HoopsHype.com Rumors

Frank Vogel, on potential rough stuff, "I talked to our players this morning, that we have no interest in retaliating." Sulia

Indiana Pacers, Frank Vogel 

Pacers coach Frank Vogel, smiling, on Danny Granger's questionable ankle, "That's the perfect scenario when you're hurt, coming out and guarding the best player in the world." Sulia

Indiana Pacers, Danny Granger, Injuries, Frank Vogel 

Sean Deveney: #Pacers Vogel on 3d-q dominance: "It’s my Vnce Lombardi speeches. My motivational tactics at halftime are solely responsible. I'm a genius." Twitter

Indiana Pacers, Frank Vogel 

"Our guys need to understand this team can beat us and the other game felt like a blowout -- it was a blowout -- but in the playoffs, every game is different," Vogel said. "I made sure they left this building understanding this team can beat us. As (Orlando coach) Stan Van Gundy said, 'You don't get two wins for a blowout.' We're very guarded about how good this team is." Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Stan Van Gundy, Frank Vogel 

Shaun Powell: Frank Vogel, on Lance Stephenson choke sign: "I want enthusiasm on the bench. I don't want gestures that go over the top." Twitter

Indiana Pacers, Lance Stephenson, Frank Vogel 

"We definitely feel like we can win this series, and we felt that coming into this series,'' said Pacers coach Frank Vogel. "Obviously, with them being undermanned with (Chris) Bosh being out, we feel even stronger about it. But how we feel is irrelevant. We've got to get the job done between the lines.'' Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Frank Vogel 

Frank Vogel on Paul George's defense on Dwyane Wade: "Paul George is one of the top-five most versatile defenders in the NBA. Dwyane Wade had an off night... We can't give Paul all the credit.'' Sulia

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Dwyane Wade, Paul George, Frank Vogel 

Tom Withers: #Pacers coach Frank Vogel says team focused, "hungry" and ready for Game 3. Twitter

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Frank Vogel 

Bird's patience paid off. The Pacers finished with the fifth-best record in the NBA this season (42-24), whipped Orlando 4-1 in the playoffs' first round and are tied 1-1 with Miami in the Eastern Conference semifinals. "It's obvious why he got Executive of the Year," coach Frank Vogel said. "If you look at how this particular team has been built, it's really remarkable from where we were a few years ago." Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Larry Bird, Frank Vogel 

"I heard they wanted to be like the Dallas Mavericks, in a sense," Wade said about an apparent reference to Pacers coach Frank Vogel using last year's Mavs team, which beat the Heat in Miami for the title, as motivation for Indiana. "I saw their little celebration at the end of (Game 2). I don't know if they didn't expect to win, but every night we go out on the court, we expect to win." FOXSports Florida

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Dwyane Wade, Frank Vogel 

Wade then was asked about the celebration, but didn't elaborate on what specifically irritated him. "They say their identity, they say they want to be like Dallas," Wade said. "So they celebrated like Dallas, I guess." FOXSports Florida

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Dwyane Wade, Frank Vogel 

Frank Vogel says everybody’s talking about LeBron's defense on Danny Granger but nobody's talking Shane Battier's defense on Granger: “We put some different looks in just to try to get (Granger) freed up from LeBron but also from Battier,'' Vogel said. "That’s what not nobody's really talking about. The job LeBron did on Danny, he does a great job on Danny. But sometimes LeBron is on David West and Shane Battier's been doing a great job as well. So you have to give him credit.’’ Sulia

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Danny Granger, David West, Shane Battier, Frank Vogel 

Danny Granger and Paul George were complete no-shows. When Granger, the leading scorer, makes 1-of-10 shots and scores seven points, and has one more turnover than shot made, you have no chance to beat a good team on the road. "We are going to have to get him (Granger) better shots,'' Frank Vogel said. "I don't know if he's going to have a huge offensive series, especially when he has to guard LeBron James for 38 minutes. That takes a lot out of your offensive game.'' Indianapolis Star

Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, LeBron James, Paul George, Danny Granger, Frank Vogel 

Chris Tomasson: Frank Vogel: "I thought we fouled too much.'' Twitter

Indiana Pacers, Coaching, Frank Vogel 

Indiana Pacers coach Frank Vogel is a little lighter in the wallet. The NBA fined Vogel $15,000 Saturday for his comments about how the "referees should officiate" the upcoming playoff series against the Miami Heat. "(The Heat) are the biggest flopping team in the NBA," Vogel said to the media Thursday. "It'll be very interesting to see how the referees officiate the series and how much flopping they reward. Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Frank Vogel 

Given an opportunity to backtrack, Vogel instead went on South Florida radio Friday to say there are times Heat defenders begin to fall "before contact is even made." Scoffing at the suggestion he was providing the Heat with bulletin-board material, Vogel told 640-AM host Orlando Alzugaray he was merely saying something that "needed to be pointed out." The Heat refused to fire any counter charges, saying the series is about Game 1 at AmericanAirlines Arena at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, not about any verbal lobs. "I don't care," Dwyane Wade said of Vogel's accusation. Palm Beach Post

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Dwyane Wade, Frank Vogel 

Most Heat players said they were unaware of Vogel's comments until informed by the media after Friday's practice. Haslem, a target of Vogel's, shrugged with such disinterest, the topic may as well have been Kardashian gossip. "Oh, man," Haslem said. "I don't buy I don't Uh, next question I didn't know he said that. I'm speechless." Palm Beach Post

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Udonis Haslem, Frank Vogel 

The Miami Heat are taking the high road when it comes to Indiana Pacers coach Frank Vogel's comments about them being the biggest floppers in the NBA. "I could care less. We could care less," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters after practice in Miami on Friday. Vogel told his players and the media Thursday about the Heat's penchant for flopping on defense to draw offensive fouls on the opposition. "Every drive to the basket, they have guys not making a play on the ball, but sliding in front of drivers," Vogel said. "Oftentimes they're falling down even before contact is even being made." Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Erik Spoelstra, Frank Vogel 

Vogel made the comments to get the attention of the officials during the series, which begins at 3:30 p.m. Sunday in Miami. "It's (the) playoffs," Heat forward Shane Battier said. "It's about basketball. It doesn't really matter what anyone believes or thinks or writes or spouts on TV. It's decided on the court." Heat forward Chris Bosh was one of the few players to respond to Vogel's comments. "It's fantastic motivation because we're at the point now, not many teams are playing," Bosh said. "We're getting to that point where everything is starting to tighten up and you know you're a good team. "And you can point out reasons why everyone can't win it all. But we know it will come down to heart and determination. Everything else is just motivation, that's all." Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Chris Bosh, Shane Battier, Frank Vogel 

Indiana Pacers coach Frank Vogel always seems to have a trick up his sleeve when it comes to getting across a message. Thursday, he sent a message to the officials who will work the Indiana-Miami playoff series about how the Heat players like to flop on defense. "They are the biggest flopping team in the NBA," Vogel said. "It'll be very interesting to see how the referees officiate the series and how much flopping they reward." Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Frank Vogel