The Knicks would become the first #8 seed to reach the NBA Finals, but would lose in five games to the San Antonio Spurs. Despite losing Henderson to an eye injury in Game 1, and losing Crawford to a shoulder injury in Game 2, the Hawks defeated the Pistons in five games, but would be swept by the 8th-seeded New York Knicks in four straight games in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals. In the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Hawks faced off against the Detroit Pistons. Mutombo and Blaylock were both named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, and Mutombo also finished in second place in Defensive Player of the Year voting. Corbin contributed 7.5 points per game also off the bench, and Crawford provided with 6.9 points per game. In addition, Alan Henderson provided with 12.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, while Ellis contributed 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds, and Long played a sixth man role, averaging 9.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game off the bench. Steve Smith led the team in scoring with 18.7 points per game, while Mookie Blaylock averaged 13.3 points, 5.8 assists and 2.1 steals per game, and Mutombo provided the team with 10.8 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game. The team finished second in the Central Division with a 31–19 record. 500 with a 9–9 start, then later on posted a 7-game winning streak in April, and won nine of their final eleven games. However, Ellis would be out for the remainder of the season with a hernia injury after just 20 games, being replaced by second-year forward Chris Crawford as the team's starting small forward. Ellis would reunite with his former teammate of the Denver Nuggets, 3-time Defensive Player of the Year Dikembe Mutombo. In the off-season, the team signed free agents LaPhonso Ellis, second-year guard Anthony Johnson and re-signed former Hawks forward Grant Long. The Hawks continued to split their home games between the Georgia Dome, and the Alexander Memorial Coliseum for the second consecutive season. The regular season began on February 5, and was cut short to just 50 games instead of the regular 82-game schedule. The deal was approved by both the players and owners, and was signed on January 20, ending the lockout after 204 days. However, on January 6, 1999, NBA commissioner David Stern, and NBPA director Billy Hunter finally reached an agreement to end the lockout. Due to the lockout, the NBA All-Star Game, which was scheduled to be played in Philadelphia on February 14, 1999, was also cancelled. After both sides failed to reach an agreement, the owners called for a lockout, which began on July 1, 1998, putting a hold on all team trades, free agent signings and training camp workouts, and cancelling many NBA regular season and preseason games. The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) opposed to the owners' plan, and wanted raises for players who earned the league's minimum salary. On March 23, 1998, the owners of all 29 NBA teams voted 27–2 to reopen the league's collective bargaining agreement, seeking changes to the league's salary cap system, and a ceiling on individual player salaries. The 1998–99 NBA season was the Hawks' 50th season in the National Basketball Association, and 31st season in Atlanta. NBA professional basketball team season 1998–99 Atlanta Hawks season
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |