1988–89 Houston Rockets season

NBA season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 1988–89 Houston Rockets season was the 22nd season for the Houston Rockets in the National Basketball Association, and their 18th season in Houston, Texas.[1] The city of Houston hosted the NBA All-Star weekend at the Houston Astrodome this season. The Rockets had the 16th overall pick in the 1988 NBA draft, and selected small forward Derrick Chievous from the University of Missouri.[2][3][4] During the off-season, the team acquired Otis Thorpe from the Sacramento Kings,[5][6][7] signed free agent Mike Woodson,[8][9][10] acquired Tim McCormick and Frank Johnson from the New Jersey Nets,[11][12] and hired Don Chaney as their new head coach.[13][14][15]

Head coachDon Chaney
General managerRay Patterson
OwnerCharlie Thomas
ArenaThe Summit
Quick facts Houston Rockets season, Head coach ...
1988–89 Houston Rockets season
Head coachDon Chaney
General managerRay Patterson
OwnerCharlie Thomas
ArenaThe Summit
Results
Record45–37 (.549)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Midwest)
Conference: 5th (Western)
Playoff finishFirst round
(lost to SuperSonics 1–3)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
TelevisionKTXH
Home Sports Entertainment
(Bill Worrell, McCoy McLemore)
RadioKTRH
(Gene Peterson, Bill Foley)
< 1987–88 1989–90 >
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Under Chaney, and with the addition of Thorpe and Woodson, the Rockets won seven of their first ten games of the regular season, posted a six-game winning streak in December, and later on held a 28–18 record at the All-Star break.[16] At mid-season, the team signed free agent Walter Berry, who was previously released by the New Jersey Nets.[17][18] Despite a seven-game losing streak between February and March, the Rockets finished in second place in the Midwest Division with a 45–37 record, and earned the fifth seed in the Western Conference;[19] the team qualified for the NBA playoffs for the fifth consecutive year.[1]

Akeem Olajuwon averaged 24.8 points, 13.5 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 3.4 blocks per game, and was named to the All-NBA First Team, while Thorpe averaged 16.7 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, and Sleepy Floyd provided the team with 14.2 points, 8.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game, and also led them with 109 three-point field goals. In addition, Woodson contributed 12.9 points per game, while Buck Johnson provided with 9.6 points per game. Off the bench, Chievous averaged 9.3 points and 3.2 rebounds per game, while Berry provided with 8.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game in 40 games, Purvis Short contributed 7.4 points per game, McCormick averaged 5.2 points and 3.2 rebounds per game, and Johnson contributed 4.4 points and 2.7 assists per game.[20]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Houston Astrodome in Houston, Olajuwon was selected for the 1989 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Western Conference All-Star team;[21][22][23] he finished in fifth place in Most Valuable Player voting,[24][25] and also finished in second place in Defensive Player of the Year voting, behind Mark Eaton of the Utah Jazz.[26][25]

In the Western Conference First Round of the 1989 NBA playoffs, the Rockets faced off against the 4th–seeded Seattle SuperSonics, who were led by All-Star guard Dale Ellis, All-Star forward Xavier McDaniel, and second-year forward Derrick McKey. The Rockets lost the first two games to the SuperSonics on the road at the Seattle Center Coliseum, but managed to win Game 3 at home, 126–107 at The Summit.[27] However, the Rockets lost Game 4 to the SuperSonics at home, 98–96, thus losing the series in four games.[28][29][30]

The Rockets finished ninth in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 680,728 at The Summit during the regular season.[20][31] Following the season, Short signed as a free agent with the New Jersey Nets,[32][33][34] while Berry left to play overseas in Italy after only three seasons in the NBA,[35] and Johnson was released to free agency.

Draft picks

Main article: 1988 NBA draft
More information Round, Pick ...
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College/Club team
116Derrick ChievousSF United StatesMissouri
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Roster

More information Players, Coaches ...
1988–89 Houston Rockets roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
F 6 Walter Berry 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1964–05–14 St. John's
F 3 Derrick Chievous 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1967–07–03 Missouri
G 21 Sleepy Floyd 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1960–03–06 Georgetown
F 1 Buck Johnson 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1964–01–03 Alabama
G 15 Frank Johnson 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1958–11–23 Wake Forest
G 30 Allen Leavell 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1957–05–27 Oklahoma City
C 40 Tim McCormick 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1962–03–10 Michigan
C 52 Chuck Nevitt 7 ft 5 in (2.26 m) 217 lb (98 kg) 1959–06–13 NC State
C 34 Akeem Olajuwon 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1963–01–21 Houston
F 10 Purvis Short 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1957–07–02 Jackson State
F 33 Otis Thorpe 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1962–08–05 Providence
G 42 Mike Woodson 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1958–03–24 Indiana
Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Updated: February 16, 1989

