Cleveland Cavaliers

Injured Reserve. This is Tampa's worst start since Gruden took over the Bucs in 2002, and led to a final record of 5-11, which made the 2003-04 Buccaneers the first NFL team ever to follow up a Super Bowl championship with back-to-back losing seasons. Bench. In the 2004 season, the Bucs started out 1-5 after losing two of their best defensive players (John Lynch, Warren Sapp) and one offensive player (Keyshawn Johnson) after deactivating him ten games into the 2003 season. Starters. Finishing the regular season 7-9, it marked the first time in the decade of the 2000s that both Super Bowl teams from the previous season did not even make the playoffs; Tampa Bay was thus unable to successfully defend their Super Bowl title. However, the franchise also sees great hope in rising star LeBron James, whom many have compared to basketball-great Michael Jordan. The 2003 season proved to be a losing one for the Buccaneers.

The team will have a pick in the top 14 of the NBA Draft; also, they must look for a new coach. The 2002 Buccaneers became the first team ever to win the Super Bowl after not having made selections in either of the first two rounds of the previous spring's college draft (having traded these selections to the Oakland Raiders for the rights to head coach Jon Gruden), the first team ever to win the Super Bowl after having lost at home on opening day, the first team ever to win the Super Bowl after having gained less than 100 yards rushing per game during the regular season, and the first team ever to win the Super Bowl after having been eliminated in the wild-card round of the prior season's playoffs. The 2005 offseason brings both hope and despair for the Cavs. Louis Rams on the road. 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). They are 1-0 in Super Bowls, having defeated the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII in January, 2003, and they are 1-2 in NFC Championship games, having defeated the Philadelphia Eagles on the road on January 18, 2003), and losing to the Rams twice, in 1979 to the Los Angeles Rams at home, and in 1999 to the St. 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. With league realignment in 2002, the Bucs moved into new NFC South division, along with the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints.

Despite the loss of Carlos Boozer, James teamed with Drew Gooden and Zydrunas Ilgauskas to form the core of the Cavs team. The Bucs also abandoned their traditional team colours of orange and white in favour of dark red, black, and pewter. James blossomed into a superstar, increasing his points average, shooting percentage, assists average, and rebounds average. The team's performance dramatically improved when the Glazers brought in Tony Dungy to coach. Hope was even greater for the 2004-2005 season. In the mid 1990s the team was sold by original owner Hugh Culverhouse to the Glazer family, who's financial support allowed them to finally become competitive. 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. McKay responded "I'm in favour of it." Besides their poor performance the team's bright creamsicle uniform and logo (pictured right) were often mocked.

The Cavs selected high school phenom Lebron James. After a particularly dismal effort in the late 1970s, longtime Bucs coach John McKay gave perhaps the quintessential comment on the organization's plight: A reporter asked McKay about his team's execution during the game. After another disappointing season in 2002-2003, the Cavs landed the number one draft pick in the NBA Lottery. The Buccaneers lost at least ten games in 17 of their first 21 seasons, including 12 straight from 1983 to 1994. Those seasons saw the Cavs drop to the bottom of the league, becomming a perennial lottery draft team. The team made a habit of losing. However, after the Cavs' glory days came several losing seasons. In addition, the club once had a 20-game road losing streak against AFC teams, which ended when they won 17-10 over the Broncos at Denver on December 26, 1993.

The pinnacle of the Cavs' dominance came in the 1991-1992 season, when they compiled a 57-25 record and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals, losing to the Chicago Bulls 4-2. They also once lost 27 consecutive games played both outdoors and on artificial turf; this streak began after a victory over the Bengals at Cincinnati in the 1980 season opener and lasted until they defeated the Eagles in Philadelphia on the first week of the 1995 season. These players 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. The club also did not win a game in which the temperature at kickoff time was below 40°F (4°C) until the last week of the 2002 regular season, having lost 20 such games prior. 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. Tampa Bay went 0-14 in their inaugural season, and started their second season 0-12 before recording their first win. However, brothers George Gund and Gordon Gund purchased the franchise in the mid 1980s and decided to keep the team in Cleveland. Started out in AFC West in 1976; moved to NFC Central in 1977.

In the 1980s, new owner Ted Stepien quickly hired and fired a succession of coaches and even threatened to move the franchise to Toronto. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (sometimes abbreviated as the Bucs) are a National Football League team based in Tampa, Florida, currently owned by Malcolm Glazer and coached by head coach Jon Gruden. The Cavs won the series against the Washington Bullets, 4-3. Because of the many heroics and last-second shots, the series became known as the "Miracle of Richfield." However, hampered by injuries, the Cavs proceeded to lose to the Boston Celtics in round two of the NBA playoffs. Jon Gruden (2002-current). He received the league's Coach of the Year award as the Cavs made their first-ever playoff appearance. Tony Dungy (1996-2001). In the 1975-1976 season, with Carr, Bingo Smith, Jim Chones, and Dick Snyder, Fitch led the Cavs, as the team is commonly nicknamed, to a stunning 49-33 record, which was the best record in the Central Division. Sam Wyche (1992-1995).

However, the team began to build around the 1971 draft pick, Austin Carr. Richard Williamson (1990-1991). Under the direction of coach Bill Fitch, they compiled a league-worst 15-67 record. Ray Perkins (1987-1990). The Cavaliers first began play in the NBA in 1970 as an expansion team. Leeman Bennett (1985-1986). The Cleveland Cavaliers are a National Basketball Association team based in Cleveland, Ohio. John McKay (1976-1984).

Lenny Wilkens (Inducted as both player and coach.). Tony Dungy. Wayne Embry (Current team president and first African-American to serve in that role in the NBA; inducted as a contributor.). Steve Spurrier. F/C - #47 Scott Williams (North Carolina). Steve Young. G - #2 Dajuan Wagner (Memphis). Vinny Testaverde.

SF - #33 Luke Jackson (Oregon). Warren Sapp. SF - #44 Jiri Welsch (Czech Republic). Errict Rhett. PF - #17 Anderson Varejao (Brazil). Keenan McCardell. SG - #3 Sasha Pavlovič (Montenegro). John Lynch.

F/C - #32 Robert Traylor (Michigan). Keyshawn Johnson. SG - #12 Lucious Harris (Long Beach State). Wayne Haddix. C - #52 DeSagana Diop (Senegal). Warrick Dunn. Mary's HS, Akron, Ohio). Steve DeBerg.

Vincent-St. Reggie Cobb. SF - #23 LeBron James (St. Mark Carrier. PF - #90 Drew Gooden (Kansas). Ricky Bell. C - #11 Zydrunas Ilgauskas (Lithuania). 63 Lee Roy Selmon.

SG - #14 Ira Newble (Miami, OH). Simeon Rice. PG - #0 Jeff McInnis (North Carolina). Brian Griese. 43 Brad Daugherty. Charlie Garner. 42 Nate Thurmond. Michael Clayton.

34 Austin Carr. Derrick Brooks. 25 Mark Price. Ronde Barber. 22 Larry Nance. Mike Alstott. 7 Bingo Smith. Steve Young (Began NFL career with Tampa Bay, appearing in 19 games. Acquired by San Francisco 49ers in 1987 for a second- and fourth-round draft choice and cash.).

Hot Rod Williams. Lee Roy Selmon (the first pick in the 1976 draft and the Bucs' first ever pick). Campy Russell. Shawn Kemp. Free.

World B. Jim Chones. Terrell Brandon. Carlos Boozer.

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