1987–88 Houston Rockets season

1987–88 Houston Rockets season
Head coachBill Fitch
General managerRay Patterson
Owner(s)Charlie Thomas
ArenaThe Summit
Results
Record46–36 (.561)
PlaceDivision: 4th (Midwest)
Conference: 6th (Western)
Playoff finishFirst round
(lost to Mavericks 1–3)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKTXH
Home Sports Entertainment
RadioKTRH
< 1986–87 1988–89 >

The 1987–88 NBA season was the Rockets' 21st season in the NBA and 17th season in the city of Houston.[1] The Rockets finished fourth in the Midwest Division with a 46–36 record. Akeem Olajuwon was selected for the 1988 NBA All-Star Game. In the first round of the playoffs, the Rockets lost in four games to the Dallas Mavericks.

Draft picks

Main article: 1987 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College/Club team
2 35 Doug Lee SG/SF  United States Purdue
4 82 Josh Niego  United States Lewis
5 104 Andre LaFleur  United States Northeastern
6 129 Fred Jenkins  United States Tennessee
7 151 Clarence Grier  United States Campbell

Roster

Houston Rockets roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
C 2 Carroll, Joe Barry 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1958-07-24 Purdue
PG 7 Conner, Lester 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1959-09-17 Oregon State
PG 11 Floyd, Sleepy 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1960-03-06 Georgetown
SG 21 Free, World B. 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1953-12-09 Guilford
SF 1 Johnson, Buck 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1964-01-03 Alabama
SG 30 Leavell, Allen 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1957-05-27 Oklahoma City
SF 18 Maxwell, Cedric 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1955-11-21 Charlotte
SF 22 McCray, Rodney 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1961-08-29 Louisville
C 34 Olajuwon, Akeem 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1963-01-21 Houston
PF 43 Petersen, Jim 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1962-02-22 Minnesota
SG 33 Reid, Robert 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1955-08-30 Saint Mary's
SF 10 Short, Purvis 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1957-07-02 Jackson State
PG 13 Turner, Andre 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 160 lb (73 kg) 1964-12-13 Memphis
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: December 13, 1987

Regular season

Season standings

Midwest Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Denver Nuggets 54 28 .659 – 35–6 19–22 18–12
x-Dallas Mavericks 53 29 .646 1 33–8 20–21 20–10
x-Utah Jazz 47 35 .573 7 33–8 14–27 18–12
x-Houston Rockets 46 36 .561 8 31–10 15–26 13–17
x-San Antonio Spurs 31 51 .378 23 23–18 8–33 12–18
Sacramento Kings 24 58 .293 30 19–22 5–36 9–21
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Los Angeles Lakers 62 20 .756 –
2 y-Denver Nuggets 54 28 .659 8
3 x-Dallas Mavericks 53 29 .646 9
4 x-Portland Trail Blazers 53 29 .646 9
5 x-Utah Jazz 47 35 .573 15
6 x-Houston Rockets 46 36 .561 16
7 x-Seattle SuperSonics 44 38 .537 18
8 x-San Antonio Spurs 31 51 .378 31
9 Phoenix Suns 28 54 .341 34
10 Sacramento Kings 24 58 .293 38
11 Golden State Warriors 20 62 .244 42
12 Los Angeles Clippers 17 65 .207 45
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1987-88 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIL NJN NYK PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA UTA WAS
Atlanta — 2–4 2–3 5–1 2–0 1–1 2–4 2–0 1–1 4–2 2–0 0–2 3–3 5–0 3–3 6–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 3–3
Boston 4–2 — 3–3 2–3 2–0 0–2 3–3 2–0 1–1 5–0 2–0 0–2 3–3 5–1 5–1 4–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 5–1
Chicago 3–2 3–3 — 3–3 0–2 1–1 2–4 2–0 2–0 3–3 2–0 1–1 5–1 5–1 3–2 4–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–3
Cleveland 1–5 3–2 3–3 — 1–1 1–1 1–5 0–2 1–1 4–2 1–1 1–1 2–4 5–1 2–4 3–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 0–2 6–0
Dallas 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–1 — 3–3 1–1 4–1 4–2 2–0 5–0 1–4 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 5–0 3–2 5–1 5–1 3–2 3–3 1–1
Denver 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–3 — 1–1 4–1 4–2 1–1 5–0 3–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 3–2 2–3 4–2 5–1 4–1 2–4 2–0
Detroit 4–2 3–3 4–2 5–1 1–1 1–1 — 2–0 1–1 3–3 1–1 0–2 4–2 5–1 4–2 4–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–2
Golden State 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–4 1–4 0–2 — 0–5 0–2 3–3 0–6 0–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–4 1–5 2–3 3–2 1–5 1–4 0–2
Houston 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–4 2–4 1–1 5–0 — 2–0 3–2 1–4 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–1 4–1 4–2 2–4 3–2 3–3 2–0
Indiana 2–4 0–5 3–3 2–4 0–2 1–1 3–3 2–0 0–2 — 1–1 1–1 3–3 6–0 2–3 2–4 2–0 0–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–4
L.A. Clippers 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–5 0–5 1–1 3–3 2–3 1–1 — 1–5 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–4 0–6 3–2 0–5 1–5 1–4 0–2
L.A. Lakers 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 4–1 2–3 2–0 6–0 4–1 1–1 5–1 — 0–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 5–1 3–3 4–1 5–0 4–2 4–1 1–1
Milwaukee 3–3 3–3 1–5 4–2 0–2 1–1 2–4 2–0 0–2 3–3 2–0 2–0 — 3–2 3–3 2–4 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–1
New Jersey 0–5 1–5 1–5 1–5 1–1 0–2 1–5 0–2 1–1 0–6 2–0 0–2 2–3 — 3–3 2–4 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–6
New York 3–3 1–5 2–3 4–2 1–1 1–1 2–4 2–0 1–1 3–2 2–0 0–2 3–3 3–3 — 3–3 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–3
Philadelphia 0–6 2–4 2–4 2–3 1–1 0–2 1–4 1–1 1–1 4–2 1–1 0–2 4–2 4–2 3–3 — 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–3
Phoenix 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–5 2–3 0–2 4–2 1–4 0–2 4–2 1–5 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 — 0–6 3–2 2–3 2–4 2–3 0–2
Portland 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–3 3–2 1–1 5–1 1–4 2–0 6–0 3–3 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 6–0 — 4–1 5–0 3–3 1–4 2–0
Sacramento 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–5 2–4 0–2 3–2 2–4 0–2 2–3 1–4 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–3 1–4 — 3–3 1–4 1–5 0–2
San Antonio 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–5 1–5 1–1 2–3 4–2 0–2 5–0 0–5 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–2 0–5 3–3 — 3–2 3–3 0–2
Seattle 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–3 1–4 1–1 5–1 2–3 1–1 5–1 2–4 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 4–2 3–3 4–1 2–3 — 1–4 2–0
Utah 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–0 3–3 4–2 0–2 4–1 3–3 1–1 4–1 1–4 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 3–2 4–1 5–1 3–3 4–1 — 2–0
Washington 3–3 1–5 3–3 0–6 1–1 0–2 2–3 2–0 0–2 4–2 2–0 1–1 1–4 6–0 3–3 3–3 2–0 0–2 2–0 2–0 0–2 0–2 —

