1997–98 Atlanta Hawks season
1997–98 Atlanta Hawks season | |
---|---|
Head coach | Lenny Wilkens |
Arena | Georgia Dome, Alexander Memorial Coliseum |
Results | |
Record | 50–32 (.610) |
Place |
Division: 4th (Central) Conference: 5th (Eastern) |
Playoff finish |
East First Round (Eliminated 1–3) |
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com | |
Local media | |
Television | Fox Sports South, WTBS, WATL |
Radio | WCNN |
The 1997–98 NBA season was the Hawks' 49th season in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and 30th season in Atlanta.[1] Due to the demolition of the The Omni, the Hawks played their home games at the Georgia Dome and their original home from 1968 to 1972, the Alexander Memorial Coliseum (known as McDonald's Center at the time). The Hawks got off to a fast start winning their first eleven games, but went on a 7-game losing streak along the way. They finished fourth in the Central Division with a 50–32 record. Dikembe Mutombo was named Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive time, and was selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game along with Steve Smith, while forward Alan Henderson won the Most Improved Player of The Year award. In the first round of the playoffs, they lost in four games to the Charlotte Hornets.
On March 27, 1998, the Hawks set a single game regular season attendance record of 62,046 fans in a game against the Chicago Bulls at the Georgia Dome. However, they lost 89–74. Following the season, Christian Laettner signed as a free agent with the Detroit Pistons, and Eldridge Recasner signed with the Charlotte Hornets.
Offseason
Draft picks
Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 22 | Ed Gray | SG | United States | California |
2 | 49 | Alain Digbeu | SG/SF | France | |
2 | 50 | Chris Crawford | SF | United States | Marquette |
Roster
Atlanta Hawks roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Roster Notes
- Guard Ed Gray was suspended indefinitely for missing medical appointments.
Regular season
Season standings
Central Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
y-Chicago Bulls | 62 | 20 | .756 | – | 37–4 | 25–16 | 21–7 |
x-Indiana Pacers | 58 | 24 | .707 | 4 | 32–9 | 26–15 | 19–9 |
x-Charlotte Hornets | 51 | 31 | .622 | 11 | 32–9 | 19–22 | 16–12 |
x-Atlanta Hawks | 50 | 32 | .610 | 12 | 29–12 | 21–20 | 19–9 |
x-Cleveland Cavaliers | 47 | 35 | .573 | 15 | 27–14 | 20–21 | 14–14 |
Detroit Pistons | 37 | 45 | .451 | 25 | 25–16 | 12–29 | 12–16 |
Milwaukee Bucks | 36 | 46 | .439 | 26 | 21–20 | 15–26 | 9–19 |
Toronto Raptors | 16 | 66 | .195 | 46 | 9–32 | 7–34 | 2–26 |
# | Eastern Conference | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | W | L | PCT | GB | |
1 | c-Chicago Bulls | 62 | 20 | .756 | – |
2 | y-Miami Heat | 55 | 27 | .671 | 7 |
3 | x-Indiana Pacers | 58 | 24 | .707 | 4 |
4 | x-Charlotte Hornets | 51 | 31 | .622 | 11 |
5 | x-Atlanta Hawks | 50 | 32 | .610 | 12 |
6 | x-Cleveland Cavaliers | 47 | 35 | .573 | 15 |
7 | x-New York Knicks | 43 | 39 | .524 | 19 |
8 | x-New Jersey Nets | 43 | 39 | .524 | 19 |
9 | Washington Wizards | 42 | 40 | .512 | 20 |
10 | Orlando Magic | 41 | 41 | .500 | 21 |
11 | Detroit Pistons | 37 | 45 | .451 | 25 |
12 | Boston Celtics | 36 | 46 | .439 | 26 |
12 | Milwaukee Bucks | 36 | 46 | .439 | 26 |
14 | Philadelphia 76ers | 31 | 51 | .378 | 31 |
15 | Toronto Raptors | 16 | 66 | .195 | 46 |
- z – clinched division title
- y – clinched division title
- x – clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents
1997-98 NBA Records | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | ATL | BOS | CHA | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MIA | MIL | MIN | NJN | NYK | ORL | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | TOR | UTA | VAN | WAS |
Atlanta | — | 2–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
Boston | 1–2 | — | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–2 |
Charlotte | 0–4 | 2–1 | — | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 |
Chicago | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | — | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
Cleveland | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 |
Dallas | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
Denver | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | — | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
Detroit | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 |
Golden State | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | — | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
Houston | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | — | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
Indiana | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | — | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
L.A. Lakers | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
Miami | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 |
Milwaukee | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | — | 1–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 |
Minnesota | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–2 |
New Jersey | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–2 | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
New York | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
Orlando | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–4 | — | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
Philadelphia | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
Phoenix | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
Portland | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
Sacramento | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | — | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
San Antonio | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | — | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
Seattle | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | — | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
Toronto | 0–4 | 0–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–3 |
Utah | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | — | 4–0 | 0–2 |
Vancouver | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–4 | — | 1–1 |
Washington | 0–4 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — |
Game log
1997–98 Game log
Total: 50–32 (Home: 29–12; Road: 21–20) | |
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October: (1–0) (Home: 0–0; Road: 1–0)
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November: (13-2) (Home: 9–1; Road: 4–1)
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December: (5-8) (Home: 1–3; Road: 4–5)
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January: (9-8) (Home: 5–3; Road: 4–5)
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February: (5-6) (Home: 2–2; Road: 3–4)
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March: (9-5) (Home: 6–1; Road: 3–4)
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April: (8-3) (Home: 6–2; Road: 2–1)
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Playoffs
East first round
(4) Charlotte Hornets vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks Last playoff meeting: This was the first meeting between the Hornets and Hawks.
