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Vogel makes coaching debut as Pacers entertain Raptors

Jan 31, 2011 - 4:11 PM (Sports Network) - Not as popular as the O'Brien character from the classic Seinfeld episode dubbed 'The Limo', Jim O'Brien apparently didn't do enough to take over the basketball masses in Indiana and was sent packing by the Pacers after compiling a lowly 17-27 mark this season.

Indiana went 121-169 under OBrien's lead for nearly four years and has failed to reach the postseason since 2005-06. One of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference, the Pacers will go with assistant coach Frank Vogel on an interim basis and his tenure begins tonight at Conseco Fieldhouse with a visit from the Toronto Raptors. Vogel was an assistant under O'Brien in Boston and Philadelphia.

The Pacers have lost seven of their last eight games, including Saturday's 110-89 loss in Chicago. Josh McRoberts poured in a career-best 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Danny Granger posted 19 points in a losing cause.

McRoberts and O'Brien were tossed from the game with less than four minutes to go after getting caught up with Bulls power forward under the basket. McRoberts was whistled for a technical foul and O'Brien vehemently argued the call.

"I don't even know what I did," McRoberts said. "If I was going to get thrown out, I should have done something. I'm not sure what happened. I just tried to block out."

Indiana forward Tyler Hansbrough is listed as doubtful for Vogel's debut with a case of pneumonia. He has missed back-to-back contests.

Toronto, meanwhile, has lost 11 in a row and seven straight as the visitor, and will resume a three-game road swing tonight in Indy.

The Raptors fell to 5-20 away from Air Canada Centre with Saturdays 103-87 loss at Minnesota in the opener of the trek. Andrea Bargnani and rookie Ed Davis scored 15 points apiece, while Jose Calderon and Jerryd Bayless each netted 10.

"I think the confidence is down," Raptors coach Jay Triano said. "We didn't make shots. Defensively we did a few good things but I've never been in a game where you missed 67 shots ... we had a hard time making shots in this game."

Toronto will also visit the Atlanta Hawks on the road swing and hasn't lost 12 straight in a season since the 2002-03 campaign.

The Pacers topped the Raptors, 124-100, on Dec. 6 this season at Conseco Fieldhouse, as Granger compiled 21 points and nine rebounds in that one. Indiana has won four of the last six meetings between the teams and five straight as the host in this series.