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Pacers' Frank Vogel: LeBron James is 'the Michael Jordan of our era'

Frank Vogel's Pacers have been eliminated by the Heat and LeBron James for three straight years. (Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

Frank Vogel's pacers have been eliminated by the Heat and LeBron James for three straight years. (Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

Indiana Pacers head coach Frank Vogel said his team was competing against "the Michael Jordan of our era" in LeBron James, and compared the Miami Heat as a whole to the Chicago Bulls of the 1990's following Indiana's Game 6 elimination from the Eastern Conference finals.

Vogel went on to question the wisdom of Pacers shooting guard Lance Stephenson's hectoring of James throughout the series, but said he admired his drive to win, according to Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix.

"I'll take Lance Stephenson's competitive edge. But it's never good to tug on Superman's cape."

James had 25 points while shooting 8-of-12 from the field in a 117-92 win that sent the Heat to their fourth straight NBA Finals.

The Pacers have now lost to the Heat in the playoffs for three straight years, a fact the Indiana coach called "bitterly disappointing."

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