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

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
Main article: 1980 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College/Club team
2 27 John Stroud  United States Ole Miss
2 38 Terry Stotts  United States Oklahoma
2 43 Billy Williams  United States Clemson
4 84 Dean Hunger  United States Utah State
5 106 Albert Jones  United States New Mexico
6 130 Everette Jefferson  United States New Mexico
7 152 Joe Nehls  United States Arizona
8 173 Rosie Barnes  United States Bowling Green

[1]

[2]

Roster
1980–81 Houston Rockets roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
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) –– Saint Mary's
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 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
1 c-Phoenix Suns5725.695–
2 y-San Antonio Spurs5230.6345
3 x-Los Angeles Lakers5428.6593
4 x-Portland Trail Blazers4537.54912
5 x-Kansas City Kings4042.48817
6 x-Houston Rockets4042.48817
7 Golden State Warriors3943.47618
8 Denver Nuggets3745.45120
9 San Diego Clippers3646.43921
10 Seattle SuperSonics3448.41523
11 Utah Jazz2854.34129
12 Dallas Mavericks1567.18342

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 —2–42–41–52–01–14–22–01–11–51–10–21–53–22–41–50–21–11–11–11–12–01–4
Boston 4–2—5–14–12–02–04–11–12–03–31–12–03–36–05–13–32–02–02–02–01–11–15–1
Chicago 4–21–5—5–11–11–15–11–11–13–22–01–13–33–23–32–40–20–20–21–11–12–05–1
Cleveland 5–11–41–5—2–01–13–31–10–22–40–20–20–63–30–50–61–11–11–11–10–21–14–2
Dallas 0–20–21–10–2—3–30–22–30–60–20–60–50–21–11–10–21–41–41–52–31–41–50–2
Denver 1–10–21–11–13–3—2–03–22–41–14–23–21–11–10–21–11–42–32–43–23–22–40–2
Detroit 2–41–41–53–32–00–2—0–21–12–41–10–21–53–31–51–40–20–20–21–10–20–21–5
Golden State 0–21–11–11–13–22–32–0—3–21–15–01–51–11–12–00–22–42–41–42–43–34–11–1
Houston 1–10–21–12–06–04–21–12–3—1–12–42–30–22–00–20–21–43–23–31–44–14–20–2
Indiana 5–13–32–34–22–01–14–21–11–1—2–00–22–45–13–20–61–10–22–01–10–21–14–2
Kansas City 1–11–10–22–06–02–41–10–54–20–2—0–51–12–01–10–23–23–22–43–22–35–11–1
Los Angeles 2–00–21–12–05–02–32–05–13–22–05–0—0–22–02–01–12–43–32–33–36–03–21–1
Milwaukee 5–13–33–36–02–01–15–11–12–04–21–12–0—5–13–33–21–12–01–12–02–02–04–1
New Jersey 2–30–62–33–31–11–13–31–10–21–50–20–21–5—0–61–51–12–00–20–21–11–13–3
New York 4–21–53–35–01–12–05–10–22–02–31–10–23–36–0—3–31–11–10–22–02–02–04–2
Philadelphia 5–13–34–26–02–01–14–12–02–06–02–01–12–35–13–3—1–11–12–02–02–02–04–2
Phoenix 2–00–22–01–14–14–12–04–24–11–12–34–21–11–11–11–1—3–33–26–05–15–01–1
Portland 1–10–22–01–14–13–22–04–22–32–02–33–30–20–21–11–13–3—2–34–24–22–32–0
San Antonio 1–10–22–01–15–14–22–04–13–30–24–23–21–12–02–00–22–33–2—4–13–25–11–1
San Diego 1–10–21–11–13–22–31–14–24–11–12–33–30–22–00–20–20–62–41–4—5–13–20–2
Seattle 1–11–11–12–04–12–32–03–31–42–03–20–60–21–10–20–21–52–42–31–5—4–11–1
Utah 0–21–10–21–15–14–22–01–42–41–11–52–30–21–10–20–20–53–21–52–31–4—0–2
Washington 4–11–51–52–42–02–05–11–12–02–41–11–11–43–32–42–41–10–21–12–01–12–0—

