`Wrecked` Miami, “Struggling with too High Tide“

The `wrecked` Miami Heat is sinking without end.

The Miami Heat, which has struggled with the worst slump in the team`s franchise history, was disgracefully held to the fourth lowest point total in NBA history.

The Heat lost 95-56 to the Utah Jazz yesterday. Miami tied the franchise record for fewest points in a game, which was held in game with the Charlotte Hornets on Dec. 20, 2000. It can be called as a kind of `karma effects` for Miami which brought shame on the Chicago Bulls on Oct. 4, 1999, allowing only 49 points, the fewest points in NBA history.

With this loss, the Heat recorded its 18th defeat in 23 games this season to remain in the bottom rank of the eastern conference with the Chicago Bulls (4 wins 19 losses), which lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the same day

As Head Coach Pat Riley said after the game, Miami players did not have any inspiration to win, and thus played very passively. The Heat made just 6 out 26 shooting attempts from the beginning of the game. When 10 shots missed the rim in a row, they could do nothing.

While Edie Jones scored 12 points, and was the only Miami player in double figures, Donyell Marshall and Karl Malone of the Utah trampled down Miami camp, recording 21 points for each.

The reason why the Miami Heat fell headlong to the bottom contrary to the expectation of experts is that the team has been negligent of scouting young players after trading one of best guards Tim Hardaway to the Dallas Mavericks, and was coupled with the injuries of leading players such as Alonzo Mourning and Brian Grant. In particular, Mourning suffering from the heart disease recorded only 4 points and 4 rebounds playing for 20 minutes.

And in a 79-85 led situation 8 minutes and 57 seconds to go in the fourth quarter, Quentin Richardson (16 points) reeled 11 consecutive points to win a come-from-behind victory against the Phoenix Suns, which was their first road win of the season.

Meanwhile, Orlando Magic six-time All-Star forward Grant Hill will undergo his third surgery to correct and improve his left ankle joint, and thus he will be sidelined for the remainder of the season.

Despite Hill injured in his left ankle during the 1999-2000 season, he succeeded to sign a 7-year contract of 93 million dollars with the Orlando. But he had played only four games last season, and he has appeared in 14 games this season for the Magic, averaging 16.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game.

Sang-Ho Kim hyangsan@donga.com