Indiana Pacers Fire Jim O’Brien

Fans of the Indiana Pacers have long complained about how Jim O’Brien doesn’t play young players enough, how he utilizes an uneven rotation and how his team lacks consistency. On Sunday, those were three of the main reasons why Larry Bird decided to fire Jim O’Brien. After firing O’Brien, Bird named Frank Vogel as the team’s head coach. Vogel was previously an assistant coach under O’Brien.

How does Larry Bird think the Pacers will respond to the coaching change?

“I’m not saying we’re going to win a championship,” said Bird, “but this team should make the playoffs.”

As it stands, the Pacers are 17-27 and two games behind the Charlotte Bobcats for eighth place in the Eastern Conference. They appear to be in a fight with the Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons and the Bobcats for two playoff spots.

To begin the season, the Pacers were 9-7 and appeared to be a shoo-in for the playoffs. But after losing seven of their last eight games, Bird apparently thought it was time to make a change.

Jim O'Brien was fired (Image: TSN.ca)