After taking a 2-1 series lead over the top-seeded Detroit Pistons, the Orlando Magic have quietly proven to be everything the Miami Heat thought they could be in the NBA Playoffs.
Instead of embracing the label of a seller or a soft-tanking team down the stretch, the Heat made a push to the NBA Playoffs in hopes of making noise. However, that didn't exactly pan out for the Heat. They lost in the first game of the Play-In Tournament.
The Magic, on the other hand, have looked every bit the feisty underdog that the Heat believed they could be.
The Heat only played themselves down the stretch
Miami should've had more foresight than they proved down the stretch. Even though the Heat had moments of impressive stretches throughout the season, it was never sustainable. The front office was confident in a team that never earned it.
Before you jump down my throat, neither did the Magic. That's absolutely right. However, there's one big difference between the Magic and Heat, and it was the level of talent on their respective rosters.
Despite their struggles with consistency this season, the Magic were always the more talented team as a whole. Before the season started, many were projecting Orlando to finish as a top 4 team, at worst, in the Eastern Conference.
Sure, they did underperform this season, but the talent was always present.
Over the last couple of weeks, it does seem as if something has clicked for the Magic. Something that just wasn't going to happen - and didn't - for the Heat. And the front office's inability to see that may have cost the Heat more than they're willing to realize.
Pat Riley must make lemonade out of lemons
Had the Heat realized this months ago, they'd have had a much better chance of moving up in the NBA Draft Lottery. Nevertheless, the Heat must now live with their miscalculation moving forward.
And heading into the offseason, it'll be their job to make lemonade out of the limited lemons that they have at the moment.
In theory, it's hard to blame the Heat for having confidence in their roster. But, at the same time, their failures can't go unanswered. This roster is not good enough, and there has to be an answer for that.
The front office can't expect the results unless there are changes this offseason. And maybe this miscalculation was needed. Maybe this was the wake-up call that will get this organization back on track.
Because of the past couple of seasons, the Heat has operated as a shell of its former self. And, ironically enough, it's the Magic that has gotten the best of the two in-state rivals.
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