Pacers Team President Larry Bird announced the decision to not retain Vogel, whose contract was up after the 2015-16 season, in a press conference Thursday morning. According to National Basketball Association rumors, Vogel appealed to Larry Bird, the former Boston Celtics great and current Pacers president, to reconsider firing him from the team.
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Bird said his new coach will need to “have a rapport with the players and hold them accountable”. Vogel led the team to the playoffs four of the next five years, twice advancing to the Eastern Conference finals.
Over at Indiana, Bird did not want to discuss Vogel’s future on the eve wherein thy lost to the Toronto Raptors in a pivotal Game Seven.
Bird said he has been thinking about making the change since the All-Star Break, but said he never considered making a move during the season. Jackson has a reputation as a strong motivator who’s thin on the Xs and Os of the job.
Bird said that with George and promising rookie Myles Turner as part of the nucleus, the Pacers’ job should be an attractive one.
Bird said the Pacers will do what is necessary financially to get the right guy, but expectations are unchanged building around Paul George.
While other teams continue to hire new coaches on an nearly annual basis, the Heat remain the same as they’ve ever been.
Spoelstra has worked for the team since coming aboard as a video coordinator in 1995 and climbed to head coach in 2008-09. IN reached the East semifinals the next season and pushed Miami to the brink in the conference finals each of the next two years.
“We know through the grapevine some players who would like to come here and play”, Bird said.
According to recent reports, former Denver Nuggets head coach Brian Shaw is one of the various candidates that Bird could interview to become the team’s head coach in 2016.
Bird said he expects his phone to start lighting up from coaching candidates.
That’s why Bird decided to make a move.
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Nate McMillan an assistant under Vogel has been named as a possible replacement as has former National Basketball Association player and coach Mark Jackson. IN fans would certainly welcome him back home with open arms and it would be very entertaining to see the two sides work something out. “I would love for him to be the coach but it ain’t going to happen because I respect him too much”. Hornacek likes to play fast, which no doubt would appeal to Bird, but there’s a lot of competition for his services. Vogel will get a chance to prove himself in a new spot.
