Random: The 1991 Orlando Magic played in the Western Conference.

[L.Kizzle]

Was just looking stats in basketball reference and noticed the 1990-1991 Orlando Magic played in the Western Conference. They played in the Midwest division which means the traveled as far as Utah at least twice to play the Jazz.

Meanwhile, the Miami Heat which is a little over 3 hours away from Orlando are in not only a totally different conference, but division as well.

PS. The Miami Heat were also a Western Conference Team in their inaugural season.

Who's bright idea was it to have 2 teams literally on the Atlantic Ocean in the same Conference as teams in California?

[jlip]

I wonder if it was a numerical balance situation.

[L.Kizzle]

I wonder if it was a numerical balance situation.
Even if so, there are/were teams in the Midwest that could have been moved to the west.
ATL, Indians, Chicago and Milwaukee are closer west than Orlando and Miami.
And still does the make sense to separate two teams in the same state to different division.