Cleveland Cavaliers

. Claiborne is a name with multiple meanings:.
. Dolores Claiborne -- novel by Stephen King. The Cavs are the oldest team in the NBA to never been in the NBA Finals. Claiborne Farm is a prominent thoroughbred race horse breeding farm in Paris, Kentucky. Despite the relative inexperience of many of these newcomers, the franchise sees great hope in rising star LeBron James, whom many have compared to all-time great Michael Jordan. -- United States Ambassador to Portugal.

Along with new owner Dan Gilbert, the Cavaliers' front office consists of individuals new to their respective positions. Herbert Claiborne Pell, Jr. The team also signed free agents Larry Hughes, Donyell Marshall, and Damon Jones to multi-year contracts. Claiborne de Borda Pell -- Senator from Rhode Island. The team hired a new coach, Mike Brown, and a new general manager, former Cavaliers forward Danny Ferry. Ellis -- Ku Klux Klan member turned civil rights activist. The 2005 offseason was one of many changes for the Cavaliers. Claiborne P.

The Cavs failed to make the playoffs that year, tied with the resurgent New Jersey Nets for the eighth (and final) playoff spot (the Nets owned the tiebreaker over the Cavs). Representative from Tennessee and first governor of the State of Louisiana. After a promising start when the team seemed to be locked firmly into the Eastern Conference's 5th playoff spot, the Cavs began a downward spiral that eventually led to the firing of coach Paul Silas and general manager Jim Paxson. William Charles Cole Claiborne -- U.S. Despite the loss of Carlos Boozer under very dubious circumstances, James teamed with Drew Gooden and Zydrunas Ilgauskas to form the core of the Cavs team. Representative from Tennessee. James blossomed into a superstar, increasing his points average, shooting percentage, assists average, and rebounds average. Thomas Claiborne (1780-1856) -- Democrat; Lawyer; member of Tennessee state house of representatives; U.S.

Hope was even greater for the 2004-2005 season. Representative from Virginia. The 2003-2004 season offered great hope for the future, as James rose to become a dominating player, winning the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. Thomas Claiborne (1749-1812) -- Democrat; Member of Virginia state legislature; U.S. Mary High School in nearby Akron) and one of the most highly touted prospects in NBA history led many to view his selection as a turning point in the franchise's history. Stephen Claiborne - writer. Vincent-St. Representative from Virginia.

James' status as both a local star (having played his high school basketball at St. Nathaniel Herbert Claiborne -- Member of Virginia state legislature, U.S. The Cavs selected high school phenom LeBron James. John Marshall Claiborne -- Member of Texas state senate. After another disappointing season in 2002-2003, the Cavs landed the number one draft pick in the NBA Lottery. John Herbert Claiborne -- surgeon and physicist. Those seasons saw the Cavs drop to the bottom of the league, becoming a perennial lottery draft team. John Francis Hamtramck Claiborne -- Member of Mississippi state legislature.

However, after the Cavs' glory days came several losing seasons. John Claiborne -- Republican Congressman. Cleveland had no success in the playoffs during this period. Representative from Missouri. But the pinnacle of the Cavs' success came in the 1991-1992 season, when they compiled a 57-25 record and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals, losing again to the Chicago Bulls 4-2. James Robert Claiborne -- Democrat; U.S. The buzzer-beater is considered one of Jordan's greatest clutch moments, and the game itself one of the greatests. Harry Claiborne -- Democrat; Member of Nevada state house of representatives.

"The Shot" went in as time ran out, with Chicago winning 3-2. Consul. Cleveland's Craig Ehlo jumped in front to block it, but Jordan seemed to stay in the air until Ehlo landed. Claiborne -- U.S. The ball was inbounded to Michael Jordan, who went for a jump shot. Hamilton C. Chicago called time. Ambassador to Vatican.

The game was evenly matched, until Cleveland managed to score on a drive and raise the lead by 1, with 3 seconds left. Representative from Louisiana; U.S. Home court advantage went to Cleveland. Corinne Claiborne Boggs -- Democrat; U.S. Cleveland managed to beat the Bulls in overtime, 108-105 and tied the series 2-2. Billy Claiborne -- western outlaw. It was a best-of-five-series.

However, in 1989, the Cavs were paired against the Chicago Bulls in the playoffs. These players (minus Harper, who was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers for the rights to Danny Ferry) formed the core of the team that led the Cavs to eight playoff seasons in the next nine years, including three 50-wins plus seasons. In 1986, under the Gund brothers as owners, the team acquired, either through trades or the draft, Brad Daugherty, Mark Price, Ron Harper, and Larry Nance. In 1993, Toronto would, in fact, get an expansion franchise, the Toronto Raptors.

The rule is known as the "Ted Stepien Rule." Stepien threatened to move the franchise to Toronto, but brothers George Gund and Gordon Gund purchased the franchise in the mid 1980s and decided to keep the team in Cleveland. Stepien's poor trades cost the team several first round draft picks, and led to a rule change in the NBA prohibiting teams from trading away first round draft picks in consecutive years. In the 1980s, new owner Ted Stepien quickly hired and fired a succession of coaches, made a number of poor trades and poor free agent signing decisions. Because of the many heroics and last-second shots, the series became known locally as the "Miracle of Richfield." However, hampered by injuries, particularly to Jim Chones, the Cavs proceeded to lose to the Boston Celtics in round two of the NBA playoffs.

The Cavs won the series against the Washington Bullets, 4-3. He received the league's Coach of the Year award as the Cavs made their first-ever playoff appearance. In the 1975-1976 season, with Carr, Bingo Smith, Jim Chones, Dick Snyder, and newly acquired Nate Thurmond, Fitch led the Cavs, as the team is commonly nicknamed, to a 49-33 record, which was the best record in the Central Division. However, the team began to build around the 1971 draft pick, Austin Carr.

Under the direction of coach Bill Fitch, they compiled a league-worst 15-67 record. The Cavaliers first began play in the NBA in 1970 as an expansion team. .
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a National Basketball Association team based in Cleveland, Ohio.

Mike Brown 2005-Present. Brendan Malone 2004-2005. Paul Silas 2003-2005. Keith Smart 2002-2003.

John Lucas 2001-2003. Randy Wittman 1999-2001. Mike Fratello 1993-1999. Lenny Wilkens 1986-1993.

Gene Littles 1985-1986. George Karl 1984-1986. Tom Nissalke 1982-1984. Bill Musselman 1981-1982.

Chuck Daly 1981-1982. Bob Kloopenburg 1981-1982. Don Delaney 1980-1982. Bill Musselman 1980-1981.

Stan Albeck 1979-1980. Bill Fitch 1970-1979. Lenny Wilkens (Inducted as both player and coach.). Wayne Embry (Former team president and first African American to serve in that role in the NBA; inducted as a contributor.).

43 Brad Daugherty, C, 1986-94. 42 Nate Thurmond, C, 1975-77. 34 Austin Carr, G, 1971-80. 25 Mark Price, G, 1986-95.

22 Larry Nance, F, 1988-94. 7 Bingo Smith, F, 1970-79. John "Hot Rod" Williams. Campy Russell.

Mark Price. Shawn Kemp. Free. World B.

Craig Ehlo. Brad Daugherty. Jim Chones. Terrell Brandon.

Carlos Boozer. Lenny Wilkens (Inducted as both player and coach.). Nate Thurmond.