1983–84 Houston Rockets season

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

1983–84 Houston Rockets season
Head coachBill Fitch
ArenaThe Summit
Results
Record29–53 (.354)
PlaceDivision: 6th (Midwest)
Conference: 12th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify

Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKTXH
Home Sports Entertainment
RadioKTRH
< 1982–83 1984–85 >

The 1983–84 Houston Rockets season featured the NBA debut of Ralph Sampson, whom the Rockets had selected as the first pick of the 1983 NBA draft. Under head coach Bill Fitch, the team finished with a 29–53 record, although Sampson won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award.

The team has been cited as an example of a "tanking", by deciding to play more bench players after starting the season with a 20–26 record, in order to fall in the standings and get higher in the draft order for the following season.[1] The Rockets finished last in the Western Conference and later won a coin flip that gave them the first section in the 1984 NBA draft, with which they selected Hakeem Olajuwon.

Draft picks

Round Pick Player Position Nationality College/Club team
1 1 Ralph Sampson C/PF  United States Virginia
1 3 Rodney McCray SF  United States Louisville
3 48 Craig Ehlo SG  United States Washington State
4 71 Darrell Browder  United States TCU
5 94 Chuck Barnett  United States Oklahoma
6 117 Jim Stack  United States Northwestern
7 140 Brian Kellerman  United States Idaho
8 163 Jeff Bolding  United States Arkansas State
9 185 James Campbell  United States Oklahoma City

Roster

1983–84 Houston Rockets roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
PF 2 Bailey, James 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1957–05–21 Rutgers
SG 3 Ehlo, Craig 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1961–08–11 Washington State
PG 1 Ford, Phil 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1956–06–02 North Carolina
PF 44 Hayes, Elvin 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1945–11–17 Houston
C 27 Jones, Caldwell 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 217 lb (98 kg) 1950–08–04 Albany State
PF 11 Jones, Major 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1953–07–09 Albany State
PG 30 Leavell, Allen 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1957–05–27 Oklahoma City
SG 32 Lloyd, Lewis 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1959–02–22 Drake
SF 22 McCray, Rodney 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1961–08–29 Louisville
SF 33 Reid, Robert 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1955–08–30 Saint Mary's
C 50 Sampson, Ralph 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m) 228 lb (103 kg) 1960–07–07 Virginia
SG 20 Teagle, Terry 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1960–04–10 Baylor
SF 42 Walker, Wally 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1954–07–18 Virginia
Head coach

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Utah Jazz 45 37 .549 31–10 14–27 15–15
x-Dallas Mavericks 43 39 .524 2 31–10 12–29 19–11
x-Denver Nuggets 38 44 .463 7 27–14 11–30 16–14
x-Kansas City Kings 38 44 .463 7 26–15 12–29 16–14
San Antonio Spurs 37 45 .451 8 28–13 9–32 14–16
Houston Rockets 29 53 .354 16 21–20 8–33 9–21
#
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Los Angeles Lakers 54 28 .659
2 y-Utah Jazz 45 37 .549 9
3 x-Portland Trail Blazers 48 34 .585 6
4 x-Dallas Mavericks 43 39 .524 11
5 x-Seattle SuperSonics 42 40 .512 12
6 x-Phoenix Suns 41 41 .500 13
7 x-Denver Nuggets 38 44 .463 16
8 x-Kansas City Kings 38 44 .463 16
9 San Antonio Spurs 37 45 .451 17
10 Golden State Warriors 37 45 .451 17
11 San Diego Clippers 30 52 .366 24
12 Houston Rockets 29 53 .354 25

