2012 NBA Playoffs, Pacers Vs. Heat: Vogel Starts Working The Refs In Advance Of Game 1

When the Indiana Pacers meet the Miami Heat in their upcoming playoffs, there's a pretty valid assumption that LeBron James and Dwyane Wade will get plenty of calls to go their way. That is usually the way of the NBA when superstars have the ball, especially guys like James and Wade who attack the defense in the role of the aggressor.

Pacers coach Frank Vogel may be conceding those types of calls, but as Mike Wells reports, he spent some time on Thursday afternoon channeling some old school Phil Jackson by pondering how the officials would react to the other Heat players and their M.O. to slide in the lane and flop for a charge call. I'm looking at you Shane Battier.

"Every drive to the basket they have guys not making a play on the ball," Vogel said. "But sliding in front of drivers. Often times they're falling down even before contact is even being made. It'll be interesting to see how the series is officiated."

Nice work by Vogel to get out in front of the flops, but his team is going to have to make sure they play through the whistles and don't get caught up an any perceived officiating disparity. Also, if you figure Wade and James will be getting their calls in the lane, might as well make no doubt with the fouls. Let 'em earn it at the stripe instead of finishing for and ones. Yes, you can commit a clean, hard foul and the playoffs almost demand it.

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