSports. Find NJ.com on Facebook.