winning all four games by an average of 17 points. As for the Magic, it ended a three-year run of dominance for the team, as Shaquille O'Neal went on to sign with the Lakers the following season. The Magic did not have another 50-win season, division title and first round playoff series victory until 2008, followed the season afterward by an Eastern Conference championship and the franchise's second NBA Finals appearance in 2009 to which they lost to the Lakers. With their Western Conference Finals victory over the Utah Jazz, the Seattle SuperSonics made the NBA Finals for the first time since 1979. With the win, the SuperSonics vindicated themselves as well after their stunning first-round loss to the Denver Nuggets in 1994, when they had become the first top seeded team to lose to an eighth-seed in the NBA playoffs. Despite the Jazz losing in seven games to the SuperSonics in the Western Conference Finals (their third appearance in 5 years), in retrospect it kickstarted their own Finals run, which they ultimately accomplished in 1997 and 1998, but lost both times to the Bulls. By winning their fourth title in six years, the Bulls capped what many consider to be the greatest season in NBA history, finishing with a combined 87-13 record, including 72-10 in the regular season and 15-3 in the postseason. In addition, they remain the first and only team to win 70+ games in the regular season and win the NBA championship. Bracket Playoff qualifying Western Conference Best record in conference The Seattle SuperSonics clinched the best record in the Western Conference, and had home court advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs. Clinched a playoff berth The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the West: Seattle SuperSonics (64-18, clinched Pacific division) San Antonio Spurs (59-23, clinched Midwest division) Utah Jazz (55-27) Los Angeles Lakers (53-29) Houston Rockets (48-34) Portland Trail Blazers (44-38) Phoenix Suns (41-41) Sacramento Kings (39-43) Eastern Conference Best record in NBA The Chicago Bulls clinched the best record in the NBA, and earned home court advantage throughout the entire playoffs. Clinched a playoff berth The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the East: Chicago Bulls (72-10) Orlando Magic (60-22, clinched Atlantic division) Indiana Pacers (52-30) Cleveland Cavaliers (47-35) New York Knicks (47-35) Atlanta Hawks (46-36) Detroit Pistons (46-36) Miami Heat (42-40) Notes For the fourth straight postseason, both #5 seeds beat