61.   It was another typical game between the Western Conference titans, reminiscent of every battle they fought last season and all seven games of the conference finals.

62.   It was true in his grueling seven-game conference final against Indiana.

63.   Just as being swept in the conference finals tore at him.

64.   Last season, new coach Pat Quinn took Toronto back to the conference final, only to lose in five games to Buffalo.

65.   Last season, the sixth-seeded Matadors upset the top-seeded Lumberjacks in the second round to advance to the conference final.

66.   Last season, the Stars reached the conference finals before losing in six games to the Wings.

67.   Last year, the Pacers were the ones looking suspiciously at the officials when their season was ended by the Knicks in the conference finals.

68.   Lost to New York in the conference finals.

69.   Lost to San Antonio in conference finals.

70.   Many blamed the Knicks for a conference finals last year in which scores were low and fluid offense was rare.