2014: Charlotte Bobcats (43-39)
2015: 11th East (33-49)
When Steve Clifford took over the then-Charlotte Bobcats, they were a franchise completely lost. They were two years removed from a NBA-record low win percentage, winning nine games in the lockout-shortened 2012 season. And there was little hope of moving up.
Clifford had to get his team to buy into believing and buy into defense. Especially considering the players he had on his roster.
They got Kemba Walker to begin growing toward stardom. And they convinced Al Jefferson to sign on in free agency, giving the team a solid low-post and veteran presence. The Bobcats coalesced around Clifford’s defensive schemes and formed their backbone and identity.
What happened in 2014 is exactly what the Orlando Magic hoped would happen with their team. And that is essentially what did happen.
Orlando found a defensive spine under Clifford and shed years of inconsistency to make the postseason. The Playoffs are not merely a possibility but an expectation now. And that is what a culture-setting season is supposed to accomplish.
It is what happened next that has Magic fans worried.
True, Walker missed 20 games. Jefferson also missed significant time. And second-leading scorer Mo Williams was also out for much of the season with an injury. The team did not have the scoring depth to make up for those losses for long stretches.
Charlotte’s defense was still strong, but the team’s offense went into the tank and could not recover.
Orlando was not a strong offensive team last year. Scoring remains a major concern for the Magic moving forward. And the team does not have a player with the scoring potential of Walker.
Clifford has some advantages that should help him avoid a repeat, but it is still far from certain. And this Bobcats team shows how a team can hit a ceiling and stagnate.