A fundamental flaw in Willie’s approach

When you want your team to grow and stretch their comfort zones but refuse to do the same yourself you eventually lose the locker room. With Willie, it’s his refusal to work the refs and stand up for his players.

Have you seen a coach at college level or above that just absolutely refuses to argue calls like Willie? He wants his players to grow but at the same time won’t do the one thing that you need when you have someone like Zion, which is work the refs and at least attempt to argue calls. Dale Brown literally ran on the court and tried to fight a player over fouling Shaq hard, but Willie won’t even stand up for Zion when someone dives at his legs.

I 100% think this approach lost the locker room for Willie. Players don’t think he has their back. I think Willie not doing anything after Gary Harris (I could be wrong) dove at Zions knees sealed his fate. Willie made a comment about that play a day or two after, but my guess is that’s only because the locker room was mad.

It’s like having a boss that pushes you to work harder and faster. But then something goes wrong that isn’t your fault but you’re getting blamed. Your boss doesn’t stand up for you and lets you take the blame, then the next day keeps trying to work you harder and faster. You lose all respect for them and a lot of motivation, and that’s exactly what’s happened to Willie.