Many criticize Lavin for pumping up his players and spinning disappointments. How about viewing it through the prism of the real world. Ever hear a CEO explain a bad quarter by saying our sales team took three months off and our product is inferior to competition? Ever hear Obama say sorry folks, Obamacare may not have been a good idea? Ever hear our military say from the front, sorry Commander, we are getting our butts kicked. Leaders do what they can to pump up their team's confidence. Leaders spin what has happened while trying to make the result better. Leaders inspire optimism, not breed despair. The criticism of Lavin on this issue is sophomoric. Do you expect him to say --we have a new recruit with some gaps in his game and it is uncertain he will be able to improve? Or should he say, I see little hope for this team improving? Or, we keep going over this with players a and b in practice but can't seem to overcome their ego, or their lack of basketball iq? These criticisms of Lavin are just silly, and reflect a lack of experience in the real world. A press conference is not a Confessional. It's purpose is not to commit hari kari, but to put the best front on what is occurring for many good reasons--morale, public perception, confidence boosting, optimism, recruiting, etc etc. The first coach to stand up and say "This program is in hopeless shape " will also be a former coach. It is terrible leadership. All here say Roberts was a man of integrity. Anyone remember him saying, sorry guys, I am in over my head, or try as I might, I can't attract top recruits? Get real, guys.
No one is asking him to do that, just be slightly more grounded in his comments. Don't act like things are going exactly as planned, when clearly sh*t is hitting the fan.
I've pointed it out several times on here, but over the last two months Calipari has repeatedly said it was his fault the team wasn't playing up to their potential, that he didn't have them ready to go early in the season, and even that there were tactical mistakes made.
And I posted several comments from his players that said they really appreciated that he was man enough to do that.
If you want more proof, do yourself a favor and go google "coaches taking the blame". Mike Woodson was honest after that fiasco with the clock at the end of the Wizards game in December. Tortarella has said it's his fault the Cannucks are playing awful.
Blazers coach Terry Scotts? Nuggets coach Brian Shaw Matt Painter at Purdue? They are all doing the same thing.