Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets will pick 20th in the 2005 NBA Draft; the pick was acquired from Washington via Orlando. 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. After winning an incredible game one at San Antonio, the Nuggets proceeded to lose the next four games and lost the series 4-1. 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. In the playoffs, however, the Nuggets could not survive the powerhouse defense of Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs. 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. Karl lived up to his reputation by leading the team to an astounding record of 32-8 in the 2nd half of the regular season which vaulted the team into the playoffs for the 2nd consecutive year. The 2003 season proved to be a losing one for the Buccaneers.

On December 28, 2004, head coach Jeff Bzdelik was fired from the organization and replaced by interim Nuggets coach, former Los Angeles Laker player and Los Angeles Sparks head coach Michael Cooper, before finally hiring veteran coach George Karl. 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. They were eliminated in the first round four games to one by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Louis Rams on the road. In April, the turnaround was complete as they became the first franchise in NBA history to qualify for the postseason following a sub 20 win campaign the previous year. 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. Much of of the reason for this incredible turnaround were the front-office moves of General Manager Kiki Vandeweghe a former Nuggets player who assumed General Manager duties August,9 2001 adding crucial personnel including: point guard Andre Miller, power forward Nčnč, point guard Earl Boykins, Center Marcus Camby and shooting gaurd Jon Barry. With league realignment in 2002, the Bucs moved into new NFC South division, along with the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints.

In just two months of the season, they recorded more wins than they had in 5 1/2 months of play in 2002-03. The Bucs also abandoned their traditional team colours of orange and white in favour of dark red, black, and pewter. The team has shown signs of another renaissance for the 2003-04, with the drafting of Carmelo Anthony and yet another uniform change (light blue and yellow). The team's performance dramatically improved when the Glazers brought in Tony Dungy to coach. Ironically, Cleveland (LeBron James) and Denver (Carmelo Anthony) would eventually have a twin pair of rookie dynamos enter their ranks the very next year. 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. They tied for the worst record in the NBA in 2002-03 with the Cleveland Cavaliers. 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.

Denver was an also-ran for nearly a decade, and flirted with having the worst record in a season in 1997-98, winning only 11 games in an 82 game season. 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. The team had a brief resurgence in 1993-94 (a year they ditched their rainbow colors for a dark blue and gold scheme) finishing 42-40 and stunning the top-seeded Supersonics in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, falling to the Utah Jazz in game six of the second round, but it was a rare highlight following Moe's departure. The Buccaneers lost at least ten games in 17 of their first 21 seasons, including 12 straight from 1983 to 1994. Moe left the team in 1990, and his departure ended their run as a competitive franchise. The team made a habit of losing. Only once, in 1984-85, did they even make it to the conference finals, and that year they lost in 5 games to the Los Angeles Lakers. 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.

It was a novel strategy, but it rarely led to playoff success. 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. 1980s Denver Nuggets basketball teams would often score in excess of 115 points a game, and during one full season, 1981-82, they did not fail to score 100 points in any game. 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. Moe brought with him a "run and gun" philosophy, a style of play focusing on attempting to score rapidly with little interest in defense, and it helped the team become highly competitive. Tampa Bay went 0-14 in their inaugural season, and started their second season 0-12 before recording their first win. It ended in 1981, when they hired Doug Moe as a head coach. Started out in AFC West in 1976; moved to NFC Central in 1977.

Brown left the team in 1979, helping usher in a brief decline in their team's performance. 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. However, neither of these teams were ultimately successful in the postseason. Jon Gruden (2002-current). Led by Dan Issel (http://www.nba.com/history/players/issel_summary.html), Bobby Jones (http://www.remembertheaba.com/TributeMaterial/BobbyJones.html), and David Thompson (http://www.nba.com/history/thompson_bio.html), Denver (and their memorable rainbow-striped jerseys) were quite strong early on in the NBA, as they won division titles in their first two seasons in the league, and missed a third by a single game. Tony Dungy (1996-2001). They would get no second chance to win a league championship, as the ABA merger occurred during the off-season. Sam Wyche (1992-1995).

With Larry Brown coaching, they had their best seasons in team history in their first two seasons as the Nuggets, with the team making the ABA finals in 1975-76. Richard Williamson (1990-1991). In 1974, the team was renamed the Nuggets, a nickname first used by a 1949-50 NBA franchise. Ray Perkins (1987-1990). Haywood averaged 30 points in his only ABA season, then was allowed to sign with the Seattle SuperSonics to start a productive NBA career. Leeman Bennett (1985-1986). Haywood was one of the first players to turn pro before graduating college, and the NBA initially refused to let him play in the league. John McKay (1976-1984).

During the 1969-1970 season, the team also had a controversial rookie named Spencer Haywood. Tony Dungy. They had a solid lineup led by Byron Beck (http://www.nba.com/nuggets/history/byron_beck_retire.html) and Larry Jones, then later by Beck and Ralph Simpson (http://www.basketballreference.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=SAMPSRA01). Steve Spurrier. However, they tended to struggle in the postseason and failed to make a championship game during this span. Steve Young. One of 4 ABA teams that joined the NBA through a league merger in 1976, they were known as the Rockets for their first 7 years of existence, and were very strong in their early years. Vinny Testaverde.

The Denver Nuggets are a National Basketball Association team based in Denver, Colorado. Warren Sapp. Bryon Russell (Long Beach State). Errict Rhett. Wesley Person (Auburn). Keenan McCardell. Dermarr Johnson (University of Cincinnati). John Lynch.

Nenę (Brazil). Keyshawn Johnson. Eduardo Najera (Oklahoma). Wayne Haddix. Andre Miller (Utah). Warrick Dunn. Kenyon Martin (University of Cincinnati). Steve DeBerg.

Francisco Elson (California). Reggie Cobb. Carmelo Anthony (Syracuse). Mark Carrier. Greg Buckner (Clemson). Ricky Bell. Marcus Camby (Massachusettes). 63 Lee Roy Selmon.

Earl Boykins (Eastern Michigan). Simeon Rice. 44 Dan Issel. Brian Griese. 40 Byron Beck. Charlie Garner. 33 David Thompson. Michael Clayton.

2 Alex English. Derrick Brooks. Lafayette "Fat" Lever. Ronde Barber. Dikembe Mutombo. Mike Alstott. David Thompson. 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.).

Dan Issel. Lee Roy Selmon (the first pick in the 1976 draft and the Bucs' first ever pick). Alex English.