1990–91 Houston Rockets season

The 1990–91 NBA season was the Rockets' 24th season in the National Basketball Association, and 20th season in the city of Houston.[1] In the off-season, the Rockets acquired Kenny Smith from the Atlanta Hawks.[2][3][4] The Rockets continued to play .500 basketball during the first half of the season, as Hakeem Olajuwon missed 25 games due to a bone fracture in his right eye.[5][6][7][8] However, the Rockets showed improvement by holding a 27–21 record at the All-Star break,[9] posting a 14–1 record in March, which included a 13-game winning streak.[10] They finished third in the Midwest Division with a 52–30 record.[11]

1990–91 Houston Rockets season
Head coachDon Chaney
General managerSteve Patterson
Owner(s)Charlie Thomas
ArenaThe Summit
Results
Record52–30 (.634)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Midwest)
Conference: 6th (Western)
Playoff finishFirst round
(lost to Lakers 0–3)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKTXH
Home Sports Entertainment
RadioKTRH

Olajuwon averaged 21.2 points, 13.8 rebounds and 3.9 blocks per game in 56 games, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team and NBA All-Defensive Second Team, but was not selected for the All-Star Game.[12] Smith provided a spark averaging 17.7 points and 7.1 assists per game, while Otis Thorpe averaged 17.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, and Vernon Maxwell contributed 17.0 points per game and led the league with 172 three-point field goals. Buck Johnson provided the team with 13.6 points per game, and Sleepy Floyd played a sixth man role, averaging 12.3 points and 3.9 assists per game off the bench.[13] Head coach Don Chaney was named Coach of the Year,[14][15][16][17] and Smith finished in third place in Most Improved Player voting.[18][19]

However, in the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Rockets were swept by the Los Angeles Lakers in three straight games, marking the second consecutive season the Rockets had their season ended by the Lakers.[20][21][22][23] The Lakers would lose in five games to the Chicago Bulls in the NBA Finals.[24][25][26][27][28]

Draft picks
Main article: 1990 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality School or club team
112Alec KesslerPF United StatesGeorgia

Roster
1990–91 Houston Rockets roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
F 50 Bullard, Matt 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1967–06–05 Iowa
F 44 Caldwell, Adrian 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 265 lb (120 kg) 1966–07–04 Lamar
C 5 Feitl, Dave 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1962–06–08 UTEP
G 21 Floyd, Sleepy 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1960–03–06 Georgetown
G 32 Jamerson, Dave 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1967–08–13 Ohio
F 1 Johnson, Buck 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1964–01–03 Alabama
G 11 Maxwell, Vernon 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1965–09–12 Florida
C 34 Olajuwon, Hakeem 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1963–01–21 Houston
G 30 Smith, Kenny 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1965–03–08 North Carolina
F 13 Smith, Larry 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1958–01–18 Alcorn State
F 33 Thorpe, Otis 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1962–08–05 Providence
F 20 Winchester, Kennard 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1966–09–03 Averett
F 10 Wood, David 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 227 lb (103 kg) 1964–11–30 Nevada
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: December 6, 1990

