If you haven’t heard, the Pacers have fired not resigned head coach Frank Vogel. After avoiding the issue for days, Larry Bird finally gave the word today during a press conference.
Reaction from NBA reporters hasn’t been kind:
Larry Bird still obsessing over small ball idea. YOU DON’T HAVE THE PERSONNEL FOR IT! WAKE UP! Your delusional ideas aren’t Vogel’s fault.
— Jared Woodcox (@jwdcx2336) May 5, 2016
Larry Bird needs to take a good long look in the mirror at his own job performance. His expectations for this roster were patently absurd
— Brian Geltzeiler (@hoopscritic) May 5, 2016
“The Pacers have exceeded win projections every year.”
“Yeah, but I can understand why they’re looking to move on.”
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) May 5, 2016
Vogel may have over-achieved with this squad but Bird is entitled to hire a coach that will run a faster paced, small ball system. Vogel has apparently fought him on that.
Naturally, fans on Twitter and talk radio have started throwing out Brad Stevens name for the Pacers job. You know, Indiana guy gets to move back home.
Stevens doesn’t strike me as the type of guy who would ask out of Boston for a shot in Indiana. And there’s the tiny matter of having 3 years remaining on his contract.
