The worst Orlando Magic team/season

[axl_c_cool]

Hey guys,


It's easy to get into a negative spin about this team, the talent, effort, play, is all terrible. I was thinking (while watching Green last night) is this the worst Magic team ever. I don't mean record, just in general? I've been a Magic fan since the mid 90's but was young, also in the UK the coverage wasn't good then. Of all the teams I've seen it's this team or the T-Mac 2004 team. Other teams might have had worse records or players, but the lack of desire of this team puts them in the mix for me. What do you guys think? what is the top 3 worst Magic teams?


PS the 2012-13 just had a lack of talent, they tried to at least

[Skybox]

I was there for the "Heart and Hustle" team, designed to be the worst team ever. "The Process" before hashtags. Best player on the team was supposed to be Darryl Armstrong. I don't think Chauncey Billups was ever issued a jersey. Ben Wallace platooned with Bo Outlaw. If you weren't on an expiring contract you were given away. I forget the number of offseason trades, but it was legendary. Back when cap space and climate was power over anything else. Rookie coach, etc etc...but they went .500 anyway and were a blast to watch.

Worst on paper anyway. Polar opposite of this year's underachieving group.

[npiper17]

This team / season is certainly up there imo.

What makes it worse is that after 4 years of being terrible, we essentially have to start again with Gordon and Payton all to show for it.

It is depressing but at the same time, with the right moves from here on out, it can be recovered. A high draft pick this year (preferably top 3) is a must.

[Xatticus]

This season is up there, as well as the 2011/12 team. We weren't terrible in the 2011/12 season (37-29), but the Dwight drama marred the season and it was obvious that a team that had recently reached the finals was on the path to implosion. There just wasn't anything to be optimistic about.

The worst for me, by far, is still the 2003/04 team. McGrady was just chucking. He quit on the team. He played zero defense and griped about how he couldn't carry the team all by himself, effectively throwing his teammates under the bus in every interview he did. I remember thinking that Bogans was the only bright spot on the team. He played hard. Everyone else wanted to hide under a towel on the bench. Similar to this season, the only bright spot was impending draft lottery.

I really don't mind if the team loses a lot of games, as long as there is some reason for optimism. What makes this team so soul-crushing is that so much of our youth was exchanged for veterans that don't seem invested in this team at all. It's really difficult to feel good about where this franchise is going right now.

[axl_c_cool]

I was there for the "Heart and Hustle" team, designed to be the worst team ever. "The Process" before hashtags. Best player on the team was supposed to be Darryl Armstrong. I don't think Chauncey Billups was ever issued a jersey. Ben Wallace platooned with Bo Outlaw. If you weren't on an expiring contract you were given away. I forget the number of offseason trades, but it was legendary. Back when cap space and climate was power over anything else. Rookie coach, etc etc...but they went .500 anyway and were a blast to watch.

Worst on paper anyway. Polar opposite of this year's underachieving group.

That team is full of players you'd just love to have now or if you were a player you'd want on your team! like you said, complete opposite of this team!

[Driguez]

I don't know about being the worst season, but it is as disinterested I've ever been.

[axl_c_cool]

This team / season is certainly up there imo.

What makes it worse is that after 4 years of being terrible, we essentially have to start again with Gordon and Payton all to show for it.

It is depressing but at the same time, with the right moves from here on out, it can be recovered. A high draft pick this year (preferably top 3) is a must.

I always remember you npiper because you're a fellow Brit and I think we both started posting around here at the same time in 2004-ish? This is my least favourite team.


I agree and really think we need wholesale trades except Payton, Gordon, and Hezonja, get a top 3 pick and 'retool'. Payton, Gordon, and Biyombo (still young and won't be moved) have enough experience and potential to make this a retool. Fournier can't be here though, too ball dominant and a piece for a team further down the line. He could make a real difference in somewhere LA with the Clippers, or with Rockets.