Record vs. opponents

1983-84 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND KCK LAL MIL NJN NYK PHI PHO POR SAS SDC SEA UTA WAS
Atlanta 0–5 4–2 3–3 1–1 0–2 2–4 1–1 1–1 4–2 0–2 0–2 3–3 3–3 4–1 5–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–2
Boston 5–0 5–0 6–0 2–0 2–0 4–2 2–0 1–1 5–1 2–0 0–2 5–1 4–2 3–3 2–4 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 4–2
Chicago 2–4 0–5 2–4 1–1 0–2 1–5 2–0 0–2 3–3 1–1 0–2 2–4 2–4 2–4 2–3 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–4
Cleveland 3–3 0–6 4–2 1–1 0–2 1–5 1–1 1–1 2–4 0–2 0–2 1–5 2–3 1–5 2–4 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 4–1
Dallas 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 4–2 0–2 4–1 4–2 2–0 3–3 3–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–2 2–3 4–2 4–1 1–4 4–2 0–2
Denver 2–0 0–2 2–0 2–0 2–4 1–1 2–3 4–2 0–2 4–2 1–4 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–3 1–4 3–3 3–2 2–3 3–3 0–2
Detroit 4–2 2–4 5–1 5–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–2 1–1 1–1 3–2 1–4 4–2 3–3 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–3
Golden State 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–4 3–2 1–1 2–3 2–0 4–1 3–3 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–5 2–4 3–2 3–3 4–2 1–4 2–0
Houston 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–4 2–4 1–1 3–2 1–1 2–4 1–4 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–3 1–4 2–4 2–3 3–2 1–5 0–2
Indiana 2–4 1–5 3–3 4–2 0–2 2–0 2–4 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–5 1–5 2–4 0–5 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–4
Kansas City 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–0 3–3 2–4 1–1 1–4 4–2 2–0 0–5 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–3 2–3 5–1 3–2 1–4 3–3 2–0
Los Angeles 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–3 4–1 1–1 3–3 4–1 1–1 5–0 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–3 5–1 2–3 4–2 3–3 4–1 1–1
Milwaukee 3–3 1–5 4–2 5–1 2–0 1–1 2–3 2–0 1–1 5–1 2–0 0–2 4–2 4–1 2–4 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 5–1
New Jersey 3–3 2–4 4–2 3–2 1–1 1–1 4–1 1–1 2–0 5–1 0–2 1–1 2–4 3–3 3–3 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 4–2
New York 1–4 3–3 4–1 5–1 2–0 1–1 2–4 1–1 2–0 4–2 2–0 2–0 1–4 3–3 2–4 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 4–2
Philadelphia 1–5 4–2 3–2 4–2 1–1 1–1 3–3 1–1 2–0 5–0 2–0 1–1 4–2 3–3 4–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 4–2
Phoenix 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–3 3–2 0–2 5–1 3–2 1–1 3–2 3–3 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–4 5–0 4–2 2–4 1–4 2–0
Portland 2–0 0–2 0–2 1–1 3–2 4–1 1–1 4–2 4–1 1–1 3–2 1–5 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 4–2 4–1 4–2 4–2 1–4 1–1
San Antonio 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 2–4 3–3 1–1 2–3 4–2 2–0 1–5 3–2 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–5 1–4 4–1 2–3 4–2 1–1
San Diego 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–4 2–3 0–2 3–3 3–2 1–1 2–3 2–4 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–4 2–4 1–4 3–3 2–3 1–1
Seattle 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 4–1 3–2 1–1 2–4 2–3 1–1 4–1 3–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–2 2–4 3–2 3–3 1–4 1–1
Utah 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–4 3–3 1–1 4–1 5–1 1–1 3–3 1–4 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 4–1 4–1 2–4 3–2 4–1 1–1
Washington 2–4 2–4 4–2 1–4 2–0 2–0 3–3 0–2 2–0 4–1 0–2 1–1 1–5 2–4 2–4 2–4 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1

