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.
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
edit
1980–81 Houston Rockets roster
Players
|
Coaches
|
---|
Pos.
|
No.
|
Name
|
Height
|
Weight
|
DOB
|
From
|
---|
G
|
10
|
Dunleavy, Mike
|
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
|
180 lb (82 kg)
|
––
|
South Carolina
| SF
|
00
|
Garrett, Calvin
|
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
|
190 lb (86 kg)
|
––
|
Oral Roberts
| G
|
6
|
Henderson, Tom
|
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
|
190 lb (86 kg)
|
––
|
Hawaiʻi
| F
|
11
|
Jones, Major
|
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
|
225 lb (102 kg)
|
––
|
Albany State
| G
|
30
|
Leavell, Allen
|
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
|
170 lb (77 kg)
|
––
|
Oklahoma City
| C
|
24
|
Malone, Moses
|
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
|
235 lb (107 kg)
|
––
|
Petersburg HS (VA)
| PG
|
23
|
Murphy, Calvin
|
5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
|
165 lb (75 kg)
|
––
|
Niagara
| F/C
|
5
|
Paultz, Billy
|
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
|
235 lb (107 kg)
|
––
|
St. John's
| SF
|
50
|
Reid, Robert
|
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
|
205 lb (93 kg)
|
––
|
St. Mary's (TX)
| F
|
42
|
Stroud, John
|
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
|
215 lb (98 kg)
|
––
|
Mississippi
| F
|
45
|
Tomjanovich, Rudy
|
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
|
218 lb (99 kg)
|
––
|
Michigan
| SF
|
32
|
Willoughby, Bill
|
6 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
edit
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
edit
Notes
- z, y – division champions
- x – clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents
edit
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
edit
Regular season
edit
1980–81 game log Total: 40–42 (home: 25–16; road: 15–26)
|
---|
October: 4–5 (home: 2–2; road: 2–3)
|
November: 7–8 (home: 3–3; road: 4–5)
|
December: 5–9 (home: 3–3; road: 2–6)
|
January: 8–7 (home: 6–3; road: 2–4)
|
February: 9–5 (home: 6–3; road: 3–2)
|
March: 7–8 (home: 5–2; road: 2–6)
|
1980–81 schedule
|
---|
Playoffs
edit
1981 playoff game log
|
---|
First Round: 2–1 (home: 0–1; road: 2–0)
|
Conference semifinals: 4–3 (home: 1–2; road: 3–1)
Game |
Date |
Team |
Score |
High points |
High rebounds |
High assists |
Location Attendance |
Series
|
---|
1
|
April 7
|
@ San Antonio
|
W 107–98
|
Moses Malone (27)
|
Moses Malone (10)
|
Reid, Murphy (6)
|
HemisFair Arena 13,319
|
1–0
| 2
|
April 8
|
@ San Antonio
|
L 113–125
|
Calvin Murphy (34)
|
Moses Malone (12)
|
Robert Reid (10)
|
HemisFair Arena 12,128
|
1–1
| 3
|
April 10
|
San Antonio
|
W 112–99
|
Moses Malone (41)
|
Moses Malone (15)
|
Reid, Murphy (4)
|
The Summit 16,121
|
2–1
| 4
|
April 12
|
San Antonio
|
L 112–114
|
Robert Reid (33)
|
Moses Malone (9)
|
Reid, Henderson (6)
|
The Summit 16,121
|
2–2
| 5
|
April 14
|
@ San Antonio
|
W 123–117
|
Calvin Murphy (36)
|
Moses Malone (13)
|
Tom Henderson (7)
|
HemisFair Arena 16,114
|
3–2
| 6
|
April 15
|
San Antonio
|
L 96–101
|
Moses Malone (36)
|
Moses Malone (10)
|
Reid, Henderson (7)
|
The Summit 16,121
|
3–3
| 7
|
April 17
|
@ San Antonio
|
W 105–100
|
Calvin Murphy (42)
|
Moses Malone (16)
|
Tom Henderson (8)
|
HemisFair Arena 16,114
|
4–3
|
|
Conference finals: 4–1 (home: 2–0; road: 2–1)
|
NBA Finals: 2–4 (home: 1–2; road: 1–2)
|
1981 schedule
|
---|
Player statistics
edit
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
|
[6]
Playoffs
edit
Player
|
GP
|
GS
|
MPG
|
FG%
|
3FG%
|
FT%
|
RPG
|
APG
|
SPG
|
BPG
|
PPG
|
---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Awards and records
edit
This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (January 2011) |
Transactions
edit
Free agents
edit
Additions
edit
Player |
Signed |
Former team
| |
|
|
|
Subtractions
edit
|
See also
edit
References
edit