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
1 October 10 @ San Diego L 104–120 San Diego Sports Arena 0–1
2 October 12 @ Los Angeles L 103–114 The Forum 0–2
3 October 15 Seattle W 103–100 The Summit 1–2
4 October 17 @ Portland W 102–99 Memorial Coliseum 2–2
5 October 18 @ Golden State L 101–108 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 2–3
6 October 21 @ Denver W 119–117 McNichols Sports Arena 3–3
7 October 23 Kansas City L 96–105 The Summit 3–4
8 October 25 Detroit L 109–112 The Summit 3–5
9 October 29 Dallas W 109–103 The Summit 4–5
November: 7–8 (home: 3–3; road: 4–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
10 November 5 San Diego L 104–111 The Summit 4–6
11 November 8 Phoenix L 115–116 The Summit 4–7
12 November 11 @ Dallas W 105–94 Reunion Arena 5–7
13 November 12 Los Angeles W 107–104 The Summit 6–7
14 November 14 @ Utah L 115–117 Salt Palace Acord Arena 6–8
15 November 15 @ Seattle L 139–143 (OT) Kingdome 6–9
16 November 18 Seattle W 138–118 The Summit 7–9
17 November 20 @ Cleveland W 117–114 Richfield Coliseum 8–9
18 November 21 @ New Jersey W 116–108 Rutgers Athletic Center 9–9
19 November 22 @ Indiana L 120–129 Market Square Arena 9–10
20 November 24 @ New York L 110–113 (OT) Madison Square Garden 9–11
21 November 26 Philadelphia L 100–101 The Summit 9–12
22 November 28 @ San Antonio W 124–115 HemisFair Arena 10–12
23 November 29 Dallas W 115–90 The Summit 11–12
24 November 30 @ Phoenix L 114–117 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11–13
December: 5–9 (home: 3–3; road: 2–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
25 December 3 Cleveland W 118–109 The Summit 12–13
26 December 5 @ Kansas City L 100–108 Kemper Arena 12–14
27 December 6 Denver W 111–108 The Summit 13–14
28 December 10 Los Angeles L 108–109 The Summit 13–15
29 December 12 @ Portland L 100–106 Memorial Coliseum 13–16
30 December 13 @ Golden State W 99–97 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 14–16
31 December 17 San Antonio L 107–113 The Summit 14–17
32 December 19 @ Boston L 119–133 Boston Garden 14–18
33 December 20 @ Chicago L 109–133 Chicago Stadium 14–19
34 December 21 @ Milwaukee L 91–123 MECCA Arena 14–20
35 December 23 Golden State L 99–114 The Summit 14–21
36 December 26 @ Detroit W 114–94 Pontiac Silverdome 15–21
37 December 27 @ Washington L 97–115 Capital Centre 15–22
38 December 30 San Diego W 104–98 The Summit 16–22
January: 8–7 (home: 6–3; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
39 January 1 Utah W 117–103 The Summit 17–22
40 January 2 @ Dallas W 124–120 (OT) Reunion Arena 18–22
41 January 3 Denver L 132–134 The Summit 18–23
42 January 7 Kansas City L 108–114 The Summit 18–24
43 January 9 @ Philadelphia L 94–107 The Spectrum 18–25
44 January 10 Portland W 106–105 The Summit 19–25
45 January 14 Chicago W 109–105 The Summit 20–25
46 January 16 @ Phoenix L 89–92 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 20–26
47 January 17 New York L 98–99 The Summit 20–27
48 January 18 @ Denver W 98–97 McNichols Sports Arena 21–27
49 January 21 Phoenix W 106–100 The Summit 22–27
50 January 23 @ Kansas City L 107–113 Kemper Arena 22–28
51 January 24 Utah W 106–91 The Summit 23–28
52 January 28 New Jersey W 111–99 The Summit 24–28
53 January 29 @ Utah L 97–99 Salt Palace Acord Arena 24–29
February: 9–5 (home: 6–3; road: 3–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
54 February 3 Denver W 135–128 (OT) The Summit 25–29
55 February 4 Dallas W 116–68 The Summit 26–29
56 February 6 @ Phoenix L 99–112 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 26–30
57 February 7 Atlanta W 87–81 The Summit 27–30
58 February 11 San Antonio W 108–89 The Summit 28–30
59 February 13 Los Angeles L 105–114 The Summit 28–31
60 February 14 Milwaukee L 112–117 The Summit 28–32
61 February 19 @ San Diego L 99–116 San Diego Sports Arena 28–33
62 February 20 @ Los Angeles W 110–107 The Forum 29–33
63 February 22 @ Seattle W 111–96 Kingdome 30–33
64 February 23 @ Utah W 106–102 Salt Palace Acord Arena 31–33
65 February 25 Indiana W 101–100 The Summit 32–33
66 February 27 Seattle W 96–92 The Summit 33–33
67 February 28 San Diego L 103–104 The Summit 33–34
March: 7–8 (home: 5–2; road: 2–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
68 March 1 @ San Antonio L 86–102 HemisFair Arena 33–35
69 March 4 Boston L 101–108 The Summit 33–36
70 March 6 Washington L 104–105 The Summit 33–37
71 March 7 @ Atlanta L 108–114 The Omni 33–38
72 March 11 Golden State W 109–92 The Summit 34–38
73 March 13 Portland W 126–104 The Summit 35–38
74 March 14 Utah W 101–82 The Summit 36–38
75 March 15 @ Denver L 127–138 McNichols Sports Arena 36–39
76 March 18 @ Golden State L 117–118 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 36–40
77 March 20 @ Portland L 103–107 Memorial Coliseum 36–41
78 March 22 @ Kansas City W 114–108 Kemper Arena 37–41
79 March 24 @ Dallas W 114–111 (OT) Reunion Arena 38–41
80 March 25 San Antonio W 117–111 The Summit 39–41
81 March 27 Kansas City W 91–84 The Summit 40–41
82 March 29 @ San Antonio L 109–135 HemisFair Arena 40–42
1980–81 schedule

