Magic head south to face rival Heat (Dec 20, 2016)
MIAMI -- Florida pro basketball is bad right now -- really bad.
On the eve of Tuesday's game between the Orlando Magic (12-17) and the Miami Heat (9-19) at AmericanAirlines Arena, let's take stock in the fortunes of these two organizations.
First, though, some perspective: Of the four states with multiple NBA teams -- a list that also includes California, Texas and New York -- only Florida lacks at least one team with a winning record.
In addition, there are only two teams worse than the Magic and Heat in the 15-team Eastern Conference -- the Brooklyn Nets and the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Magic haven't been to the playoffs since 2012 and haven't won a postseason series since 2010 -- both feats accomplished during the tenure of coach Stan Van Gundy.
Orlando fired Van Gundy in May of 2012 despite the fact that he had made the playoffs in each of his five seasons. Since he was terminated, the Magic have dismissed three coaches -- including one interim -- in four years.
New coach Frank Vogel is in his first year in the land of Mickey Mouse.
But what's really troublesome to Orlando fans is the fact that despite four straight losing years -- all with 35 or less wins -- the Magic has failed to capitalize in the draft. Of the 16 selections they have made in the past decade, only one -- Aaron Gordon -- is producing even modest numbers for Orlando.
Gordon, taken with the fourth pick in the 2014 draft, is a 6-9 forward averaging 10.4 points and 4.3 rebounds.
Worse yet for Orlando, the Magic are coming off a horrible home loss, falling 100-79 to the Toronto Raptors on Sunday.
"We have guys who are not giving us enough and are selfish," Magic center Bismack Biyombo told the media after that game in a very telling statement. "We are playing selfish basketball, and that is not going to get us anywhere."
Bad drafts, unstable management and a lack of effort is a putrid mix for Orlando.
But even with all that, the Magic still has a better record than the Heat, and that has to really bother a Miami franchise that had been among the best in all of pro sports during their four-year run with LeBron James.
The Heat do have stable management with team president Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra, a proven winner now in his ninth season as the head coach, including two NBA titles.
A lot of Miami's problems have to do with injuries. They started the season with shooting guards Josh Richardson and Wayne Ellington injured for numerous games. Shooting guard Dion Waiters got hurt, and so did forward Justise Winslow.
Ellington, perhaps Miami's purest shooter, came back and is now hurt again with a hamstring injury. Waiters has missed 12 straight games, although he could be back soon.
"I'm running as hard as I can -- as close to game speed as possible," Waiters said. "It's up to (the Heat) whenever they think I'm ready."
But here's the thing with the Heat: Even if they were to get healthy and remain that way for the rest of the season, it's doubtful they have enough talent to make a run for the playoffs, especially considering the hole they have dug.
The Heat have two upper-echelon talents, and both are still in the primes of their careers: 27-year-old center Hassan Whiteside, who is averaging 17.6 points, 14.8 rebounds and 2.3 blocks; and 30-year-old point guard Goran Dragic, who is averaging 19.1 points and 6.7 assists.
But where the decline of the Heat is truly evident is on the wings. Gone are Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and LeBron, who have been replaced by the likes of players such as Rodney McGruder and Josh McRoberts.
If you compile a list of Heat players who have made at least nine starts this season and yet shoot less than 40 percent from the floor, it will be lengthy, with names such as Waiters, Winslow, Luke Babbitt, McGruder, McRoberts, Richardson and Derrick Williams.
Winslow, a lottery pick last season who plays terrific defense, is a keeper. He should still be a junior at Duke and is only 20 years old.
Richardson, 23, could still turn things around. Both players need to hone their jump shots, however.
James Johnson and Tyler Johnson -- no relation -- have been productive bench players for the Heat. But until they are able to surround Dragic and Whiteside with quality shooters, their demise will continue.
