Record 40–42 (.488) Head coach Del Harris | End date 1981 | |
Place Division: 2nd (Midwest)
Conference: 5th (Western) Playoff finish NBA Finals
(Eliminated 2-4) Arena Lakewood Church Central Campus Similar 1994–95 Houston Rockets s, 1968–69 Boston Celtics se, 1979–80 Los Angeles | ||
The 1980–81 Houston Rockets season saw the Rockets lose the NBA Finals. The 1981 Rockets are the only team since the 1959 Minneapolis Lakers to make the NBA Finals with a losing record.
Contents
Regular season
In the 1980–81 season, after the newly established Dallas Mavericks became the third NBA team in Texas, 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. In Harris's second season, Houston tied with Kansas City for second place in the Midwest Division behind San Antonio with a 40-42 record, and qualified for the playoffs with just one game left. During the season, Murphy set two NBA records, by sinking 78 consecutive free throws to break Rick Barry's mark of 60 set in 1976, and achieving a free-throw percentage of .958, breaking Barry's record set with the Rockets in 1979.
Notes
West First Round
(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Houston Rockets: Rockets win series 2-1
Last playoff meeting: This the first playoff meeting between the Lakers and the Rockets
West Conference Semifinals
(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (6) Houston Rockets: Rockets win series 4-3
Last playoff meeting: 1980 Eastern conference first round (Houston won 2-1)
West Conference Finals
(5) Kansas City Kings vs. (6) Houston Rockets: Rockets win series 4-1
Last playoff meeting: This is the first meeting between the Kings and the Rockets