Playoffs
1981 playoff game log
First Round: 2–1 (home: 0–1; road: 2–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 1 @ Los Angeles W 111–107 Moses Malone (38) Moses Malone (23) Allen Leavell (8) The Forum
15,517		 1–0
2 April 3 Los Angeles L 106–111 Moses Malone (33) Moses Malone (15) Calvin Murphy (8) The Summit
16,121		 1–1
3 April 5 @ Los Angeles W 89–86 Moses 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
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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 21 @ Kansas City W 97–78 Moses Malone (29) Moses Malone (12) Mike Dunleavy (6) Kemper Arena
13,885		 1–0
2 April 22 @ Kansas City L 79–88 Moses Malone (18) Moses Malone (15) Tom Henderson (7) Kemper Arena
14,326		 1–1
3 April 24 Kansas City W 92–88 Reid, Paultz (20) Malone, Paultz (12) Mike Dunleavy (10) The Summit
16,121		 2–1
4 April 26 Kansas City W 100–89 Moses Malone (42) Moses Malone (23) Robert Reid (9) The Summit
16,121		 3–1
5 April 29 @ Kansas City W 97–88 Moses 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
1 May 5 @ Boston L 95–98 Robert Reid (27) Moses Malone (15) Mike Dunleavy (7) Boston Garden
15,320		 0–1
2 May 7 @ Boston W 92–90 Moses Malone (31) Moses Malone (15) three players tied (3) Boston Garden
15,320		 1–1
3 May 9 Boston L 71–94 Moses Malone (23) Moses Malone (15) three players tied (2) The Summit
16,121		 1–2
4 May 10 Boston W 91–86 Mike Dunleavy (28) Moses Malone (22) Tom Henderson (9) The Summit
16,121		 2–2
5 May 12 @ Boston L 80–109 Moses Malone (20) Moses Malone (11) Allen Leavell (6) Boston Garden
15,320		 2–3
6 May 14 Boston L 91–102 Robert Reid (27) Moses Malone (16) Henderson, Reid (5) The Summit
16,121		 2–4
1981 schedule

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 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
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG

Awards and records

Awards

Records

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

See also

References
  1. "1980 NBA Draft on databaseBasketball.com". Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 27, 2012.
  2. "Houston Rockets Draft Picks". Basketball Reference. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  3. "Mavs History". NBA.com. Archived from the original on May 11, 2008. Retrieved May 30, 2008.
  4. "1980-81 Houston Rockets". Basketball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 17, 2008. Retrieved May 30, 2008.
  5. "NBA.com Calvin Murphy Bio". NBA. Archived from the original on February 20, 2009. Retrieved February 18, 2009.
  6. "1980-81 Houston Rockets Roster and Stats".
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