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1980–81 Houston Rockets season

The 1980–81 Houston Rockets season saw the Rockets lose the NBA Finals. The 1981 Rockets were the first team since the 1959 Minneapolis Lakers to make the NBA Finals with a losing record.

1980–81 Houston Rockets season
Conference champions
Head coachDel Harris
ArenaThe Summit
Results
Record40–42 (.488)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Midwest)
Conference: 6th (Western)
Playoff finishNBA Finals
(lost to Celtics 2–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKHTV
RadioKTRH
< 1979–80 1981–82 >

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.

Draft picks

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityCollege/Club team
227John Stroud  United StatesOle Miss
238Terry Stotts  United StatesOklahoma
243Billy Williams  United StatesClemson
484Dean Hunger  United StatesUtah State
5106Albert Jones  United StatesNew Mexico
6130Everette Jefferson  United StatesNew Mexico
7152Joe Nehls  United StatesArizona
8173Rosie Barnes  United StatesBowling Green

[1]

[2]

Roster

1980–81 Houston Rockets roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
G10Dunleavy, Mike6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)180 lb (82 kg)––South Carolina
SF00Garrett, Calvin6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)190 lb (86 kg)––Oral Roberts
G6Henderson, Tom6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)190 lb (86 kg)––Hawaiʻi
F11Jones, Major6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)225 lb (102 kg)––Albany State
G30Leavell, Allen6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)170 lb (77 kg)––Oklahoma City
C24Malone, Moses6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)235 lb (107 kg)––Petersburg HS (VA)
PG23Murphy, Calvin5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)165 lb (75 kg)––Niagara
F/C5Paultz, Billy6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)235 lb (107 kg)––St. John's
SF50Reid, Robert6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)205 lb (93 kg)––St. Mary's (TX)
F42Stroud, John6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)215 lb (98 kg)––Mississippi
F45Tomjanovich, Rudy6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)218 lb (99 kg)––Michigan
SF32Willoughby, Bill6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)205 lb (93 kg)––Dwight Morrow HS (NJ)
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Regular season

In the 1980–81 season, after the newly established Dallas Mavericks became the third NBA team in Texas,[3] 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. It was head coach Del Harris's second season, and he led Houston to a 40–42 record. The Rockets tied with the Kansas City Kings for second place in the Midwest Division behind San Antonio. Houston had one game remaining to be played on its regular-season schedule when the team qualified for the playoffs.[4] During the season, point guard Calvin Murphy set two NBA records, both of which had previously been held by Rick Barry. Murphy sank 78 consecutive free throws, to break Barry's mark of 60 set in 1976, and Murphy's season free-throw percentage was .958, breaking Barry's record of .947 set in 1979 (when Barry had been a member of the Rockets).[5]

Season standings

Midwest Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-San Antonio Spurs5230.634–34–718–2321–9
x-Kansas City Kings4042.48812.024–1716–2519–11
x-Houston Rockets4042.48812.025–1615–2619–11
Denver Nuggets3745.45115.023–1814–2713–17
Utah Jazz2854.34124.020–218–3313–17
Dallas Mavericks1567.18337.011–304–375–25
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1c-Phoenix Suns5725.695–
2y-San Antonio Spurs5230.6345
3x-Los Angeles Lakers5428.6593
4x-Portland Trail Blazers4537.54912
5x-Kansas City Kings4042.48817
6x-Houston Rockets4042.48817
7Golden State Warriors3943.47618
8Denver Nuggets3745.45120
9San Diego Clippers3646.43921
10Seattle SuperSonics3448.41523
11Utah Jazz2854.34129
12Dallas Mavericks1567.18342

