1980–81 Houston Rockets season
1980–81 Houston Rockets season | |
---|---|
Conference champions | |
Head coach | Del Harris |
Arena | The Summit |
Results | |
Record | 40–42 (.488) |
Place | Division: 2nd (Midwest) Conference: 5th (Western) |
Playoff finish | NBA Finals (Lost to Celtics 2–4) |
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com | |
Local media | |
Television | KHTV |
Radio | KTRH |
The 1980–81 Houston Rockets season saw the Rockets lose the NBA Finals. The 1981 Rockets are the only team since the 1959 Minneapolis Lakers to make the NBA Finals with a losing record.
In the playoffs, the Rockets defeated the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers in three games in the First Round, then defeated the San Antonio Spurs in seven games in the Semifinals, and the Kansas City Kings in five games in the Conference Finals, reaching the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history, only to fall to the Boston Celtics in six games in the NBA Finals.
Contents
1 Draft picks
2 Roster
3 Regular season
3.1 Season standings
3.2 Record vs. opponents
3.3 Game log
4 Playoffs
4.1 West First Round
4.2 West Conference Semifinals
4.3 West Conference Finals
4.4 NBA Finals
5 Player statistics
5.1 Season
5.2 Playoffs
6 Awards and records
6.1 Awards
6.2 Records
7 Transactions
7.1 Trades
7.2 Free agents
7.2.1 Additions
7.2.2 Subtractions
8 See also
9 References
Draft picks
Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | 27 | John Stroud | United States | Mississippi |
[1]
Roster
Houston Rockets roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Players | Coaches | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Regular season
In the 1980–81 season, after the newly established Dallas Mavericks became the third NBA team in Texas,[2] the NBA restructured the conferences and sent the Rockets, who had previously played in the Eastern Conference, to the Midwest Division of the Western Conference. In Harris's second season, Houston tied with Kansas City for second place in the Midwest Division behind San Antonio with a 40-42 record, and qualified for the playoffs with just one game left.[3] During the season, Murphy set two NBA records, by sinking 78 consecutive free throws to break Rick Barry's mark of 60 set in 1976, and achieving a free-throw percentage of .958, breaking Barry's record set with the Rockets in 1979.[4]
Season standings
Midwest Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
y-San Antonio Spurs | 52 | 30 | .634 | – | 34–7 | 18–23 | 21–9 |
x-Kansas City Kings | 40 | 42 | .488 | 12.0 | 24–17 | 16–25 | 19–11 |
x-Houston Rockets | 40 | 42 | .488 | 12.0 | 25–16 | 15–26 | 19–11 |
Denver Nuggets | 37 | 45 | .451 | 15.0 | 23–18 | 14–27 | 13–17 |
Utah Jazz | 28 | 54 | .341 | 24.0 | 20–21 | 8–33 | 13–17 |
Dallas Mavericks | 15 | 67 | .183 | 37.0 | 11–30 | 4–37 | 5–25 |
# | Western Conference | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | W | L | PCT | GB | |
1 | c-Phoenix Suns | 57 | 25 | .695 | – |
2 | y-San Antonio Spurs | 52 | 30 | .634 | 5 |
3 | x-Los Angeles Lakers | 54 | 28 | .659 | 3 |
4 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 45 | 37 | .549 | 12 |
5 | x-Kansas City Kings | 40 | 42 | .488 | 17 |
6 | x-Houston Rockets | 40 | 42 | .488 | 17 |
7 | Golden State Warriors | 39 | 43 | .476 | 18 |
8 | Denver Nuggets | 37 | 45 | .451 | 20 |
9 | San Diego Clippers | 36 | 46 | .439 | 21 |
10 | Seattle SuperSonics | 34 | 48 | .415 | 23 |
11 | Utah Jazz | 28 | 54 | .341 | 29 |
12 | Dallas Mavericks | 15 | 67 | .183 | 42 |
Notes
z, y – division champions
x – clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents
1980-81 NBA Records | |||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SDC | SEA | UTA | WAS |
Atlanta | — | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–4 |
Boston | 4–2 | — | 5–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 |
Chicago | 4–2 | 1–5 | — | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 |
Cleveland | 5–1 | 1–4 | 1–5 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 0–5 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
Dallas | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 |
Denver | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | — | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 |
Detroit | 2–4 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 |
Golden State | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | — | 3–2 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 1–1 |
Houston | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | — | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 |
Indiana | 5–1 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
Kansas City | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 4–2 | 0–2 | — | 0–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 1–1 |
Los Angeles | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 5–0 | — | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
Milwaukee | 5–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 5–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 |
