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Memphis Grizzlies: 5 Best Candidates to Replace Dave Joerger

By Maxwell Ogden

Apr 5, 2016; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies head coach Dave Joerger during the second quarter against the Chicago Bulls at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 5, 2016; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies head coach Dave Joerger during the second quarter against the Chicago Bulls at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 1, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Indiana Pacers head coach Frank Vogel gestures during first half play against 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 Pacers head coach Frank Vogel gestures during first half play against 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 /

2. Frank Vogel

Just as Dave Joerger was shockingly fired by the Memphis Grizzlies, Frank Vogel met the same fate at the hands of the Indiana Pacers. Indiana didn’t fire Vogel because of an absence of success, but instead a desire to build a team with a different style of play.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, the Grizzlies already have their eye on Vogel as Joerger’s potential replacement.

Landing Vogel would be an excellent outcome for the Grizzlies.

Vogel finished his Pacers career with a coaching record of 250-181—good for a win percentage of .580. He led Indiana to the 2013 and 2014 Eastern Conference Finals, and had the team ranked in the Top 10 in scoring defense in each of the past five seasons.

That includes 2014-15, when Indiana missed the playoffs on a tiebreak—the same 2014-15 season that franchise player Paul George played in just six games.

Vogel is an elite defensive coach who’s already achieved impressive success at 42 years old. Prior to 2015-16, when Indiana began to embrace small-ball, Vogel’s offense was built with David West at the elbow and Roy Hibbert on the low block—something Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph can do at higher levels in Memphis.

If it’s the direction that Memphis prefers to proceed in, it can continue being an elite defensive team under Vogel’s reign.

Next: System Personnel = Perfect Fit

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