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. Quick facts: 1998–99 Atlanta Hawks season, Head coach. 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.
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