Post deadline line up

Payton
Watson
Hezonja
Gordon
Biyombo

[axl_c_cool]

This season is up there, as well as the 2011/12 team. We weren't terrible in the 2011/12 season (37-29), but the Dwight drama marred the season and it was obvious that a team that had recently reached the finals was on the path to implosion. There just wasn't anything to be optimistic about.

The worst for me, by far, is still the 2003/04 team. McGrady was just chucking. He quit on the team. He played zero defense and griped about how he couldn't carry the team all by himself, effectively throwing his teammates under the bus in every interview he did. I remember thinking that Bogans was the only bright spot on the team. He played hard. Everyone else wanted to hide under a towel on the bench. Similar to this season, the only bright spot was impending draft lottery.

I really don't mind if the team loses a lot of games, as long as there is some reason for optimism. What makes this team so soul-crushing is that so much of our youth was exchanged for veterans that don't seem invested in this team at all. It's really difficult to feel good about where this franchise is going right now.

That's the point 100%, if Ibaka was consistent or playing like an all star and players were committed on defence it'd be easier to accept giving up what we have and did, when we see what we're putting on the floor and the effort it's just painful. Bazemore's first basket last night epitomises our team. No effort, no communication, and no fight. We could have come into this season looking like this


Payton/Augustine/Watson
Oladipo/Fournier/Meek
Harris/Hezonja
Gordon/Sabonis
Biyombo/Vucevic


That roster is so much better and there is so much there to put together in a deal if we need to. The rebuild have been rushed and wasted, it's such a shame!

[Optimus_Steel]

I was there for the "Heart and Hustle" team, designed to be the worst team ever. "The Process" before hashtags. Best player on the team was supposed to be Darryl Armstrong. I don't think Chauncey Billups was ever issued a jersey. Ben Wallace platooned with Bo Outlaw. If you weren't on an expiring contract you were given away. I forget the number of offseason trades, but it was legendary. Back when cap space and climate was power over anything else. Rookie coach, etc etc...but they went .500 anyway and were a blast to watch.

Worst on paper anyway. Polar opposite of this year's underachieving group.

Funny that was the the team that was meant to be the original tank a ton team but it didn't work out because all those guys felt slighted and had something to fight for. Also Darrell Armstrong was a good leader. We need to tank on purpose then we'll win lmao. This current team is pathetic. They have no pride, they are soft. No leadership. They dont play hard. Its not fun to watch. I don't remember being this uninterested in a Magic team in a long time.

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[AddiFB]

Maybe not the worst season, but I think I've never lost interest as quickly as this season.

It happened really quickly because they didn't seem interested or motivated enough to give a constant, competitive effort on the court. I haven't stopped following them, never will, but I've got little to no faith in them winning a single game and now, when they do, I'm in a mix of shock they actually won, sprinkled with annoyance over losing ground in the tankathon.

It is one of the most frustrating seasons in my 26 years following this team, as I had huge hopes of post-season return and a solid, defensive minded team that could beat anybody on any given night. I had hopes for 4-6th best in the East, even up to 3rd behind CLE and BOS but that belief and hope was shot down almost immediately and through the season it's been a slap in the face: a reality check.

We aren't fit to compete on a consistent basis. This team is headed for the lottery after a season we were told and believed we were going to the post-season to compete with the grown up men.

No, we're going to have to talk about the young boys coming into the league in next summers' NBA Draft. Yet again.

[BCS]

Imo, it's been the worst since I started watching the Magic in the Mid 90's.

This team has no direction, we are stuck in the middle wanting to compete but not realizing we are not in that stage yet. There always was some hope in every year as a Magic fan, this is the 1st year I just don't, at least so far. The last few years we have steadily been improving although last year was tough as well, not to this extent though. The heart and hustle team played hard, was fun to watch and was a nice welcome surprise. The 2004 Magic at the end of the day still had T-Mac which never made games boring and we were the worst team in the league which meant excitement for the draft. No one likes the middle ground. I like being at the top, either winning or losing, but if we're going to be a middle of the ground team at least try and develop our young players and try to improve through them to see if they can make us a better team.