Notes

  • z, y – division champions
  • x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1980-81 NBA Records
TeamATLBOSCHICLEDALDENDETGSWHOUINDKCKLALMILNJNNYKPHIPHOPORSASSDCSEAUTAWAS
Atlanta—2–42–41–52–01–14–22–01–11–51–10–21–53–22–41–50–21–11–11–11–12–01–4
Boston4–2—5–14–12–02–04–11–12–03–31–12–03–36–05–13–32–02–02–02–01–11–15–1
Chicago4–21–5—5–11–11–15–11–11–13–22–01–13–33–23–32–40–20–20–21–11–12–05–1
Cleveland5–11–41–5—2–01–13–31–10–22–40–20–20–63–30–50–61–11–11–11–10–21–14–2
Dallas0–20–21–10–2—3–30–22–30–60–20–60–50–21–11–10–21–41–41–52–31–41–50–2
Denver1–10–21–11–13–3—2–03–22–41–14–23–21–11–10–21–11–42–32–43–23–22–40–2
Detroit2–41–41–53–32–00–2—0–21–12–41–10–21–53–31–51–40–20–20–21–10–20–21–5
Golden State0–21–11–11–13–22–32–0—3–21–15–01–51–11–12–00–22–42–41–42–43–34–11–1
Houston1–10–21–12–06–04–21–12–3—1–12–42–30–22–00–20–21–43–23–31–44–14–20–2
Indiana5–13–32–34–22–01–14–21–11–1—2–00–22–45–13–20–61–10–22–01–10–21–14–2
Kansas City1–11–10–22–06–02–41–10–54–20–2—0–51–12–01–10–23–23–22–43–22–35–11–1
Los Angeles2–00–21–12–05–02–32–05–13–22–05–0—0–22–02–01–12–43–32–33–36–03–21–1
Milwaukee5–13–33–36–02–01–15–11–12–04–21–12–0—5–13–33–21–12–01–12–02–02–04–1
New Jersey2–30–62–33–31–11–13–31–10–21–50–20–21–5—0–61–51–12–00–20–21–11–13–3
New York4–21–53–35–01–12–05–10–22–02–31–10–23–36–0—3–31–11–10–22–02–02–04–2
Philadelphia5–13–34–26–02–01–14–12–02–06–02–01–12–35–13–3—1–11–12–02–02–02–04–2
Phoenix2–00–22–01–14–14–12–04–24–11–12–34–21–11–11–11–1—3–33–26–05–15–01–1
Portland1–10–22–01–14–13–22–04–22–32–02–33–30–20–21–11–13–3—2–34–24–22–32–0
San Antonio1–10–22–01–15–14–22–04–13–30–24–23–21–12–02–00–22–33–2—4–13–25–11–1
San Diego1–10–21–11–13–22–31–14–24–11–12–33–30–22–00–20–20–62–41–4—5–13–20–2
Seattle1–11–11–12–04–12–32–03–31–42–03–20–60–21–10–20–21–52–42–31–5—4–11–1
Utah0–21–10–21–15–14–22–01–42–41–11–52–30–21–10–20–20–53–21–52–31–4—0–2
Washington4–11–51–52–42–02–05–11–12–02–41–11–11–43–32–42–41–10–21–12–01–12–0—

