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1990–91 Houston Rockets season

Home Sports Entertainment (lost to Lakers 0–3)

The 1990–91 Houston Rockets season was the 24th season for the Houston Rockets in the National Basketball Association, and their 20th season in Houston, Texas. During the off-season, the Rockets acquired Kenny Smith from the Atlanta Hawks, and signed free agent David Wood.

The Rockets played around .500 in winning percentage during the first half of the regular season, as Hakeem Olajuwon missed 25 games due to a bone fracture in his right eye. However, the Rockets showed improvement by holding a 27–21 record at the All-Star break, posting a 14–1 record in March, which included a 13-game winning streak. The team finished in third place in the Midwest Division with a 52–30 record, and earned the sixth seed in the Western Conference. Head coach Don Chaney was named the NBA Coach of the Year, after leading his team to an 11-game improvement over the previous season.

Olajuwon averaged 21.2 points, 13.8 rebounds, 2.2 steals and 3.9 blocks per game in 56 games, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, and to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. In addition, Kenny Smith averaged 17.7 points, 7.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game, while Otis Thorpe provided the team with 17.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, and Vernon Maxwell contributed 17.0 points and 1.5 steals per game, and led the league with 172 three-point field goals. Meanwhile, Buck Johnson provided with 13.6 points per game, while off the bench, Sleepy Floyd played a sixth man role, averaging 12.3 points, 3.9 assists and 1.2 steals per game, Wood contributed 5.3 points per game, and defensive forward Larry Smith averaged 3.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game.

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Charlotte Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina, Kenny Smith participated in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest for the second consecutive year; due to his eye injury, Olajuwon was not selected for the 1991 NBA All-Star Game. Kenny Smith finished in 17th place in Most Valuable Player voting, while Olajuwon finished in 18th place; Olajuwon also finished tied in fifth place in Defensive Player of the Year voting, while Kenny Smith finished in third place in Most Improved Player voting, with Larry Smith finishing tied in eighth place, and Larry Smith also finished tied in sixth place in Sixth Man of the Year voting.

In the Western Conference First Round of the 1991 NBA playoffs, and for the second consecutive year, the Rockets faced off against the 3rd–seeded Los Angeles Lakers, who were led by the trio of All-Star guard Magic Johnson, All-Star forward James Worthy, and Byron Scott. The Rockets lost the first two games to the Lakers on the road at the Great Western Forum, before losing Game 3 at home, 94–90 at The Summit, thus losing the series in a three-game sweep; it was the second consecutive year that the Rockets had their season ended by the Lakers. The Lakers would lose in five games to the Chicago Bulls in the 1991 NBA Finals.

Following the season, Wood was released to free agency.

Draft picks

Main article: 1990 NBA draft

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalitySchool or club team
112Alec KesslerPFUnited StatesGeorgia

Roster

  • Don Chaney
  • Carroll Dawson
  • John Killilea
  • Calvin Murphy
  • Rudy Tomjanovich

Regular season

Season standings

:y – clinched division title :x – clinched playoff spot

:z – clinched division title :y – clinched division title :x – clinched playoff spot

Game log

Regular season

|- | 1 | November 2 | @ Portland | L 89–90 | | | | Memorial Coliseum

0–1
2
November 3
@ Seattle
L 106–108

| | | | Seattle Center Coliseum

0–2
3
November 6
Denver
W 145–135

| | | | The Summit

1–2
4
November 8
Orlando
W 103–99

| | | | The Summit

2–2
5
November 10
@ San Antonio
L 110–111

| | | | HemisFair Arena

2–3
6
November 11
Utah
W 110–90

| | | | The Summit

3–3
7
November 13
Minnesota
W 90–88

| | | | The Summit

4–3
8
November 15
L.A. Lakers
L 103–108 (OT)

| | | | The Summit

4–4
9
November 17
Miami
W 117–100

| | | | The Summit

5–4
10
November 20
@ New York
W 115–88

| | | | Madison Square Garden

6–4
11
November 21
@ Boston
L 95–108

| | | | Boston Garden

6–5
12
November 23
@ Indiana
L 111–112

| | | | Market Square Arena

6–6
13
November 25
@ Minnesota
W 107–91

| | | | Target Center

7–6
14
November 27
L.A. Clippers
W 107–102

| | | | The Summit

8–6
15
November 28
@ Utah
L 92–103

| | | | Salt Palace

8–7
16
December 1
Sacramento
W 117–93

| | | | The Summit

9–7
17
December 4
Atlanta
L 110–113

| | | | The Summit

9–8
18
December 6
Charlotte
W 116–110

| | | | The Summit

10–8
19
December 8
@ Dallas
W 113–107

| | | | Reunion Arena

11–8
20
December 10
Boston
L 95–107

| | | | The Summit

11–9
21
December 12
@ Philadelphia
W 108–100

| | | | The Spectrum

12–9
22
December 14
@ Washington
L 93–106

| | | | Capital Centre

12–10
23
December 15
@ Charlotte
W 100–97

| | | | Charlotte Coliseum

13–10
24
December 18
San Antonio
L 95–96

| | | | The Summit

13–11
25
December 20
Orlando
W 128–126 (OT)