Game | Date | Home | Score | Visitor | Score | Record
(CHA-ATL) |
Venue | Box score | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | April 23 | Charlotte | 97 | Atlanta | 87 | 1–0 | Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina | 1 | TBS 7:00 et |
2 | April 25 | Charlotte | 92 | Atlanta | 85 | 2–0 | Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina | 2 | TNT 8:00 et |
3 | April 28 | Atlanta | 96 | Charlotte | 64 | 2–1 | Georgia Dome, Atlanta | 3 | TNT 8:00 et |
4 | May 1 | Atlanta | 82 | Charlotte | 91 | 3–1 | Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia | 4 | TNT 7:00 et |
Charlotte wins series 3–1 |
Player statistics
Legend | |||||
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GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game |
Season
Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Greg Anderson | 50 | 0 | 8.0 | .444 | .000 | .390 | 2.4 | .3 | .4 | .2 | 1.8 |
Drew Barry | 27 | 0 | 9.5 | .474 | .429 | .846 | 1.3 | 1.8 | .4 | .0 | 2.1 |
Mookie Blaylock | 70 | 69 | 38.6 | .392 | .269 | .709 | 4.9 | 6.7 | 2.6 | .3 | 13.2 |
Chucky Brown | 77 | 8 | 15.6 | .433 | .250 | .724 | 2.4 | .7 | .3 | .2 | 5.0 |
Tyrone Corbin | 79 | 79 | 34.2 | .439 | .348 | .789 | 4.6 | 2.2 | 1.3 | .1 | 10.2 |
Chris Crawford | 40 | 0 | 6.4 | .418 | .333 | .838 | 1.0 | .2 | .3 | .2 | 3.8 |
Ed Gray | 30 | 3 | 15.7 | .381 | .391 | .846 | 1.5 | 1.1 | .5 | .4 | 7.6 |
Alan Henderson | 69 | 33 | 29.0 | .485 | .500 | .652 | 6.4 | 1.1 | .6 | .5 | 14.3 |
Christian Laettner | 74 | 49 | 30.8 | .485 | .222 | .864 | 6.6 | 2.6 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 13.8 |
Randy Livingston | 12 | 0 | 6.8 | .250 | . | .800 | .5 | .4 | .6 | .2 | .8 |
Anthony Miller | 37 | 0 | 6.2 | .558 | . | .538 | 1.9 | .1 | .4 | .1 | 2.1 |
Dikembe Mutombo | 82 | 82 | 35.6 | .537 | . | .670 | 11.4 | 1.0 | .4 | 3.4 | 13.4 |
Brian Oliver | 5 | 0 | 12.2 | .368 | . | .250 | 1.8 | .4 | .2 | .0 | 3.0 |
Eldridge Recasner | 59 | 14 | 24.6 | .456 | .419 | .937 | 2.4 | 2.0 | .7 | .0 | 9.3 |
Steve Smith | 73 | 73 | 39.1 | .444 | .351 | .855 | 4.2 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 20.1 |
Donald Whiteside | 3 | 0 | 5.3 | .500 | . | . | .3 | .3 | .0 | .0 | .7 |
Playoffs
Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Greg Anderson | 1 | 0 | 4.0 | . | . | .000 | 2.0 | . | . | 1.0 | . |
Drew Barry | 2 | 0 | 2.5 | .000 | .000 | . | .5 | . | . | . | . |
Mookie Blaylock | 4 | 4 | 38.3 | .415 | .296 | .583 | 5.0 | 8.3 | 2.3 | .3 | 14.8 |
Chucky Brown | 4 | 0 | 12.5 | .467 | .500 | .500 | 1.5 | 1.0 | . | . | 4.0 |
Tyrone Corbin | 4 | 4 | 28.3 | .280 | .167 | . | 3.8 | 1.0 | 1.5 | .3 | 3.8 |
Chris Crawford | 1 | 0 | 4.0 | . | . | 1.000 | 2.0 | . | . | 1.0 | 2.0 |
Alan Henderson | 4 | 4 | 31.5 | .526 | .000 | .611 | 5.5 | 1.0 | .8 | .3 | 12.8 |
Christian Laettner | 4 | 0 | 21.8 | .343 | .000 | .882 | 4.3 | 1.0 | 1.5 | .3 | 9.8 |
Anthony Miller | 4 | 0 | 8.3 | .375 | . | 1.000 | 2.3 | .3 | .5 | .3 | 2.0 |
Dikembe Mutombo | 4 | 4 | 34.0 | .458 | . | .625 | 12.8 | .3 | .3 | 2.3 | 8.0 |
Eldridge Recasner | 4 | 0 | 22.3 | .400 | .583 | 1.000 | 1.0 | 2.0 | .5 | . | 7.3 |
Steve Smith | 4 | 4 | 40.0 | .574 | .500 | .688 | 2.8 | 2.3 | .5 | .8 | 24.8 |
Awards and records
- Dikembe Mutombo, NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award
- Alan Henderson, NBA Most Improved Player Award
- Dikembe Mutombo, All-NBA Third Team
- Dikembe Mutombo, NBA All-Defensive First Team
- Mookie Blaylock, NBA All-Defensive Second Team