The playing of the vets is what has taken the biggest toll on the enjoyment of this team so far because it makes no sense, we accomplish nothing whatsoever and it's not like they are even entertaining to watch.

[thelead]

Easily the worst. A team with no star that tries to win but can't... but wins enough to keep us from getting a star. Maddening.

[MoMM]

Veterans collecting final checks and rookies thinking they are the next great thing can't do any good.

http://orlandomagicdaily.com/2016/08/04/lessons-in-gravity-when-rookie-shaquille-oneal-met-michael-jordan/

In contrast...

While going 41-41 is not anything to write home about (especially without a playoff appearance), for a team expected to challenge for the worst record in league history, it is special.

That Heart and Hustle team finished better than a Boston Celtics squad featuring Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker, a New Jersey Nets unit featuring Stephon Marbury and Keith Van Horn, a Washington Wizards squad featuring Juwan Howard and Mitch Richmond, a Dallas Mavericks squad featuring Michael Finley and Dirk Nowitzki and the list goes on.

[npiper17]

This team / season is certainly up there imo.

What makes it worse is that after 4 years of being terrible, we essentially have to start again with Gordon and Payton all to show for it.

It is depressing but at the same time, with the right moves from here on out, it can be recovered. A high draft pick this year (preferably top 3) is a must.

I always remember you npiper because you're a fellow Brit and I think we both started posting around here at the same time in 2004-ish? This is my least favourite team.


I agree and really think we need wholesale trades except Payton, Gordon, and Hezonja, get a top 3 pick and 'retool'. Payton, Gordon, and Biyombo (still young and won't be moved) have enough experience and potential to make this a retool. Fournier can't be here though, too ball dominant and a piece for a team further down the line. He could make a real difference in somewhere LA with the Clippers, or with Rockets.

Post deadline line up

Payton
Watson
Hezonja
Gordon
Biyombo

I remember you too being a fellow Brit. Found RealGM at university and joined up the year before the 21-61 McGrady team (2003 I think?) Posting hasn't always been possible due to work and family commitments but I've been around more of late.

[3ddman23]

This season is definitely up their for one of the worst seasons in magic history. You cant really count the first couple of seasons of our expansion years. The heart and hustle year was suppose to be a tank season but ended up being a bright surprise so obviously that's not. The 03-04 season was really bad but like some said we still had tmac putting up 30 points a night every night as bad as it was. Dwight's first couple of years we were a sub 500 team that could have been better if we made some better trades & drafts(not trading mobley, drafting fran). The first couple years of this rebuild didn't bother me at all I knew we were gonna be bad so I embraced it. But these last 2 season have been torture. These last 2 season especially this one have been the worst times in magic history for me. We are at an absolute low as a franchise and pretty much have hit complete non existence when it comes to the nba masses. Nobody cares or watches the magic. It's really sad

[FFBlitzace]

For me it was Dwight's final season. You knew we weren't good enough to do anything, you knew Dwight was leaving, and the games were just miserable even though we were above .500.

This season is probably top 3. It's probably between Tmac's final season and this season for the #2 slot for me.

[OrlandO]

It's been a disaster in just about every way. GM, coach, players... nothing has really gone as planned. And the disappointment might not even be over... imagine if we get a crap return for ibaka and play ourselves out of a good consolation prize via high lottery pick. Yikes...

[anothermagicfan]

The last 2 years have been really disappointing, especially when the first part of each year looked like the team was showing some improvement. But for me it's both TMac and Dwight's last season. There's nothing more infuriating and frustrating as a fan than your star player turning his back and demanding a trade. I don't blame TMac as much as I used too. He was the best scorer in the league and was surrounded by garbage. The Dwightmare season was so shortly removed from a finals appearance and 50 win seasons. We were supposed to be good and compete again that year and just sucked. Which brought us to where we are now.

[3ddman23]

Dwight's last year did suck as well but it doesn't bother me that much cause it was the lock out season. Most of the teams were in a funk that year.

[Def Swami]

Easily least entertaining Magic team I've ever watched. Even in that last T-Mac year, you at least had T-Mac to watch drop 30 nightly.