| | | | The Summit

14–11
26
December 22
Phoenix
W 122–102

| | | | The Summit

15–11
27
December 26
@ Orlando
L 103–109

| | | | Orlando Arena

15–12
28
December 28
@ New Jersey
W 101–99

| | | | Brendan Byrne Arena

16–12
29
December 29
@ Detroit
L 84–99

| | | | The Palace of Auburn Hills

16–13
30
January 3
Chicago
W 114–92

| | | | The Summit

17–13
31
January 5
Indiana
W 112–99

| | | | The Summit

18–13
32
January 8
Portland
L 97–123

| | | | The Summit

18–14
33
January 10
@ Denver
W 156–133

| | | | McNichols Sports Arena

19–14
34
January 11
@ Phoenix
L 110–114

| | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum

19–15
35
January 13
@ L.A. Lakers
L 97–116

| | | | Great Western Forum

19–16
36
January 14
@ L.A. Clippers
L 126–130 (OT)

| | | | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena

19–17
37
January 17
Detroit
L 91–97 (OT)

| | | | The Summit

19–18
38
January 19
L.A. Clippers
W 107–96

| | | | The Summit

20–18
39
January 21
@ Sacramento
L 94–97

| | | | ARCO Arena

20–19
40
January 22
@ Golden State
L 116–123

| | | | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena

20–20
41
January 24
Minnesota
W 118–94

| | | | The Summit

21–20
42
January 26
Cleveland
W 103–97

| | | | The Summit

22–20
43
January 29
San Antonio
W 91–89

| | | | The Summit

23–20
44
January 31
Seattle
L 94–97

| | | | The Summit

23–21
45
February 2
@ San Antonio
W 100–94 (OT)

| | | | HemisFair Arena

24–21
46
February 3
Golden State
W 143–135 (2OT)

| | | | The Summit

25–21
47
February 6
@ Milwaukee
W 111–109

| | | | Bradley Center

26–21
48
February 7
@ Cleveland
W 96–92

| | | | Richfield Coliseum

27–21
49
February 12
@ Utah
L 92–113

| | | | Salt Palace

27–22
50
February 14
Washington
W 129–117

| | | | The Summit

28–22
51
February 16
Phoenix
W 100–91

| | | | The Summit

29–22
52
February 19
L.A. Lakers
L 103–112

| | | | The Summit

29–23
53
February 21
Milwaukee
W 92–90

| | | | The Summit

30–23
54
February 24
@ Minnesota
W 100–91

| | | | Target Center

30–24
55
February 26
@ Denver
W 129–99

| | | | McNichols Sports Arena

32–23
56
February 28
@ L.A. Clippers
L 80–83

| | | | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena

32–24
57
March 3
@ L.A. Lakers
W 104–95

| | | | Great Western Forum

33–24
58
March 5
New Jersey
W 112–100

| | | | The Summit

34–24
59
March 7
Dallas
W 122–90

| | | | The Summit

35–24
60
March 9
Philadelphia
W 97–80

| | | | The Summit

36–24
61
March 12
Seattle
W 93–91

| | | | The Summit

37–24
62
March 14
Orlando
W 119–95

| | | | The Summit

38–24
63
March 15
@ Phoenix
W 135–128

| | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum

39–24
64
March 17
Golden State
W 123–119

| | | | The Summit

40–24
65
March 19
@ Minnesota
W 98–85

| | | | Target Center

41–24
66
March 21
Sacramento
W 98–87

| | | | The Summit

42–24
67
March 23
New York
W 111–98

| | | | The Summit

43–24
68
March 25
@ Chicago
W 100–90

| | | | Chicago Stadium

44–24
69
March 28
@ Atlanta
W 112–111

| | | | The Omni

45–24
70
March 30
@ Orlando
L 82–114

| | | | Orlando Arena

45–25
71
March 31
@ Miami
W 123–103

| | | | Miami Arena

46–25
72
April 3
Dallas
W 102–86

| | | | The Summit

47–25
73
April 5
@ Denver
W 126–120

| | | | McNichols Sports Arena

48–25
74
April 6
Utah
W 97–88

| | | | The Summit

49–25
75
April 9
Portland
L 93–103

| | | | The Summit

49–26
76
April 11
@ Golden State
L 99–111

| | | | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena

49–27
77
April 13
@ Sacramento
W 95–94

| | | | ARCO Arena

50–27
78
April 15
@ Seattle
W 97–93

| | | | Seattle Center Coliseum

51–27
79
April 16
@ Portland
L 96–115

| | | | Memorial Coliseum

51–28
80
April 18
San Antonio
L 95–102

| | | | The Summit

51–29
81
April 19
@ Dallas
L 107–113

| | | | Reunion Arena

51–30
82
April 21
Denver
W 131–125

| | | | The Summit | 52–30

Playoffs

|- | 1 | April 25 | @ L.A. Lakers | L 92–94 | Hakeem Olajuwon (22) | Hakeem Olajuwon (16) | Maxwell, K. Smith (5) | Great Western Forum 17,505

