Pacers coach Frank Vogel appeared on SportsCenter Wednesday to discuss the 2015 NBA Finals.
Indiana Pacers head coach Frank Vogel went through the ESPN carwash Wednesday. He was at ESPN’s headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut to discuss the NBA Finals and had a full slate of appearances scheduled on the various programs throughout the day.
Vogel has made numerous appearances on Mike & Mike in the past and a producer recently asked Vogel would be willing to come in studio. He accepted and did an excellent job Wednesday.
Appearing on the ESPN networks is a great opportunity for Vogel, who just completed his fifth season as Pacers head coach, to learn a little about the broadcasting business and discuss a league he knows so well. He’s great with the media — winner of the 2014 Rudy Tomjanovich Award — and is also such a likable guy. This is a great offseason move for Vogel, and positive PR for the Pacers.
Others not involved in the Finals have done the same, like former Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau and Miami’s Dwyane Wade, who we saw serve as a guest commentator for ABC’s broadcast of Game 2 and 3.
[Vogel, Pacers in store for a busy June]
Vogel and Thibodeau, two respected NBA head coaches, are in Bristol talking NBA Finals.
First up, Vogel and Thibodeau joined Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic on ESPN’s signature radio program, Mike & Mike. Golic asked Vogel, as a coach, what is said to the players and done to slow down four-time NBA MVP LeBron James.
“You got to do the best you can one-on-one with him,” Vogel said. “The better you can play him one-on-one and minimize his effectiveness in beating you without help…”
Golic interrupted.
“What is that?” he wondered. “What is the best way to affect him one-on-one?”
“Well, my best way is to put Paul George on him,” Vogel answered, surely with a grin. “If he beats that primary defender and help comes, he’s going to make the right pass.”
(Listen to Vogel and Thibodeau’s appearance on Mike and Mike.)
LeBron is a guy everyone surely wants to play alongside. He’s the best player in the world, brings the spotlight, and makes everyone else better. How strong has he been in the first three games of this Finals series? Tremendously strong.
James is averaging 41 points, 12 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.7 steals per game through three games.
James has the most points combined through three Finals games in history (123), and he has scored, assisted, or created 200 of the Cavaliers’ 291 points, per Synergy Sports Tech. His ability to read situations and make calculated moves are a big part of who he is.
“It’s not just about LeBron James’ stat sheet,” Vogel continued. “It’s what everybody else is doing because he’s lifted them all up. I definitely think this has got to be in the conversation for one of the best performances of all-time and I’m eager to see how it all plays out.”
In addition to his appearance on Mike & Mike, Vogel joined The Herd with Colin Cowherd and SVP & Russillo on ESPN Radio, and was in studio for multiple hits on SportsCenter. Vogel was scheduled to fly back to Indianapolis Wednesday afternoon.
Listen to Vogel on the Radio:
This is definitely the best selfie you will see all day. pic.twitter.com/bY5dBCniFT
— Mike & Mike (@MikeAndMike) June 10, 2015