Vogel reaches milestone
OAKLAND, Calif. —
reached a major career milestone when his Orlando Magic faced the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night.
It was Vogel’s 500th career regular-season game as an NBA head coach.
“Hopefully, I can hang around for 500 more,” Vogel said before tipoff at Oracle Arena. “It’s been a heck of a run. I’m very blessed to be a head coach in the NBA, very fortunate to have coached some great players both here [with the Magic] and in Indiana.” rating.
makes the go.
He can guard opponents at any position on the floor.
Last season, Green finished second in the NBA Defensive Player of the Year voting, losing to San Antonio Spurs small forward
Green, Leonard Utah Jazz center
are the top contenders for the award this season.
Green was asked Thursday whether he’s progressed on defense this season.
“I think each year I got better defensively, and I think this year I’ve gotten better,” he answered. “So I do think it’s my best season defensively but just not number-wise. I think Warriors’ defense and the numbers are up a little more, but I actually feel better about what I’ve done on the defensive end than I have in any other year.” Kerr agreed with Green. “This has probably been his best defensive season this year,” Kerr said. “Across the board around the league scoring’s up, offensive efficiency is up, teams are playing more and more small lineups. And a guy like Draymond becomes more and more valuable as a result because you have to guard everybody on the floor.”
Green attended Michigan State, and he’ll root for the Spartans when they play Miami in the NCAA Tournament on Friday.
Green said he’s filled out three brackets.
Not surprisingly, the Spartans figure prominently in all three.
“In one of them, we’re winning it,” Green said. “In the other, we’re winning it. And, then in the other, we’re going to the Final Four.”
,a Davidson alumnus, predicts Duke — the alma mater of his brother,
— will win the tournament.
“I think I might be antiAmerican,” Stephen Curry joked. “I didn’t actually fill out the official bracket. I did one for for their show. I picked Duke over Kansas in the championship. So Seth Curry will be very proud of me.”