Game log

Regular season

1987–88 game log
Total: 46–36 (home: 31–10; road: 15–26)
November: 7–6 (home: 3–2; road: 4–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
2 November 8
9:30 p.m. CST 		@ L.A. Lakers L 92–101 Olajuwon (26) Olajuwon (11) Conner,
Leavell (4) 		The Forum
17,505 		1–1
5 November 14
7:30 p.m. CST 		Utah W 101–93 Olajuwon (19) Olajuwon (16) Leavell,
Maxwell (3) 		The Summit
16,614 		4–1
9 November 21
6:30 p.m. CST 		@ Atlanta L 94–104 Olajuwon (17) Sampson (9) Leavell,
McCray (7) 		The Omni
16,451 		6–3
10 November 24
7:00 p.m. CST 		Detroit L 83–97 Olajuwon (21) Olajuwon (15) Short (5) The Summit
16,611 		6–4
12 November 27
8:30 p.m. CST 		@ Utah L 96–118 Sampson (19) Sampson (11) Conner,
McCray (3) 		Salt Palace
12,212 		7–5
December: 7–6 (home: 5–1; road: 2–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
18 December 10
7:30 p.m. CST 		Utah W 98–93 Leavell (20) Olajuwon (14) Leavell (8) The Summit
16,611 		11–7
23 December 22
7:30 p.m. CST 		Atlanta W 122–103 Floyd (27) McCray,
Olajuwon (13) 		McCray (9) The Summit
16,611 		12–11
24 December 26
7:30 p.m. CST 		@ Dallas L 100–105 Olajuwon (24) Olajuwon (14) Leavell (7) Reunion Arena
17,007 		12–12
25 December 29
6:30 p.m. CST 		@ Detroit W 101–91 Carroll (25) Olajuwon (14) Floyd (6) Pontiac Silverdome
26,498 		13–12
January: 9–5 (home: 6–1; road: 3–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
28 January 4
7:30 p.m. CST 		Dallas W 117–107 Olajuwon (31) Olajuwon (11) Floyd (11) The Summit
16,611 		16–12
35 January 18
4:00 p.m. CST 		@ L.A. Lakers L 110–121 Olajuwon (24) Olajuwon (9) Floyd (7) The Forum
17,505 		20–15
40 January 30
7:30 p.m. CST 		@ Dallas W 108–92 Olajuwon (29) McCray (12) Floyd (8) Reunion Arena
17,007 		23–17
February: 9–4 (home: 7–2; road: 2–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
All-Star Break
43 February 9
7:30 p.m. CST 		Boston W 129–120 Olajuwon (30) Olajuwon (16) Floyd (7) The Summit
16,611 		26–17
48 February 18
7:30 p.m. CST 		L.A. Lakers L 96–111 Olajuwon (20) Olajuwon (20) Floyd (6) The Summit
16,611 		29–19
51 February 25
7:30 p.m. CST 		Dallas L 106–108 Floyd (22) McCray (13) Floyd (11) The Summit
16,611 		31–20
March: 9–7 (home: 6–1; road: 3–6)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
54 March 1
8:30 p.m. CST 		@ Utah L 112–113 Olajuwon (27) McCray (13) Short (5) Salt Palace
12,444 		32–22
56 March 4
7:00 p.m. CST 		@ Dallas L 110–118 Olajuwon,
Short (22) 		Olajuwon (12) Leavell,
Reid (7) 		Reunion Arena
17,007 		33–23
64 March 22
9:30 p.m. CST 		@ L.A. Lakers L 95–117 Carroll (16) Olajuwon (10) Leavell (6) The Forum
17,505 		38–26
68 March 30
6:30 p.m. CST 		@ Boston L 110–117 Johnson (18) McCray (10) Floyd,
Short (5) 		Boston Garden
14,890 		40–28
April: 5–8 (home: 4–3; road: 1–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
72 April 7
7:30 p.m. CDT 		Utah W 113–107 Olajuwon (22) Olajuwon (15) Olajuwon (6) The Summit
16,611 		42–30
78 April 17
12 Noon CDT 		L.A. Lakers W 127–119 Olajuwon (38) Carroll (10) Floyd (9) The Summit
16,611 		45–33
79 April 19
7:30 p.m. CDT 		Dallas L 96–104 Olajuwon (33) Olajuwon (9) Floyd (8) The Summit
16,611 		45–34
81 April 23
8:30 p.m. CDT 		@ Utah L 107–125 Carroll (24) Olajuwon (12) Floyd (7) Salt Palace
12,444 		45–36
1987–88 schedule

Playoffs

1988 playoff game log
Western Conference First Round: 1–3 (home: 0–2; road: 1–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 28
7:30 p.m. CDT 		@ Dallas L 110–120 Olajuwon (34) Olajuwon (14) Floyd (11) Reunion Arena
17,007 		0–1
2 April 30
2:30 p.m. CDT 		@ Dallas W 119–108 Floyd (42) Olajuwon (26) Floyd (9) Reunion Arena
17,007 		1–1
3 May 3
7:30 p.m. CDT 		Dallas L 92–93 Olajuwon (35) Olajuwon (12) Floyd (5) The Summit
16,611 		1–2
4 May 5
7:00 p.m. CDT 		Dallas L 97–107 Olajuwon (40) Olajuwon (15) Floyd (9) The Summit
16,611 		1–3
1988 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

Playoffs

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

Awards and records

Transactions

References

  1. ^ 1987-88 Houston Rockets

See also