Think Seattle has troubles — look at Miami

  • Rich Myhre / Herald Writer
  • Thursday, December 6, 2001 9:00pm
  • Sports

By Rich Myhre

Herald Writer

SEATTLE – Sure, the Seattle SuperSonics have problems. They’ve lost four of their last five games, injuries are ongoing, and the starting power forward is again playing with maddening inconsistency.

Still, it could be worse.

Just ask the Miami Heat.

While the Sonics will limp into tonight’s game at KeyArena, Miami will arrive on life support. The Heat has lost 12 straight games and 14 of 16 this season. Figured to be an Eastern Conference contender, Miami now sits squarely in the Atlantic Division basement, owner of the worst record in the league.

Every NBA season has its surprises, of course, but Miami’s misfortunes are astonishing. The Heat, after all, won 50 or more games in each of the last four full NBA seasons (Miami was 33-17 in 1999, the lockout year), including a stretch of four consecutive division titles.

“It’s a mess,” Heat coach Pat Riley told the Hartford Courant recently. “We’ve always been able to come out of training camp with things in sync and jump on the league early. We’d get a cushion that way, but now our backs are to the wall.”

A month ago, Miami was showing no signs of imminent collapse. The Heat won its season-opener against Toronto, dropped consecutive games to Cleveland and Atlanta, then notched an 87-85 overtime victory vs. the Sonics on Nov. 6.

No one knew that the win against Seattle would be Miami’s last for awhile.

Since then, the losses have come at home and on the road, in blowouts and in nail-biters. The only common thread has been the outcome.

The last three games have been particularly grim. On Saturday, Miami suffered a 78-72 loss to Chicago, the team with the NBA’s next-to-worst record. The next night, visiting Washington (hardly a league power, even with Michael Jordan), smacked the Heat 84-75. And on Tuesday, Miami opened a three-game West Coast road swing with an 87-83 loss to the historically awful Los Angeles Clippers.

Counting tonight’s contest, Miami has 31 games remaining before the All-Star break. The Heat needs to go 22-9 in those games to slip over .500 at the NBA intermission.

“I think we still have an opportunity to turn it around,” guard Eddie Jones told the Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. “We set goals for ourselves now and we want to be out of this (slump) in two months. We’re gonna come out of this and come out of this fighting.”

Injuries and illness have been major factors in Miami’s demise. Kendall Gill, who started the team’s first four games, is on the injured list with a broken finger. Forward Brian Grant, another starter, missed eight games with a foot injury, though he is expected to be in the lineup tonight. Jones, the team’s top scorer, is hobbled by a bruised knee and is questionable tonight. Center Alonzo Mourning, a six-time NBA All-Star, has the ongoing concern of a kidney disease and missed several games with a viral infection.

Still, according to Sonics coach Nate McMillan, Miami has ample talent and an outstanding coach.

“That’s the best 2-14 team I’ve seen,” McMillan said. “They’ve had a rough start, but (Riley) is still the same man with the same mind. He’s still an excellent coach. He’s going to be on that team to continue to work its way through this (losing streak). They’re going to respond to it, and if they don’t he’ll play guys who will give an effort.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Lake Stevens’ Kamryn Mason attempts to flip Glacier Peak’s Kyla Brown onto her back during 110-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Vikings girls wrestling conquers 4A District 1 Tournament

Lake Stevens dominated with champions in six weight classes and 18 total state-qualifiers

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) smiles as head coach Nick Sirianni holds up the Lombardi trophy after they defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (Timothy A. Clary / AFP / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Eagles overwhelm Chiefs to win the Super Bowl

The Philadelphia Eagles perhaps did not vanquish the Kansas… Continue reading

Coach Derek Lopez (far right) and the Lake Stevens boys' wrestling team celebrates with their championship trophy at the WIAA 4A District 1 Tournament at Jackson High School on Feb. 8, 2025.
Lake Stevens boys capture district wrestling title

The Vikings had 17 state-qualifiers; second-place Arlington led with five weight class winners

Edmonds-Woodway wrestlers react to a pin during the match against Meadowdale on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep boys wrestling roundup for Saturday, Feb. 8

Edmonds-Woodway boys wins Wesco 3A South wrestling title.

Kamiak’s Kai Burgess has her arm raised in the air after beating Arlington’s Jaymari O’Neal in the 125-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Rebuilding Kamiak girls wrestling steps forward at District Tournament

Ki Burgess and Eden Cole each won their weight class in Friday’s WIAA District 1 Girls’ 4A Tournament

Prep basketball roundup for Saturday, Feb. 8

Tulalip Heritage boys advance to district title game.

Meadowdale’s Kyairra Roussin takes the ball to the hoop during the game against Archbishop Murphy on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep girls basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 7

Kyairra Roussin’s deep buzzer-beater lifts Meadowdale over Stanwood.

Prep boys basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 7

Lake Stevens passes Mariner in league standings to take final district slot.

Seattle head coach Mike Holmgren watches his team against Washington Sunday, November 9, 2003. (George Bridges / KRT / Tribune News Services)
No Holmgren in Hall is a travesty

The Former Seahawks coach carries a resume superior to many already in the HOF.

A Snohomish School District truck clears the parking lot at Glacier Peak High School on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (Aaron Coe / The Herald)
Inclement weather cancellations strain high school sports calendar

With state tournaments on the horizon, ADs from Wesco, Northwest and Kingco must be flexible

Gonzaga overcomes stagnant start to beat LMU

Bulldogs get ‘best of best’ play down the stretch in 73-53 win.

Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) celebrates during a stop of the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Nov. 24, 2024 (Photo courtesy of Rod Mar / Seattle Seahawks)
Leonard Williams restructures Seahawks deal

More moves may be coming as Seattle deals with salary cap.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.