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Regular season

Season standings

More information W, L ...
Midwest Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Utah Jazz 5131.622–34–717–2419–11
x-Houston Rockets 4537.549631–1014–2719–11
x-Denver Nuggets 4438.537735–69–3218–12
Dallas Mavericks 3844.4631324–1714–2719–11
San Antonio Spurs 2161.2563018–233–389–21
Miami Heat 1567.1833612–293–386–24
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More information #, Team ...
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Los Angeles Lakers5725.695–
2 y-Utah Jazz5131.6226
3 x-Phoenix Suns5527.6712
4 x-Seattle SuperSonics4735.57310
5 x-Houston Rockets4537.54912
6 x-Denver Nuggets4438.53713
7 x-Golden State Warriors4339.52414
8 x-Portland Trail Blazers3943.47618
9 Dallas Mavericks3844.46319
10 Sacramento Kings2755.32930
11 San Antonio Spurs2161.25636
12 Los Angeles Clippers2161.25636
13 Miami Heat1567.18342
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z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Game log

Regular season

More information 1988–89 game log Total: 45–37 (home: 31–10; road: 14–27), Game ...
1988–89 game log
Total: 45–37 (home: 31–10; road: 14–27)
November: 9–6 (home: 6–3; road: 3–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1 November 4 @ Denver L 117–120 McNichols Sports Arena 0–1
2 November 5 Dallas L 113–114 (OT) The Summit 0–2
3 November 8 San Antonio W 120–102 The Summit 1–2
4 November 10 Utah W 106–99 The Summit 2–2
5 November 11 @ Miami W 121–100 Miami Arena 3–2
6 November 13 Sacramento W 129–127 The Summit 4–2
7 November 15 New York L 121–126 The Summit 4–3
8 November 17 Miami W 113–107 The Summit 5–3
9 November 19 Detroit W 109–98 The Summit 6–3
10 November 21 Atlanta W 117–113 The Summit 7–3
11 November 23 @ Utah L 99–102 Salt Palace 7–4
12 November 25 @ Portland L 94–111 Memorial Coliseum 7–5
13 November 26 @ Golden State W 119–109 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 8–5
14 November 29 Phoenix L 107–124 The Summit 8–6
15 November 30 @ Dallas W 101–89 Reunion Arena 9–6
December: 9–5 (home: 7–0; road: 2–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
16 December 2 @ Phoenix L 95–110 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9–7
17 December 3 Charlotte W 108–104 The Summit 10–7
18 December 6 Cleveland W 106–105 The Summit 11–7
19 December 8 @ L.A. Clippers L 116–120 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 11–8
20 December 10 Seattle W 110–91 The Summit 12–8
21 December 13 @ Denver L 101–126 McNichols Sports Arena 12–9
22 December 15 Golden State W 124–115 (2OT) The Summit 13–9
23 December 18 San Antonio W 120–109 The Summit 14–9
24 December 20 Sacramento W 105–104 The Summit 15–9
25 December 22 L.A. Clippers W 125–109 The Summit 16–9
26 December 26 @ Charlotte W 97–95 Charlotte Coliseum 17–9
27 December 27 @ Miami W 101–93 Miami Arena 18–9
28 December 29 @ Washington L 109–126 Capital Centre 18–10
29 December 30 @ Detroit L 83–95 The Palace of Auburn Hills 18–11
January: 7–6 (home: 5–2; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
30 January 3 Utah W 104–102 The Summit 19–11
31 January 7 Philadelphia L 95–96 The Summit 19–12
32 January 11 @ San Antonio W 122–117 (OT) HemisFair Arena 20–12
33 January 12 Portland W 116–106 The Summit 21–12
34 January 14 Dallas W 110–98 Olajuwon (29) Thorpe (11) Floyd (9) The Summit
16,611		 22–12
35 January 16 @ L.A. Lakers L 113–124 Great Western Forum 22–13
36 January 17 @ Sacramento L 109–123 ARCO Arena 22–14
37 January 19 @ Seattle L 108–124 Seattle Center Coliseum 22–15
38 January 20 @ Golden State L 114–121 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 22–16
39 January 24 Miami W 118–93 The Summit 23–16