Game log

Regular season

1983–84 game log
Total: 29–53 (Home: 21–20; Road: 8–33)
October: 1–0 (home: 1–0; road: 0–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
November: 5–10 (home: 4–4; road: 1–6)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
4 November 4, 1983 @ Detroit W 113–108 Pontiac Silverdome 2–2
5 November 5, 1983 @ Kansas City L 106–123 Kemper Arena 2–3
6 November 8, 1983 Portland L 104–122 The Summit 2–4
7 November 10, 1983 Utah L 109–118 The Summit 2–5
8 November 12, 1983 Dallas W 100–98 The Summit 3–5
9 November 15, 1983 New Jersey L 86–104 The Summit 3–6
10 November 18, 1983 @ Denver L 127–134 McNichols Sports Arena 3–7
12 November 22, 1983 Phoenix W 118–96 The Summit 5–7
13 November 25, 1983 Philadelphia L 101–115 The Summit 5–8
14 November 26, 1983 @ Atlanta L 109–115 The Omni 5–9
16 November 30, 1983 @ Dallas L 102–113 Reunion Arena 6–10
December: 6–9 (home: 4–3; road: 2–6)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
17 December 2, 1983 Seattle W 125–102 The Summit 7–10
18 December 3, 1983 @ New York L 101–117 Madison Square Garden 7–11
19 December 6, 1983 Washington L 109–113 The Summit 7–12
20 December 7, 1983 @ Milwaukee L 101–103 MECCA Arena 7–13
22 December 10, 1983 Utah L 121–128 The Summit 8–14
23 December 13, 1983 Phoenix W 129–110 The Summit 9–14
24 December 15, 1983 @ Utah L 111–138 Salt Palace Acord Arena 9–15
27 December 22, 1983 @ Seattle W 116–112 Kingdome 11–16
28 December 23, 1983 @ Portland L 84–97 Memorial Coliseum 11–17
30 December 29, 1983 Boston W 107–94 The Summit 12–18
31 December 30, 1983 @ Phoenix L 110–121 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12–19
January: 7–7 (home: 5–3; road: 2–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
32 January 3, 1984 Dallas L 117–119 The Summit 12–20
33 January 4, 1984 @ Utah
(at Las Vegas, Nevada)
L 111–116 Thomas & Mack Center 12–21
34 January 6, 1984 @ Seattle W 116–112 Kingdome 12–22
35 January 8, 1984 @ Los Angeles W 129–118 The Forum 13–22
36 January 10, 1984 Los Angeles L 132–136 (OT) The Summit 13–23
37 January 12, 1984 Portland L 117–120 The Summit 13–24
39 January 14, 1984 Kansas City W 109–104 The Summit 15–24
40 January 17, 1984 Denver W 124–115 The Summit 16–24
42 January 21, 1984 Utah W 115–105 The Summit 18–24
44 January 26, 1984 @ Los Angeles L 102–131 The Forum 18–26
All-Star Break
45 January 31, 1984 @ Kansas City W 122–107 Kemper Arena 19–26
February: 4–9 (home: 3–4; road: 1–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
46 February 2, 1984 Dallas W 123–107 The Summit 20–26
47 February 4, 1984 New York L 95–103 The Summit 20–27
48 February 7, 1984 @ Washington L 92–95 Capital Centre 20–28
49 February 8, 1984 @ Philadelphia L 107–118 The Spectrum 20–29
50 February 10, 1984 @ Boston L 101–114 Boston Garden 20–30
51 February 12, 1984 @ New Jersey L 103–107 Brendan Byrne Arena 20–31
52 February 14, 1984 Detroit L 119–126 The Summit 20–32
54 February 18, 1984 Phoenix L 102–126 The Summit 21–33
55 February 21, 1984 Milwaukee W 119–102 The Summit 22–33
56 February 22, 1984 @ Dallas L 106–112 Reunion Arena 22–34
58 February 28, 1984 Seattle W 111–105 The Summit 23–35
March: 5–11 (home: 4–4; road: 1–7)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
59 March 1, 1984 Kansas City L 101–108 The Summit 23–36
61 March 6, 1984 @ Denver L 128–130 McNichols Sports Arena 24–37
62 March 7, 1984 @ Phoenix L 110–123 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 24–38
67 March 17, 1984 Los Angeles L 111–123 The Summit 26–41
68 March 20, 1984 Kansas City L 102–115 The Summit 26–42
69 March 21, 1984 @ Denver L 125–134 McNichols Sports Arena 26–43
70 March 23, 1984 @ Dallas L 104–116 Reunion Arena 26–44
71 March 24, 1984 Atlanta W 103–102 The Summit 27–44
72 March 27, 1984 Denver W 140–137 The Summit 28–44
73 March 29, 1984 @ Los Angeles L 109–115 The Forum 28–45
74 March 31, 1984 Portland L 102–106 The Summit 28–46
April: 1–7 (home: 0–2; road: 1–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
75 April 2, 1984 @ Utah L 100–111 Salt Palace Acord Arena 28–47
77 April 5, 1984 @ Portland W 129–114 Memorial Coliseum 29–48
78 April 8, 1984 @ Seattle
(at Tacoma, Washington)
L 107–120 Tacoma Dome 29–49
80 April 11, 1984 Denver L 110–130 The Summit 29–51
82 April 14, 1984 @ Kansas City L 96–108 Kemper Arena 29–53
1983–84 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

Awards and records

Awards

Records

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

See also

References

  1. ^ Vaccaro, Mike (February 6, 2019). "Tanking in professional sports is not a new phenomenon". New York Post.