Larry Bird says Frank Vogel won

[FireDavidKahn]

This is a dumb deCision

[lilteapot]

doesn't seem like he wants to return anyway

Bird said he begged him to reconsider.

[90sgoat]

Bird is still mad Vogel didn't put Hibbert on the floor that last play where Lebron drove past PG for an open layup. That mistaken play lost the series and the Pacers chance at a finals appearance.

[Hey Yo]

NBA on ESPN ‏@ESPNNBA
Since 2011, same year Vogel started coaching Pacers, only Heat & Bulls have had better win % in Eastern Conference.

[alanLA92]

Bird considered making a coaching change after the team was 28-25 around the all-star break. The fact that he thought he can get a coach to make them a title contender and score alot more shows how inaccurate his view is. Should of been grateful the team overachieved the past two seasons. But now he's firing his coach while trying to make it not look the case to save face.

[ImKobe]

Obviously Bird wants a culture change..Vogel is a decent coach but they needed to go in a different direction...Not Vogel's fault the Pacers traded Kawhi for George Hill back in the day...imagine the Pacers with Kawhi and PG.

I'm guessing they are going to blow the current roster up because it's not going to get better as it is.

[jbryan1984]

I thought Vogel did a great job. When he took over, I believe they started going to the playoffs the next season. Several ECF appearances, Indy vs. LeBron's Heat were always fun the last several years. The Indy FO failed to retain talent and then PG got hurt. Somebody will hire him.

[Dro]

doesn't seem like he wants to return anyway

He reportedly asked Bird to reconsider several times so he did want to be here. I just don't like his rotations and his playcalling, other than that he's fine. Maybe we should have just brought in an assistant coach to the run the offense.

Bird has visions of small ball dancing around in his head but he's the one who constructed this roster and its not built to play small ball...You need SHOOTERS LARRY.

Then on top of that, you fire a very good, still young head coach, WITH NO IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT.

Randy Wittman?
Mike Woodson?

WTF?????

[Dro]

He is too good a coach for something else not to be going on.

And I think the only one that has the leverage to force this would be PG13.

Nothing to do at all with PG...This is all Bird and his ego...He didn't even tell Frank in person. He did it over the phone. A 5 year professional relationship demands more respect than that.

[Dro]

I don't think he cared much for Vogel in the first place.

This is true, thats why he kept Obrien for so long, he's in love with the small ball....

[Lebron23]

Larry Bird needs to hire Kevin Mchale.

[Bosnian Sajo]

NBA on ESPN ‏@ESPNNBA
Since 2011, same year Vogel started coaching Pacers, only Heat & Bulls have had better win % in Eastern Conference.

Damn, and that's counting last season where they missed the playoffs. Paul George is one hell of a player........do it, Mitch.

[Reggie43]

Its not the coaches fault that they had such an unbalanced roster, Vogel did his best with the players that he had to work with.

[Smoke117]

He's certainly going to find a new job quickly somewhere...quality coach.

[beastee]

Bird said he begged him to reconsider.

Bird is a tool for saying that. You fire the dude...then take away his dignity and manhood.

Bird is Savage.