40 January 26 L.A. Clippers W 106–100 The Summit 24–16
42 January 28 @ San Antonio W 96–91 HemisFair Arena 25–17
42 January 31 L.A. Lakers L 114–125 The Summit 25–17
February: 6–6 (home: 4–1; road: 2–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
43 February 3 Chicago W 105–98 The Summit 26–17
44 February 5 Denver W 124–112 The Summit 27–17
45 February 8 @ L.A. Clippers L 111–114 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 27–18
46 February 9 @ Portland W 113–110 Memorial Coliseum 28–18
All-Star Break
47 February 14 Boston W 137–123 The Summit 29–18
48 February 17 Denver W 121–111 The Summit 30–18
49 February 18 @ Dallas W 105–94 Reunion Arena 31–18
50 February 20 @ Cleveland L 90–110 Richfield Coliseum 31–19
51 February 21 @ New York L 115–120 Madison Square Garden 31–20
52 February 24 @ Chicago L 97–106 Chicago Stadium 31–21
53 February 25 @ Milwaukee L 105–121 Bradley Center 31–22
54 February 27 Washington L 98–104 The Summit 31–23
March: 8–8 (home: 7–2; road: 1–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
55 March 2 @ Denver L 103–113 McNichols Sports Arena 31–24
56 March 3 @ Seattle L 108–118 Seattle Center Coliseum 31–25
57 March 5 L.A. Lakers W 88–83 The Summit 32–25
58 March 8 @ Utah L 80–117 Salt Palace 32–26
59 March 10 Dallas W 96–86 The Summit 33–26
60 March 11 New Jersey W 124–94 The Summit 34–26
61 March 13 @ L.A. Lakers L 96–97 Great Western Forum 34–27
62 March 14 @ Sacramento L 90–95 ARCO Arena 34–28
63 March 16 Milwaukee W 120–104 The Summit 35–28
64 March 18 Portland W 127–113 The Summit 36–28
65 March 21 Denver L 110–112 The Summit 36–29
66 March 24 Utah L 99–102 The Summit 36–30
67 March 25 Golden State W 144–104 The Summit 37–30
68 March 28 Seattle W 120–117 The Summit 38–30
69 March 30 @ New Jersey W 109–101 Brendan Byrne Arena 39–30
70 March 31 @ Boston L 109–126 Boston Garden 39–31
April: 6–6 (home: 2–2; road: 4–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
71 April 2 @ Philadelphia L 99–108 The Spectrum 39–32
72 April 4 @ Indiana W 90–88 Market Square Arena 40–32
73 April 7 @ Atlanta L 112–120 (OT) The Omni 40–33
74 April 8 @ Miami L 104–107 (OT) Miami Arena 40–34
75 April 11 Indiana W 108–99 The Summit 41–35
76 April 13 Phoenix L 111–119 The Summit 41–35
77 April 14 @ Utah L 96–122 Salt Palace 41–36
78 April 16 @ Dallas W 114–112 (OT) Reunion Arena 42–36
79 April 17 San Antonio W 99–91 The Summit 43–36
80 April 19 @ San Antonio W 99–84 HemisFair Arena 44–36
81 April 21 @ Phoenix W 112–101 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 45–36
82 April 22 Miami L 89–91 The Summit 45–37
1988–89 schedule
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Playoffs

More information 1989 playoff game log, Game ...
1989 playoff game log
Western Conference First Round: 1–3 (home: 1–1; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 28 @ Seattle L 107–111 Olajuwon (28) Olajuwon (9) Floyd (7) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,250		 0–1
2 April 30 @ Seattle L 97–109 Olajuwon (30) Olajuwon (12) Floyd (6) Seattle Center Coliseum
12,887		 0–2
3 May 3 Seattle W 126–107 Floyd (28) Olajuwon (18) Floyd (6) The Summit
16,611		 1–2
4 May 5 Seattle L 96–98 Olajuwon (24) Olajuwon (13) Floyd,
Woodson (7)		 The Summit
16,611		 1–3
1989 schedule
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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

More information Player, GP ...
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
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Playoffs

More information Player, GP ...
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
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Awards and records

References

See also

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