The Los Angeles Lakers have announced the hiring of Frank Vogel as their new head coach, a move that somehow shocked and disappointed the fans as they were hoping for more prominent names like Tyronn Lue or Mark Jackson.
However, Lakers greats Shaquille O'Neal and Robert Horry called for fans to give Vogel a chance to show what he can do as a coach. In an interview with Broderick Turner of Los Angeles Times, both guys made compelling arguments about the veteran coach.
Shaq reminded the people that Vogel actually had a successful stint with the Indiana Pacers from 2011-2016, during which he led the team to two Eastern Conference Finals appearances. O'Neal believes that he can replicate that success with the Lakers.
“Give him a chance. That’s the least people can do. He did a good job in Indiana, right? So give him a chance to see if he does a good job with the Lakers,” Shaquille O'Neal said.
Horry, who won three titles with the Lakers, was a bit realistic about his take on the team's recent hire. He emphasized that fans should just give Vogel the opportunity to prove himself because the other options are not in the same breath as all-time greats like Phil Jackson and Pat Riley.
“Give the man a chance, because there really is no right coach out there,” Robert Horry pointed out. “There is no Phil Jackson walking through that door. There is no Pat Riley walking through that door. So nobody is ever going to be happy with what coach they get. Vogel might be the perfect coach. Who knows?”
Vogel will be the fifth coach the Lakers brought in this decade after Jackson left the team in 2011. They've had very little success ever since. However, Vogel has the credentials to make them a better team, especially on the defensive end.
The fans might not like him now, and they will probably despise him if the team continues to struggle. Nonetheless, the 45-year-old tactician will become an instant household name if he's able to bring these Lakers back to the playoffs.
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