Regular season

Season standings
Midwest Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-San Antonio Spurs5527.671—33–822–1920–8
x-Utah Jazz5428.659136–518–2321-7
x-Houston Rockets5230.634331-1021–2020-8
Orlando Magic3151.3782424-177–3413–15
Minnesota Timberwolves2953.3542621-208-339-19
Dallas Mavericks2854.3412720-218–337-21
Denver Nuggets2062.2443517-243-388–20
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Portland Trail Blazers6319.768–
2 y-San Antonio Spurs5527.6718
3 x-Los Angeles Lakers5824.7075
4 x-Phoenix Suns5527.6718
5 x-Utah Jazz5428.6599
6 x-Houston Rockets5230.63411
7 x-Golden State Warriors4438.53719
8 x-Seattle SuperSonics4141.50022
9 Los Angeles Clippers3151.37832
10 Minnesota Timberwolves2953.35434
11 Dallas Mavericks2854.34135
12 Sacramento Kings2557.30538
13 Denver Nuggets2062.24443
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents
1990-91 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIA MIL MIN NJN NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA UTA WAS
Atlanta —3–11–41–43–22–01–10–51–11–14–12–01–14–02–31–13–13–11–10–40–21–12–02–01–11–12–2
Boston 1–3—3–12–23–12–02–02–21–12–02–22–01–14–12–22–04–15–01–12–31–11–12–01–12–01–15–1
Charlotte 4–11–3—0–51–41–10–21–41–10–20–51–10–22–22–31–12–20–42–02–20–20–22–01–10–20–22–2
Chicago 4–12–25–0—5–02–02–03–21–10–24–12–01–14–04–12–03–14–02–01–31–10–22–00–22–02–03–1
Cleveland 2–31–34–10–5—2–01–12–30–20–21–41–11–13–12–31–12–23–12–02–20–20–21–10–21–10–21–3
Dallas 0–20–21–10–20–2—3–10–22–21–32–01–32–20–21–11–42–02–01–41–10–41–32–21–42–20–52–0
Denver 1–10–22–00–21–11–3—0–21–30–50–20–40–40–21–13–21–11–12–30–20–40–43–11–40–41–31–1
Detroit 5–02–24–12–33–22–02–0—1–12–03–22–00–23–12–32–03–11–32–02–20–21–12–00–21–10–23–1
Golden State 1–11–11–11–12–02–23–11–1—2–21–13–22–32–01–13–11–12–02–22–01–32–32–32–23–11–30–2
Houston 1–10–22–02–02–03–15–00–22–2—1–12–21–32–02–05–02–02–03–22–03–10–43–12–32–22–21–1
Indiana 1–42–25–01–44–10–22–02–31–11–1—1–10–22–22–31–13–12–21–11–31–10–22–01–11–12–02–2
L.A. Clippers 0–20–21–10–21–13–14–00–22–32–21–1—0–40–21–13–11–10–21–30–22–31–33–22–22–31–30–2
L.A. Lakers 1–11–12–01–11–12–24–02–03–23–12–04–0—2–00–23–12–01–14–01–13–22–34–03–13–22–22–0
Miami 0–41–42–20–41–32–02–01–30–20–22–22–00–2—0–40–23–31–41–11–40–20–21–10–20–21–13–2
Milwaukee 3–22–23–21–43–21–11–13–21–10–23–21–12–04–0—1–12–24–02–02–21–11–11–11–11–11–13–1
Minnesota 1–10–21–10–21–14–12–30–21–30–51–11–31–32–01–1—1–11–12–22–00–40–43–10–42–21–41–1
New Jersey 1–31–42–21–32–20–21–11–31–10–21–31–10–23–32–21–1—0–51–12–31–10–21–10–21–10–22–3
New York 1–30–54–00–41–30–21–13–10–20–22–22–01–14–10–41–15–0—0–25–10–20–22–01–11–12–03–2
Orlando 1–11–10–20–20–24–13–20–22–22–31–13–10–41–10–22–21–12–0—0–22–20–42–21–31–31–41–1
Philadelphia 4–03–22–23–12–21–12–02–20–20–23–12–01–14–12–20–23–21–52–0—1–11–11–10–21–10–23–2
Phoenix 2–01–12–01–12–04–04–02–03–11–31–13–22–32–01–14–01–12–02–21–1—3–23–11–33–22–22–0
Portland 1–11–12–02–02–03–14–01–13–24–02–03–13–22–01–14–02–02–04–01–12–3—3–22–24–03–12–0
Sacramento 0–20–20–20–21–12–21–30–23–21–30–22–30–41–11–11–31–10–22–21–11–32–3—1–31–41–32–0
San Antonio 0–21–11–12–02–04–14–12–02–23–21–12–21–32–01–14–02–01–13–12–03–12–23–1—3–12–32–0
Seattle 1–10–22–00–21–12–24–01–11–32–21–13–22–32–01–12–21–11–13–11–12–30–44–11–3—1–32–0
Utah 1–11–12–00–22–05–03–12–03–12–20–23–12–21–11–14–12–00–24–12–02–21–33–13–23–1—2–0
Washington 2–21–52–21–33–10–21–11–32–01–12–22–00–22–31–31–13–22–31–12–30–20–20–20–20–20–2—

Game log

Regular season
1990–91 game log
Total: 52–30 (home: 31–10; road: 21–20)
November: 8–7 (home: 6–1; road: 2–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
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
December: 8–6 (home: 4–3; road: 4–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
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
January: 7–8 (home: 6–3; road: 1–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
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
February: 9–3 (home: 4–1; road: 5–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
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
March: 14–1 (home: 8–0; road: 6–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
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
April: 6–5 (home: 3–2; road: 3–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
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
1990–91 schedule

Playoffs
1991 playoff game log
First Round: 0–3 (home: 0–1; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
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
1991 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

NOTE: Please write the players statistics in alphabetical order by last name.

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

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

Awards and records

Transactions

References
  1. 1990-91 Houston Rockets
  2. "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Rockets Obtain Smith". The New York Times. September 28, 1990. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  3. "Rockets Trade Lucas, Get 2 Hawks". Los Angeles Times. September 28, 1990. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  4. "Rockets, Hawks Work Deal". Deseret News. September 28, 1990. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  5. "Olajuwon Injured, In Hospital". The Washington Post. January 4, 1991. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  6. Luna, Richard (January 4, 1991). "Olajuwon Suffers Broken Facial Bone". United Press International. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  7. "Olajuwon Out for Month with Fracture Behind Eye". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. January 5, 1991. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  8. "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Olajuwon Returns". The New York Times. March 1, 1991. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  9. "NBA Games Played on February 7, 1991". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  10. "Houston Rockets at Atlanta Hawks Box Score, March 28, 1991". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  11. "1990–91 Houston Rockets Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  12. Smith, Sam (January 30, 1991). "Pippen Bypassed for All-Star Team". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  13. "1990–91 Houston Rockets Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  14. "Chaney Gets Coaching Award, New Contract". United Press International. May 23, 1991. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  15. "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Chaney Selected as Top N.B.A. Coach". The New York Times. May 24, 1991. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  16. "Rockets' Chaney Named Coach of Year". Chicago Tribune. May 24, 1991. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  17. "NBA & ABA Coach of the Year Award Winners". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  18. Cooper, Barry (May 3, 1991). "It's No Dream - Skiles Is Named Most Improved". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  19. "1990–91 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  20. Luna, Richard (April 30, 1991). "Lakers 94, Rockets 90". United Press International. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  21. Howard-Cooper, Scott (May 1, 1991). "Scott Has What It Takes at the Finish". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  22. "76ers, Lakers Post Sweeps". The Washington Post. May 1, 1991. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  23. "1991 NBA Western Conference First Round: Rockets vs. Lakers". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  24. Barnes, Mike (June 12, 1991). "Bulls Beat Lakers for Title, 108-101". United Press International. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  25. Brown, Clifton (June 13, 1991). "Jordan Crowns Career and Bulls Reign in N.B.A." The New York Times. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  26. 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. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  27. Aldridge, David (June 13, 1991). "Jordan, Co. Complete NBA Title Run, 108-101". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  28. "1991 NBA Finals: Lakers vs. Bulls". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 10, 2023.

See also
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