0–1
2
April 27
@ L.A. Lakers
L 98–109
Vernon Maxwell (31)
Hakeem Olajuwon (11)
Kenny Smith (7)
Great Western Forum
17,505
0–2
-
3
April 30
L.A. Lakers
L 90–94
Thorpe, Olajuwon (21)
Hakeem Olajuwon (17)
Kenny Smith (12)
The Summit
16,611
0–3
-

Player statistics

Season

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3FG%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
1803.5.452.000.647.8.1.2.02.2
4208.2.422.000.4122.4.2.5.21.8
5227.2.371.000.7501.9.2.1.22.6
82422.6.411.273.7521.93.91.2.212.3
3705.5.381.263.815.8.7.2.03.1
737031.2.477.133.7274.51.91.1.613.6
827935.0.404.337.7332.93.71.5.217.0
565036.8.508.000.76913.82.32.23.921.2
787834.6.520.363.8442.17.11.4.117.7
812823.7.487.2408.81.11.0.33.3
828237.1.556.429.69610.32.4.9.217.5
6419.5.400.400.7781.0.4.3.23.7
821317.3.424.311.8123.01.1.7.25.3
†11311.4.389.167.8331.0.9.5.44.8

Playoffs

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3FG%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
3013.7.333.000.72.3.7.35.3
2010.5.385.0001.0001.52.0.5.08.0
3328.7.3571.0004.72.7.7.38.0
3337.7.411.333.5002.73.0.7.318.7
3343.0.578.000.82414.72.01.32.722.0
3337.7.474.500.8892.78.01.3.315.3
3019.0.250.000.0004.31.3.3.3.7
3338.7.579.5008.32.7.7.015.7
3014.7.6671.000.5001.71.01.0.02.3

Player statistics citation:

Awards and records

  • Don Chaney, NBA Coach of the Year Award
  • Hakeem Olajuwon, All-NBA Third Team
  • Hakeem Olajuwon, NBA All-Defensive Second Team

References

References

  1. [https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/1991.html 1990-91 Houston Rockets]
  2. (September 28, 1990). "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Rockets Obtain Smith". The New York Times.
  3. (September 28, 1990). "Rockets Trade Lucas, Get 2 Hawks". Los Angeles Times.
  4. (September 28, 1990). "Rockets, Hawks Work Deal". Deseret News.
  5. Luna, Richard. (January 4, 1991). "Olajuwon Suffers Broken Facial Bone". United Press International.
  6. (January 5, 1991). "Olajuwon Out for Month with Fracture Behind Eye". Los Angeles Times.
  7. (March 1, 1991). "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Olajuwon Returns". The New York Times.
  8. "NBA Games Played on February 7, 1991". Basketball-Reference.
  9. "Houston Rockets at Atlanta Hawks Box Score, March 28, 1991". Basketball-Reference.
  10. "1990–91 Houston Rockets Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference.
  11. (May 23, 1991). "Chaney Gets Coaching Award, New Contract". United Press International.
  12. (May 24, 1991). "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Chaney Selected as Top N.B.A. Coach". The New York Times.
  13. "NBA & ABA Coach of the Year Award Winners". Basketball-Reference.
  14. "1990–91 Houston Rockets Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.
  15. (February 9, 1991). "All-Star Saturday Participants". The Hour.
  16. "NBA & ABA All-Star Game Contest Winners". Basketball-Reference.
  17. Smith, Sam. (January 30, 1991). "Pippen Bypassed for All-Star Team". Chicago Tribune.
  18. "1990–91 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference.
  19. Cooper, Barry. (May 3, 1991). "It's No Dream - Skiles Is Named Most Improved". Orlando Sentinel.
  20. Howard-Cooper, Scott. (May 1, 1991). "Scott Has What It Takes at the Finish". Los Angeles Times.
  21. (May 1, 1991). "76ers, Lakers Post Sweeps". The Washington Post.
  22. "1991 NBA Western Conference First Round: Rockets vs. Lakers". Basketball-Reference.
  23. Brown, Clifton. (June 13, 1991). "Jordan Crowns Career and Bulls Reign in N.B.A.". The New York Times.
  24. Heisler, Mark. (June 13, 1991). "NBA FINALS: LAKERS vs. CHICAGO BULLS: Bulls' Decree: Jordan Rules: Game 5: Chicago Wins First Championship by Sweeping at Forum, 108-101, But Depleted Lakers Go Down Fighting". Los Angeles Times.
  25. "1991 NBA Finals: Lakers vs. Bulls". Basketball-Reference.
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