i'm not certain about all this but only 7 season games were missed in 97/98 by dikembe mutombo and the hawks started 11-0 finished 50-32 and MOST IMPORTANTLY lost 3-1 to the hornets and the 98 spurs and 97 hawks both lost in the semi finals but the 98 and 97 jazz weren't as elite as the 98 and 97 bulls and i'm not certain about all this but the hornets traded star alonzo mourning the jazz traded legend pete maravich and the hawks traded legend bill russell