Game log

Regular season

1980–81 game log
Total: 40–42 (home: 25–16; road: 15–26)
October: 4–5 (home: 2–2; road: 2–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1October 10@ San DiegoL 104–120San Diego Sports Arena0–1
2October 12@ Los AngelesL 103–114The Forum0–2
3October 15SeattleW 103–100The Summit1–2
4October 17@ PortlandW 102–99Memorial Coliseum2–2
5October 18@ Golden StateL 101–108Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena2–3
6October 21@ DenverW 119–117McNichols Sports Arena3–3
7October 23Kansas CityL 96–105The Summit3–4
8October 25DetroitL 109–112The Summit3–5
9October 29DallasW 109–103The Summit4–5
November: 7–8 (home: 3–3; road: 4–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
10November 5San DiegoL 104–111The Summit4–6
11November 8PhoenixL 115–116The Summit4–7
12November 11@ DallasW 105–94Reunion Arena5–7
13November 12Los AngelesW 107–104The Summit6–7
14November 14@ UtahL 115–117Salt Palace Acord Arena6–8
15November 15@ SeattleL 139–143 (OT)Kingdome6–9
16November 18SeattleW 138–118The Summit7–9
17November 20@ ClevelandW 117–114Richfield Coliseum8–9
18November 21@ New JerseyW 116–108Rutgers Athletic Center9–9
19November 22@ IndianaL 120–129Market Square Arena9–10
20November 24@ New YorkL 110–113 (OT)Madison Square Garden9–11
21November 26PhiladelphiaL 100–101The Summit9–12
22November 28@ San AntonioW 124–115HemisFair Arena10–12
23November 29DallasW 115–90The Summit11–12
24November 30@ PhoenixL 114–117Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum11–13
December: 5–9 (home: 3–3; road: 2–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
25December 3ClevelandW 118–109The Summit12–13
26December 5@ Kansas CityL 100–108Kemper Arena12–14
27December 6DenverW 111–108The Summit13–14
28December 10Los AngelesL 108–109The Summit13–15
29December 12@ PortlandL 100–106Memorial Coliseum13–16
30December 13@ Golden StateW 99–97Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena14–16
31December 17San AntonioL 107–113The Summit14–17
32December 19@ BostonL 119–133Boston Garden14–18
33December 20@ ChicagoL 109–133Chicago Stadium14–19
34December 21@ MilwaukeeL 91–123MECCA Arena14–20
35December 23Golden StateL 99–114The Summit14–21
36December 26@ DetroitW 114–94Pontiac Silverdome15–21
37December 27@ WashingtonL 97–115Capital Centre15–22
38December 30San DiegoW 104–98The Summit16–22
January: 8–7 (home: 6–3; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
39January 1UtahW 117–103The Summit17–22
40January 2@ DallasW 124–120 (OT)Reunion Arena18–22
41January 3DenverL 132–134The Summit18–23
42January 7Kansas CityL 108–114The Summit18–24
43January 9@ PhiladelphiaL 94–107The Spectrum18–25
44January 10PortlandW 106–105The Summit19–25
45January 14ChicagoW 109–105The Summit20–25
46January 16@ PhoenixL 89–92Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum20–26
47January 17New YorkL 98–99The Summit20–27
48January 18@ DenverW 98–97McNichols Sports Arena21–27
49January 21PhoenixW 106–100The Summit22–27
50January 23@ Kansas CityL 107–113Kemper Arena22–28
51January 24UtahW 106–91The Summit23–28
52January 28New JerseyW 111–99The Summit24–28
53January 29@ UtahL 97–99Salt Palace Acord Arena24–29
February: 9–5 (home: 6–3; road: 3–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
54February 3DenverW 135–128 (OT)The Summit25–29
55February 4DallasW 116–68The Summit26–29
56February 6@ PhoenixL 99–112Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum26–30
57February 7AtlantaW 87–81The Summit27–30
58February 11San AntonioW 108–89The Summit28–30
59February 13Los AngelesL 105–114The Summit28–31
60February 14MilwaukeeL 112–117The Summit28–32
61February 19@ San DiegoL 99–116San Diego Sports Arena28–33
62February 20@ Los AngelesW 110–107The Forum29–33
63February 22@ SeattleW 111–96Kingdome30–33
64February 23@ UtahW 106–102Salt Palace Acord Arena31–33
65February 25IndianaW 101–100The Summit32–33
66February 27SeattleW 96–92The Summit33–33
67February 28San DiegoL 103–104The Summit33–34
March: 7–8 (home: 5–2; road: 2–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
68March 1@ San AntonioL 86–102HemisFair Arena33–35
69March 4BostonL 101–108The Summit33–36
70March 6WashingtonL 104–105The Summit33–37
71March 7@ AtlantaL 108–114The Omni33–38
72March 11Golden StateW 109–92The Summit34–38
73March 13PortlandW 126–104The Summit35–38
74March 14UtahW 101–82The Summit36–38
75March 15@ DenverL 127–138McNichols Sports Arena36–39
76March 18@ Golden StateL 117–118Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena36–40
77March 20@ PortlandL 103–107Memorial Coliseum36–41
78March 22@ Kansas CityW 114–108Kemper Arena37–41
79March 24@ DallasW 114–111 (OT)Reunion Arena38–41
80March 25San AntonioW 117–111The Summit39–41
81March 27Kansas CityW 91–84The Summit40–41
82March 29@ San AntonioL 109–135HemisFair Arena40–42
1980–81 schedule

