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The Heat, who eliminated the New York Knicks on Wednesday, were fourth in the league in points allowed and fifth in the league in field goal percentage defense during the regular season. They like to swarm to the ball when it's in the paint. "Every drive to the basket, they have guys not making a play on the ball," Vogel said, "but sliding in front of drivers. Oftentimes they're falling down even before contact is even being made. It'll be interesting to see how the series is officiated." Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Frank Vogel 

Pacers coach Frank Vogel was his typical self after the game. He doesn't want to stop with just making the second round of the playoffs. "We're very happy to get this 'W' and advance," Vogel said. "But we're not happy with just getting that. We feel like this is just the beginning of a big run." Sulia

Indiana Pacers, Frank Vogel 

Vogel, whose team was third in the Eastern Conference heading into tonight's game at Cleveland, should get serious consideration for the award. Chicago's Tom Thibodeau, whose team knocked Vogel's Pacers out of the playoffs last season, is the likely front-runner. "I'd go with Thibs or (San Antonio coach Gregg) Popovich," Vogel said. Indianapolis Star

Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, San Antonio Spurs, Tom Thibodeau, Coaching, Gregg Popovich, Frank Vogel 

Many of the Indiana Pacers traveling party, including most of the coaching staff, took in the bright lights of Broadway on Tuesday night in New York. They attended "Magic/Bird," a play about Magic Johnson and Larry Bird's fierce rivalry during their playing careers. "I loved it. I thought it was great," coach Frank Vogel said. "I loved how they portrayed Larry because I know him the best of anybody in the show. But the whole story, the racial issues they were involved with in the '80s(, was great)." Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Frank Vogel 

Vogel grew up outside of Philadelphia watching Julius Erving play for the 76ers, but he admired Bird's Hall of Fame career with Boston. He admired it so much he showed his players clips of vintage Bird during the first days of training camp. "Seeing Larry diving all over the floor for loose balls and ready to fight anybody that stood in his way of winning," Vogel said. "That kind of determination, combined with selflessness, is the identity I thought we should adapt. "I told them we're looking for an identity and the guy we need to follow is right upstairs (at Bankers Life Fieldhouse)." Bird, who did not accompany the team on its trip, plans to watch the play with Johnson next month. Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Frank Vogel 

Vogel considered Harter a grandfather figure. "Definitely one of the most influential coaches that I've ever worked with," Vogel said. "He really taught me a ton, took me under his wing, almost made sure I was growing as a coach and carrying my business the right way. I owe a lot of my success to his tutelage." Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Frank Vogel 

Mike Wells: Pacers locker room near silent after the game. Dahntay acknowledged his 2 mistakes and Vogel said Granger should have stayed home on LeBron. Twitter

Indiana Pacers, Danny Granger, Dahntay Jones, Frank Vogel 

Mike Wells: Frank Vogel said one of the highlights of attending the Super Bowl was that Madonna performed 1 of his fav songs, "Vogue" Twitter

Indiana Pacers, Frank Vogel 

Vogel's first significant challenge came when the Pacers lost six straight games and dealt with locker room turmoil after a game in Houston in early March. "The biggest thing with Frank that I like is that he doesn't think he knows it all," Pacers President Larry Bird said. "Not that I know it all, either, but he'll ask questions." The Pacers overcame their chemistry problems and advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 2006. They were competitive in four of their five games against the top-seeded Chicago Bulls. "He believes in you," Hibbert said about Vogel. "I'd run through a brick wall for that man. He has a lot of confidence in us, and we're able to bring that to the court (as) opposed to how we did it before." Vogel also has upgraded the coaching staffing, hiring Brian Shaw and Jim Boylen while retaining longtime assistant Dan Burke. The Pacers (13-6) have built on their playoff appearance from last season. "Frank has helped us change the culture," Bird said. "He's brought a fresh attitude in and he went out and got a hell of a staff. They work very well together." Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Coaching, Frank Vogel 

The Chicago Bulls' and Indiana Pacers' budding rivalry added another layer last week when Derrick Rose promised he wouldn't forget the way the Pacers celebrated after winning in Chicago. Pacers coach Frank Vogel volleyed back on Monday with a jab of his own. "I don't know if we really celebrated any more than a lot of teams celebrated when they get a road win," Vogel said on "The Scott Van Pelt Show" on ESPN Radio. "I know they've got a couple guys on their team who celebrate on every play. I just think it's the thrill of victory. "If they want to add some spice to the rivalry we welcome that. Rivalries are fun. Winning is fun. It's all good." ESPN.com

Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, Derrick Rose, Frank Vogel 

Sean Deveney: Frank Vogel talking about Larry Bird last night: "He is like Darth Vader. He walks into a room and he has a presence. Everybody feels it." Twitter

Indiana Pacers, Larry Bird, Frank Vogel 

Pacers president Larry Bird made Frank Vogel his coach and carefully chose his assistants to complement a young voice. But ultimately the guidance, the policing, works its way inside out. For everything free-agent forward David West has brought to the Pacers – a classic, refined presence – he’s declared his loud, bold arrival in the most subtle of ways: performance over promise, correction over criticism, a raised eyebrow over a harsh word. “I don’t tolerate a lot of ignorance, and I think guys are starting to figure that out,” West said. “I’m not a preachy guy, but I just try to represent something different in terms of who I am.” Yahoo! Sports

Indiana Pacers, Larry Bird, David West, Frank Vogel 

It's probably a good thing that Christmas has already passed, because Vogel's wallet is a little lighter -- not that money is a huge concern for him anymore -- after he picked up his first technical foul of the season Friday. Vogel spent the entire game working the officials over questionable calls that did not go in favor of his team. "I was a little disappointed in myself after the game," said Vogel, who has to pay $2,000. "Not because I got a 'T,' but I felt like I was whining the whole game." Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Coaching, Frank Vogel 

Mike Wells: Frank Vogel on the difference with Lance Stephenson this season: "He’s clowning around a lot less." Twitter

Indiana Pacers, Lance Stephenson, Frank Vogel 

Indiana Pacers fans will likely have to wait until next week to see newly acquired power forward David West make his debut. Pacers coach Frank Vogel said today that West likely won’t play against the Chicago Bulls at Conseco Fieldhouse on Friday. “It’s only because the game will just be days after he signed with our team,” Vogel said. “He’s still learning the system and he’s got to improve his conditioning because he was holding himself back some since he was a free agent.” Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Free Agency, David West, Frank Vogel 

The Indiana Pacers have told veteran swingman James Posey he does not have to report to training camp. "He's not going to be with us," coach Frank Vogel said. "We're going to make a decision what to do with James at a later date, but he's not going to be in camp." Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, James Posey, Frank Vogel 

Q: Are there any intriguing battles you're looking forward to in camp? Frank Vogel: Definitely. I think what George Hill brings to the table at the point guard and wing spot is something I'm interested in. I'm eager to see how much Lance Stephenson has grown over the summer. Paul George is in the position to take the next step, but he's got quality competition from our other wings. We don't know what the rest of our team will look like in terms of who is going to be at the other positions. But really, where George Hill fits in at the shooting guard and point guard spot is what I'm most eager to see. Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Paul George, Coaching, Lance Stephenson, George Hill, Frank Vogel 

"I miss it terribly." Indiana Pacers coach Frank Vogel hasn't been able to do what he loves, something he's done throughout the better part of his adult life. The NBA lockout has kept Vogel from his favorite task as a NBA coach, instructing players on the practice court. "That's why you're in coaching, to have that one-on-one interaction and those relationships to help people improve what they do," Vogel said while taking a break from the action at the "Come To Our House" event on Monday. "That's the rewarding part of it." Indy Cornrows

Indiana Pacers, Coaching, Frank Vogel 

Eventually the NBA lockout will end and Vogel will be thrown into the fire of his first NBA season as the head coach with all of the scrutiny and stress that carries. Vogel is thankful for all of the public support he's received around town but he isn't running for mayor, he's a basketball coach ready to do some coaching. "We haven't lost a game in quite some time," Vogel joked as we discussed his popularity around town. Something tells me Vogel would love to deal with the fallout from a loss right now. At least he'd be coaching his team and have a chance to make them better. Indy Cornrows

Indiana Pacers, Coaching, Frank Vogel 

Vogel is not focusing on coming up with a defensive scheme to slow Chicago's Derrick Rose or finding a way to get Danny Granger easier shots on offense. With the NBA lockout in full effect and no end to the labor issues in sight, Vogel's focus is on his family. "I miss out on a lot of stuff during the season. That's why I make sure I'm helping out every possible moment I can," he said about his daughters. "Everything else is put on hold outside of my family. I have to get back and take advantage of every moment I can with them." Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Coaching, Frank Vogel