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Indiana Pacers: 5 Best Candidates To Replace Frank Vogel

By Maxwell Ogden

May 1, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Indiana Pacer head coach Frank Vogel reacts to a call during the Pacers 89-84 loss to Toronto Raptors in game seven of the first round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
May 1, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Indiana Pacer head coach Frank Vogel reacts to a call during the Pacers 89-84 loss to Toronto Raptors in game seven of the first round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 5, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers associate coach Mike D’Antoni during player introductions prior to a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 5, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers associate coach Mike D’Antoni during player introductions prior to a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Mike D’Antoni

As previously alluded to, team president Larry Bird would like to see the Indiana Pacers, “Score more points.” That’s a fair request for a team that ranked No. 17 in scoring offense during the 2015-16 season.

If Bird wants the Pacers to improve offensively, there’s no better coach for the job than Mike D’Antoni.

The reason D’Antoni is listed all the way down at No. 5 is that his hiring would be reaching to a polarizing extreme. He’d undoubtedly improve the offense, and many of the Pacers’ players are self-motivated defensively.

The reality is, D’Antoni has been something of a liability to his team’s defense as a head coach.

If this hiring is executed, one could expect Paul George to produce the best statistics of his career—you know, as he progressively did every year under Frank Vogel. D’Antoni’s up-tempo offense helped Steve Nash win two MVP awards, and helped earn the likes of Joe Johnson, Shawn Marion, and Amar’e Stoudemire star status.

Love him or hate him, D’Antoni has two 60-wins seasons and two Western Conference Finals appearances—between 2005 and 2007, of course.

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