INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Para mapatibay ang kampanya sa susunod na season, tinapos ng Indiana Pacers ang relasyon kay coach Frank Vogel.
Sinabi ni team president Larry Bird nitong Huwebes (Biyernes sa Manila), na hindi na nila “ni-renew” ang kontrata kay Vogel sa kabila ng matikas na kampanya ng Pacers sa nakalipas na limang taon, kabilang ang dalawang pagsabak sa Eastern Conference finals.
“Sometimes my job really sucks and this is one of them,” pahayag ng basketball Hall-of-Famer.
“I just had time to think about it and watch the team throughout the year. I know a lot of you didn’t expect us to make the playoffs, but I had a lot higher expectations. I just came to the conclusion that it was necessary for these guys to hear a new voice.”
Nagdesisyon ang Pacers management limang araw matapos mapatalsik ang No.7 seeded Pacers ng No.2 Toronto Raptors sa first round playoff.
“It (the season) was so up and down and I really couldn’t figure it out,” sambit ni Bird.
“Was it that the players maybe weren’t good enough? Did Paul (George) hit the wall? I really was waiting for Myles (Turner) to get in there. I knew by the All-Star break that small ball was probably going to go by the wayside because he (Turner) needed to be in there playing.
“But there’s nothing I’ve really seen other than the voice. It really is, every day, the same voice, I think guys sometimes tune that out,” aniya.