INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana interim coach Frank Vogel has brought confidence back to the Indiana Pacers.
He claims Boston, Miami and Orlando won’t want to play the Pacers when — not if — they make the playoffs.
That’s a bold claim for a franchise that has missed the postseason the past four years.
But the Pacers are 7-3 since Vogel took over for Jim O’Brien, with two close losses to Miami. Now, with young talents Darren Collison and Roy Hibbert joining Danny Granger on center stage, Indiana has the look of a playoff team. The Pacers (24-30) would be in the eighth playoff position if the playoffs began on Thursday.
The players have responded positively to Vogel’s bravado. Indiana has averaged 107.3 points since he took over, and the Pacers have scored at least 100 points in all 10 games.
