National Basketball Association

Interim coach Vogel has Pacers rolling

Published Feb. 17, 2011 9:00 p.m. ET

foxsports

In just 10 games, Pacers interim coach Frank Vogel has replaced confusion and doubt with a swagger that hasn't been seen or heard in these parts since Reggie Miller retired.

Among Vogel's straight-faced boasts, he claims Boston, Miami and Orlando won't want to play the Pacers when - not if - they make the playoffs. While many have pointed to an offseason in which Indiana will have significant salary cap room, Vogel says the talent to win big already exists on the roster. He's even told leery Pacers fans to hop on the bandwagon.

That's a lot to process when discussing a franchise that has missed the playoffs four straight years and fired coach Jim O'Brien after a 17-27 start.

But rarely has a midseason coaching change gone as well as this one.

The Pacers are 7-3 under their new leader, 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 position if the playoffs began on Thursday.

''I've learned that this is a good basketball team,'' the 37-year-old Vogel said. ''I knew they were a good basketball team. They have a chance to be a great basketball team, have a chance to have a special end to this season. I believe it's going to happen.''

Vogel's confidence has filtered down to the players.

''He's a motivator,'' guard Dahntay Jones said. ''He knows his basketball, but he's relating to guys on a personal level. He's just encouraging guys and helping keep their confidence up, and once your confidence is high, you can accomplish basically anything. That's what he starts with.''

Indiana trailed Miami 41-17 in the first quarter on Tuesday, but the Pacers took the lead before losing 110-103.

''I think that coach definitely has those guys in tune with what they want to do,'' Miami forward LeBron James said. ''He has those guys motivated once again, and they're playing good basketball as of late.''

Vogel often has talked of smashmouth basketball - a focus on playing inside-out, combined with a hard-nosed mentality that allows what he considers a young, athletic team to reach its potential. He said the comeback against Miami was an example of the toughness he wants to see each game.

''We took their punch and regained the lead,'' he said. ''Up 20, down 20, we'll keep coming after every team.''

Indiana has averaged 107.3 points since Vogel took over, and has scored at least 100 points in all 10 games. Vogel said he has merely tweaked O'Brien's system.

''A lot of the changes we've made to our offense have simplified things and made our spacing consistent,'' Vogel said. ''Because of that, we're becoming a much better passing team and a much more patient team. We attack the basket, and when an option is taken away, we just simply make the extra pass and we work it until we get a great shot.''

Granger has had difficult stretches this season, but the former All-Star is shooting 55 percent and averaging 23.2 points his past five games.

Collison has looked like the player who gained league-wide respect last season while Chris Paul was injured in New Orleans. He's handling the ball more, and has averaged 6.2 assists the past 10 games.

''I just think I'm playing more to my strengths, as far as pick-and-rolls,'' he said. ''I've got a lot of good teammates, a lot of good wing players who can shoot the ball, a lot of good post players who can get open. You can give credit to the coach, my teammates, but all in all, we're doing this as a team.''

Hibbert has regained his swagger and provided the low-post presence the Pacers have lacked. The 7-foot-2 center is averaging 17.8 points, 7.9 rebounds and shooting 50 percent from the field under Vogel.

''He's been playing well,'' Collison said. ''Now, he's starting to pass it out of the post when he gets doubled, and it makes it hard for other teams to double him now. Any time you have so many good outside shooters and a good post player, it just makes it easier for everybody else.''

Rookie forward Paul George didn't even play for most of December, but he is averaging 10 points in 23 minutes per game since the coaching change.

''Paul relies so much on his God-given ability, but now he's trying to learn,'' Jones said. ''He's learning in the trenches right now, and he's getting better and better every game.''

Vogel also has increased Tyler Hansbrough's playing time. Hibbert was fired up about the second-year forward's development after a 16-point effort against Miami.

''I don't think anybody can guard him in the league in the post when he wants to score,'' Hibbert said. ''You can write that, you can tweet that, do whatever you want with that. Tyler is a hell of a power forward, and nobody can guard him.''

Perhaps the most important factor is the players feel confident in their roles. Vogel said the day he was hired that he planned to be consistent in his rotations. That has helped the players focus on performing.

''I just think we feel like our minds are clear,'' Collison said. ''We can just go out there and play basketball. You don't have to worry about too much - just go out there and just play your game.''