Playoffs

1981 playoff game log
First Round: 2–1 (home: 0–1; road: 2–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1April 1@ Los AngelesW 111–107Moses Malone (38)Moses Malone (23)Allen Leavell (8)The Forum
15,517		1–0
2April 3Los AngelesL 106–111Moses Malone (33)Moses Malone (15)Calvin Murphy (8)The Summit
16,121		1–1
3April 5@ Los AngelesW 89–86Moses Malone (23)Moses Malone (15)Tom Henderson (7)The Forum
14,813		2–1
Conference semifinals: 4–3 (home: 1–2; road: 3–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1April 7@ San AntonioW 107–98Moses Malone (27)Moses Malone (10)Reid, Murphy (6)HemisFair Arena
13,319		1–0
2April 8@ San AntonioL 113–125Calvin Murphy (34)Moses Malone (12)Robert Reid (10)HemisFair Arena
12,128		1–1
3April 10San AntonioW 112–99Moses Malone (41)Moses Malone (15)Reid, Murphy (4)The Summit
16,121		2–1
4April 12San AntonioL 112–114Robert Reid (33)Moses Malone (9)Reid, Henderson (6)The Summit
16,121		2–2
5April 14@ San AntonioW 123–117Calvin Murphy (36)Moses Malone (13)Tom Henderson (7)HemisFair Arena
16,114		3–2
6April 15San AntonioL 96–101Moses Malone (36)Moses Malone (10)Reid, Henderson (7)The Summit
16,121		3–3
7April 17@ San AntonioW 105–100Calvin Murphy (42)Moses Malone (16)Tom Henderson (8)HemisFair Arena
16,114		4–3
Conference finals: 4–1 (home: 2–0; road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1April 21@ Kansas CityW 97–78Moses Malone (29)Moses Malone (12)Mike Dunleavy (6)Kemper Arena
13,885		1–0
2April 22@ Kansas CityL 79–88Moses Malone (18)Moses Malone (15)Tom Henderson (7)Kemper Arena
14,326		1–1
3April 24Kansas CityW 92–88Reid, Paultz (20)Malone, Paultz (12)Mike Dunleavy (10)The Summit
16,121		2–1
4April 26Kansas CityW 100–89Moses Malone (42)Moses Malone (23)Robert Reid (9)The Summit
16,121		3–1
5April 29@ Kansas CityW 97–88Moses Malone (36)Moses Malone (11)Tom Henderson (6)Kemper Arena
14,640		4–1
NBA Finals: 2–4 (home: 1–2; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1May 5@ BostonL 95–98Robert Reid (27)Moses Malone (15)Mike Dunleavy (7)Boston Garden
15,320		0–1
2May 7@ BostonW 92–90Moses Malone (31)Moses Malone (15)three players tied (3)Boston Garden
15,320		1–1
3May 9BostonL 71–94Moses Malone (23)Moses Malone (15)three players tied (2)The Summit
16,121		1–2
4May 10BostonW 91–86Mike Dunleavy (28)Moses Malone (22)Tom Henderson (9)The Summit
16,121		2–2
5May 12@ BostonL 80–109Moses Malone (20)Moses Malone (11)Allen Leavell (6)Boston Garden
15,320		2–3
6May 14BostonL 91–102Robert Reid (27)Moses Malone (16)Henderson, Reid (5)The Summit
16,121		2–4
1981 schedule

Player statistics

Legend
  GPGames 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

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3FG%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Moses Malone8040.6.522.333.75714.81.81.01.927.8
Calvin Murphy7626.5.492.235.9581.12.91.50.116.7
Robert Reid8236.1.482.000.7567.14.22.00.815.9
Rudy Tomjanovich5224.3.467.235.7934.01.60.40.111.6
Mike Dunleavy7421.7.491.063.8391.63.60.90.010.5
Allen Leavell7921.3.471.118.8321.74.91.20.28.1
Billy Paultz8120.5.507.000.4904.81.30.30.97.4
Bill Willoughby5520.8.523.7664.11.20.30.66.3
Calvin Garrett7023.4.453.333.8063.81.90.70.16.1
Tom Henderson6621.4.413.000.8211.64.70.80.15.3

[6]

Playoffs

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3FG%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG

Awards and records

Awards

Records

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

Subtractions

PlayerLeftNew team

See also

References

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