t was a year unlike any other in the history of the NBA. A lockout precipitated by the owners' concerns over escalating costs threatend to wipe out the 1998-99 season.
For the first time, regular-season games were canceled. The All-Star Game was canceled. The whole season was within 48 hours of being wiped out when an agreement was reached in early January.
The result was a season of 50 games in 90 days. Training camps were limited to two weeks. Players were out of shape, out of sorts, or both. Coaches scrambled to fill rosters and game plans.
''For me, it was the least fun coaching that I've had in my entire coaching career,'' Rick Pitino said. ''There was no time to teach. Everything was rushed. It was a total nightmare.''
There were two schools of thought as to which teams would benefit once the shortened season began. Some figured veteran teams would prosper. Some figured that younger teams, like the Celtics, would have the advantage.
Pitino had a reason for not liking the season. His team didn't win and it was fractured by in-fighting. Players argued on the floor. Pitino made yet another trade involving a key player. A rookie turned out to be the team's most complete player.
The Celtics were still in the thick of things after a 6-5 February. But they lost 12 of their first 14 in the month of March to fall out of contention. During that swoon, Pitino basically punted on the season and said he already was looking forward to next season. He also guaranteed the team would make the playoffs in 1999-2000.
That didn't sit well with anyone. For the first time, Pitino and his team heard boos in the FleetCenter. Fans derisively called for M.L. Carr to come back. Antoine Walker was regularly jeered for missing shots, even if they were good shots. The team would win only 10 of 25 games at home and finish the season 19-31, well out of the playoffs for the fourth straight year.
There was plenty of reason for Rick Pitino (left) and Antoine Walker to hide their faces during a '99 season in which they raised the white flag by March, but in between the play of Paul Pierce gave glimmers of hope.
Globe Photos /Jonathan Wiggs (left), Michael Robinson-Chavez (center, right)
Bill Russell, who had been feted in May, returned November 3d to help Red Auerbach celebrate 50 years with the Celtics. 