New Jersey | 2–3 | 0–6 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | — | 0–6 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
New York | 4–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 6–0 | — | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
Philadelphia | 5–1 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
Phoenix | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 3–3 | 3–2 | 6–0 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 1–1 |
Portland | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | — | 2–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 |
San Antonio | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 3–2 | — | 4–1 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 |
San Diego | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 2–4 | 1–4 | — | 5–1 | 3–2 | 0–2 |
Seattle | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–5 | — | 4–1 | 1–1 |
Utah | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 1–4 | — | 0–2 |
Washington | 4–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — |
Game log
Playoffs
West First Round
(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Houston Rockets: Rockets win series 2-1
Game 1 @ Los Angeles: Houston 111, Los Angeles 107
Game 2 @ Houston: Los Angeles 111, Houston 106
Game 3 @ Los Angeles: Houston 89, Los Angeles 86
Last playoff meeting: This the first playoff meeting between the Lakers and the Rockets
West Conference Semifinals
(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (6) Houston Rockets: Rockets win series 4-3
Game 1 @ San Antonio: Houston 107, San Antonio 98
Game 2 @ San Antonio: San Antonio 125, Houston 113
Game 3 @ Houston: Houston 112, San Antonio 99
Game 4 @ Houston: San Antonio 114, Houston 112
Game 5 @ San Antonio: Houston 123, San Antonio 117
Game 6 @ Houston: San Antonio 101, Houston 96
Game 7 @ San Antonio: Houston 105, San Antonio 100
Last playoff meeting: 1980 Eastern conference first round (Houston won 2-1)
West Conference Finals
(5) Kansas City Kings vs. (6) Houston Rockets: Rockets win series 4-1
Game 1 @ Kansas City: Houston 97, Kansas City 78
Game 2 @ Kansas City: Kansas City 88, Houston 79
Game 3 @ Houston: Houston 92, Kansas City 88
Game 4 @ Houston: Houston 100, Kansas City 89
Game 5 @ Kansas City: Houston 97, Kansas City 88
Last playoff meeting: This is the first meeting between the Kings and the Rockets
NBA Finals
Game | Date | Home Team | Away Team | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | May 5 | Boston Celtics | Houston Rockets | 98–95 |
2 | May 7 | Boston Celtics | Houston Rockets | 90–92 |
3 | May 9 | Houston Rockets | Boston Celtics | 71–94 |
4 | May 10 | Houston Rockets | Boston Celtics | 91–86 |
5 | May 12 | Boston Celtics | Houston Rockets | 109–80 |
6 | May 14 | Houston Rockets | Boston Celtics | 91–102 |
- Boston Celtics win series in 6 games (4–2)
Player statistics
Legend | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Moses Malone | 80 | 40.6 | .522 | .333 | .757 | 14.8 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 1.9 | 27.8 | |
Calvin Murphy | 76 | 26.5 | .492 | .235 | .958 | 1.1 | 2.9 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 16.7 | |
Robert Reid | 82 | 36.1 | .482 | .000 | .756 | 7.1 | 4.2 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 15.9 | |
Rudy Tomjanovich | 52 | 24.3 | .467 | .235 | .793 | 4.0 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 11.6 | |
Mike Dunleavy | 74 | 21.7 | .491 | .063 | .839 | 1.6 | 3.6 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 10.5 | |
Allen Leavell | 79 | 21.3 | .471 | .118 | .832 | 1.7 | 4.9 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 8.1 | |
Billy Paultz | 81 | 20.5 | .507 | .000 | .490 | 4.8 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 7.4 | |
Bill Willoughby | 55 | 20.8 | .523 | .766 | 4.1 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 6.3 | ||
Calvin Garrett | 70 | 23.4 | .453 | .333 | .806 | 3.8 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 6.1 | |
Tom Henderson | 66 | 21.4 | .413 | .000 | .821 | 1.6 | 4.7 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 5.3 |
[5]
Playoffs
Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Awards and records
Awards
Moses Malone, All-NBA Second Team
Records
Transactions
Trades
- October 7, 1980: Traded Paul Mokeski to the Detroit Pistons for a 1982 2nd round draft pick.
Free agents
|
Player | Signed | Former team |
Subtractions
Player | Left | New team |
See also
- 1980–81 NBA season
References
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^ "Mavs History". NBA.com. Archived from the original on 11 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-30.
^ "1980-81 Houston Rockets". Basketball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-30.
^ "NBA.com Calvin Murphy Bio". NBA. Archived from the original on 20 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
^ https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/1981.html