The 2007-2008 Washington Wizards

The Washington Wizards were set to have a lousy season in 2007.  They dropped their first five games, and three games later star Gilbert Arenas was put on the bench due to a torn meniscus in his knee.  To add insult to injury, Caron Butler missed twenty games in mid-season due to what at first seemed like a minor injury, but turned out to be a labral tear.  But the Wizards pulled together, and while things were definitely rocky in mid-season, by the time Arenas returned to the team in April 2008 they were still in contention.

The team posted a 43-39 record overall for the season, which was good enough for fifth place in the Eastern Conference and a shot at the playoffs.  Once again, the Wizards found themselves matched up against the Cleveland Cavaliers, a team who had defeated them in 2006 and swept them out of the playoffs in 2007 (partially and coincidentally thanks to injuries to Arenas and Butler).  The 2008 matchup spilled over into the rap world, with comments made from both sides involving artists Jay-Z and Soulja Boy, both of whom made appearances in publicity events highlighting the feud.

Unfortunately for the Wizards, 2008 was another bad year for the playoffs.  Cleveland won the first two at home, and split the next two games in Washington.  The Wizards were able to take one more to force a game six, which Cleveland handily won, ending the playoff hopes of Washington fans for a third year running.