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ORLANDO, Fla. -- Tipping off an NBA season isnt new to Frank Vogel, yet this year is different.The always optimistic coach is starting over with the Orlando Magic after being dismissed by the Indiana Pacers. He is intent on getting the Magic back in the playoffs for the first time since Dwight Howard was with the team.I want to see our guys succeed, Vogel said in an interview with The Associated Press. I want to see smiles on their faces when they get over this hump and they achieve what we all know they are capable of achieving. I want to see our fans embrace it and enjoy it. They deserve it.The Pacers let Vogel go after five seasons and he became one of the most sought coaches this offseason. He wasnt unemployed long. Two weeks after his firing, Vogel was introduced as coach of the Magic, who had been stunned when Scott Skiles quit in May after one playoff-less season in Orlando.Vogel is the ideal fit of the defensive-first profile Magic general manager Rob Hennigan was looking for in coach. While in Indiana, the Pacers were one of the top defensive teams in the league.Hes very genuine, Hennigan said. I think he believes in coaching but at the same time connecting with players. His general approach is to really treat guys not just with respect, but its really a collaboration in his eyes. I think our guys really respond to that approach.A one-time video coordinator for the Boston Celtics, Vogel rose through ranks as an assistant coach where building a connection with players is must. That approach never left Vogel as he went from fourth assistant to interim coach to head coach of the then-underachieving Pacers.Vogel proved the anti-Jim OBrien, who Vogel replaced in Indiana. Vogel attempted to reach his players and connect with them. Paul George, a rookie first-round pick coming off the bench during Vogels interim season, was one of the players Vogel connected with best.Jim OBrien is one of the hardest coaches to play for, George said. He was old school, hard-nosed. But Frank was the exact opposite of what he was -- real positive, open minded.Under Vogel, George became a perennial All-Star.We had a great six years together, George said. Hes kind of just been there throughout my whole growing up in this league. From my rookie year to fatherhood to the All-Star Games, hes been there.Despite his relationship with George and the playoff berths, Larry Bird felt it was time for a change.Bird, the Pacers president of basketball operations, didnt renew Vogels contract though the coach had a winning record in four of his five full seasons.I sensed some things over the last few years and took a lot of notes like I do every year, Bird said in a telephone interview with AP. When his contract was up, I just thought maybe it was time right then.Vogel had a 250-181 regular-season record and guided the Pacers to back-to-back Eastern Conference finals still has accepted the move, even if he still doesnt completely understand it.Part of the business, said Vogel, who also 31-30 in the playoffs after taking over for fired Jim OBrien with 38 games to go in 2011. I still have a lot of friends there, including Larry, who was the one who chose to make the change. I will always be grateful for him.Im disappointed, I wanted to be there forever, said Vogel, a 43-year-old New Jersey native. I loved living in Indiana. I loved the organization, the Simon family. I loved everything about being the Pacers coach.Bird said building relationships with players is one Vogels strengths.The main thing is he is so positive -- positive energy, Bird said in a telephone interview with AP. You felt like he could the players to believe in his system, believe in him. I thought that was a great attribute he had.Vogel has brought the same approach to Orlando where he and Hennigan have reconfigured the Magic into the mold of his Pacers teams. The two men added power forward Serge Ibaka and free agent center Bismack Biyombo in the summer to bolster the interior defense.The first-year Orlando coach seems to be quickly winning over the Magic players.Hes a good guy, said third-year forward Aaron Gordon. We can tell he is genuine.The next step is to see if Vogels ability to connect with players translates into enough wins to get Orlando back into the playoffs for the first time since 2012. Vogel predicted during his opening news conference that the team would be in the playoffs this season. After months on the job, he hasnt backed off that promise.I believe we are going to have a chance to go deep into the playoffs, Vogel said. I believe in this team.Mike Montgomery Jersey . -- Josh Sterk scored once and set up two more as the Oshawa Generals edged the visiting Belleville Bulls 3-2 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. Vince Coleman Jersey . Oyama had six birdies and two bogeys at Kintetsu Kashikojima in the event also sanctioned by the Japan LPGA Tour. "I have been having this neck ache thats been affecting my golf recently," Oyama said. https://www.cheaproyals.com/657a-kelvin-gutierrez-jersey-royals.html . The return match will take place next Wednesday. Udinese leads Fiorentina 2-1 in the other semifinal. Napoli staged a second-half comeback from two goals down after Gervinhos opener and a stunning strike from Kevin Strootman. Royals Jerseys China . Newcastle dominated in the early stages but City weathered the storm and then raised its game in extra time. Negredo broke the deadlock from close range after a simple move in the 99th minute before Dzeko took the ball round goalkeeper Tim Krul to seal the victory in the 105th. Alex Gordon Jersey . -- Quarterback Will Finch threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns, and Yannick Harou rushed in two scores as the No.The city of Cleveland has waited 52 years to celebrate a championship, yet on the night the Cavaliers will receive their rings and the banner is raised to the rafters, somehow this team has become a bit of an afterthought within its own hard-luck city.The Cleveland Indians opening Game 1 of the World Series against the Chicago Cubs across the street from the Cavs opener against the New York Knicks has added an extra element of electricity within a fan base that has little experience celebrating champions. But theyre quickly getting the hang of it.LeBron James and the Cavs have waited all summer for the jewelry that accompanies being the first team in history to rally from a 3-1 deficit to win an NBA championship. The fact theyll get their rings on the same night James good friend Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks are in town makes the evening even more fascinating.The Knicks, after all, greatly aided the Cavs title by giving them J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert in a midseason trade two seasons ago.Its just a special night, its something that no one can ever take away from you no matter how many missed shots, no matter how many turnovers, no matter how many games that youve lost, they can never take that moment away from you, James said. Im happy not only for every guy here, but our fans and the organization. Its something thats going to live in the archives forever.James and the Cavs also faced the Knicks on an equally emotional night two years ago when James made his grand return to Cleveland. The emotion of the night seemed to overwhelm the Cavs, who lost to an inferior Knicks team.Jammes, however, is 2-0 on previous ring nights with the Miami Heat.ddddddddddddts difficult because you just reflect on last year when you should be worrying about this year, but its human nature, James said. Were not there celebrating this year, were there celebrating our accomplishment from last year.Our fans have the right to celebrate that, we have the right to celebrate that and its unfortunate that we also at the same time now got to get back to a new season, but thats what the job is and we have to do that. It should never take away from the night itself.New York, conversely, is hopeful it can make a postseason push in the East with the debut of its new-look roster.New guard Derrick Rose participated in just three practices since he was cleared of sexual assault charges last week. Rose missed more than two weeks due to the trial, including the final five preseason games. He hasnt played in a game since Oct. 4, but coach Jeff Hornacek doesnt believe Rose will be on any minute restrictions.Anthony missed the playoffs the last three years in New York and now must stand and watch again Tuesday while James, one of his closest friends in the league, collects his third ring. Anthony is still searching for his first, although budding star Kristaps Porzingis, Rose and new center Joakim Noah should at least inch the Knicks back into the postseason.I believe in this group of guys, Anthony told Newsday. I believe in this team. I think well have a special year. ' ' '