2008–09 Houston Rockets season

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2008–09 Houston Rockets season
Head coachRick Adelman
General managerDaryl Morey
OwnersLeslie Alexander
ArenaToyota Center
Results
Record53–29 (.646)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Southwest)
Conference: 5th (Western)
Playoff finishConference Semifinals
(lost to Lakers 3–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionMy Network TV Houston, FSN Houston
RadioSports Radio 610
< 2007–08 2009–10 >

The 2008–09 Houston Rockets season was the 42nd season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Despite a season-ending knee injury to Tracy McGrady, the Rockets breezed past the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round, but could not defeat the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round. Dikembe Mutombo, who entered his 18th and final season, was injured in Game 2 of the first round and announced his retirement, ending his 18-year NBA career. Besides losing Mutombo, Yao Ming missed most of the second round due to a foot injury that required off-season surgery. Before the season, the team acquired Ron Artest (now Metta World Peace). Following the season, Artest signed as a free agent with the Lakers. The Rockets would not return to the postseason until 2013.

Key dates

Draft picks

Main article: 2008 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 25 Nicolas Batum SF  France Le Mans Sarthe Basket
2 54 Maarty Leunen SF  United States Oregon

Roster

2008-09 Houston Rockets roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
SF 96 United States Artest, Ron 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 260 lb (118 kg) St. John's
SG 17 United States Barry, Brent 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Oregon State
SG 31 United States Battier, Shane 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Duke
PG 0 United States Brooks, Aaron 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 161 lb (73 kg) Oregon
PF 43 United States Cook, Brian 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 250 lb (113 kg) Illinois
PF 15 United States Dorsey, Joey 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 268 lb (122 kg) Memphis
C 44 United States Hayes, Chuck 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 238 lb (108 kg) Kentucky
PF 14 United States Landry, Carl 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 248 lb (112 kg) Purdue
PG 7 United States Lowry, Kyle 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Villanova
SG 1 United States McGrady, Tracy Injured 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 223 lb (101 kg) Mt. Zion Christian Academy (NC)
C 55 Democratic Republic of the Congo Mutombo, Dikembe Injured 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 260 lb (118 kg) Georgetown
PF 4 Argentina Scola, Luis 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Argentina
SG 13 United States Wafer, Von 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Florida State
SF 8 United States White, James 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Cincinnati
C 11 China Yao Ming Injured (C) 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) 310 lb (141 kg) People's Republic of China
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season

Standings

Southwest Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-San Antonio Spurs 54 28 .659 — 28–13 26–15 10–6
x-Houston Rockets 53 29 .646 1 33–8 20–21 9–7
x-Dallas Mavericks 50 32 .610 4 32–9 18–23 7–9
x-New Orleans Hornets 49 33 .598 5 28–13 21–20 9–7
Memphis Grizzlies 24 58 .284 30 16–25 8–33 5–11
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Los Angeles Lakers 65 17 .793 —
2 y-Denver Nuggets 54 28 .659 11
3 y-San Antonio Spurs 54 28 .659 11
4 x-Portland Trail Blazers 54 28 .659 11
5 x-Houston Rockets 53 29 .646 12
6 x-Dallas Mavericks 50 32 .610 15
7 x-New Orleans Hornets 49 33 .598 16
8 x-Utah Jazz 48 34 .585 17
9 Phoenix Suns 46 36 .561 19
10 Golden State Warriors 29 53 .354 36
11 Minnesota Timberwolves 24 58 .293 41
12 Memphis Grizzlies 24 58 .293 41
13 Oklahoma City Thunder 23 59 .280 42
14 Los Angeles Clippers 19 63 .232 46
15 Sacramento Kings 17 65 .207 48

Game log

2008–09 game log
Total: 53–29 (home: 33–8; road: 20–21)
October: 2–0 (home: 1–0; road: 1–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 October 29 Memphis W 82–71 Yao Ming (21) Luis Scola (13) Tracy McGrady (5) Toyota Center
18,196 		1–0
2 October 30 @ Dallas W 112–102 Yao Ming (30) Yao Ming (13) Tracy McGrady (7) American Airlines Center
20,066 		2–0
November: 9–7 (home: 3–3; road: 6–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
3 November 1 Oklahoma City W 89–77 Tracy McGrady (22) Carl Landry, Yao Ming (11) Tracy McGrady (5) Toyota Center
16,996 		3–0
4 November 4 Boston L 99–103 Tracy McGrady (26) Luis Scola (9) Rafer Alston (7) Toyota Center
18,291 		3–1
5 November 6 @ Portland L 99–101 (OT) Tracy McGrady (30) Tracy McGrady, Chuck Hayes (7) Tracy McGrady (8) Rose Garden
20,611 		3–2
6 November 7 @ L.A. Clippers W 92–83 Ron Artest (23) Carl Landry, Yao Ming (9) Rafer Alston (8) Staples Center
14,670 		4–2
7 November 9 @ L.A. Lakers L 82–111 Aaron Brooks (20) Luis Scola (9) Aaron Brooks, Tracy McGrady (4) Staples Center
18,997 		4–3
8 November 12 @ Phoenix W 94–82 Tracy McGrady (27) Yao Ming (15) Rafer Alston (4) US Airways Center
18,422 		5–3
9 November 14 @ San Antonio L 75–77 Ron Artest (18) Aaron Brooks, Yao Ming (8) Tracy McGrady (5) AT&T Center
18,797 		5–4
10 November 15 New Orleans W 91–82 Yao Ming (21) Luis Scola (10) Ron Artest (7) Toyota Center
18,303 		6–4
11 November 17 @ Oklahoma City W 100–89 Luis Scola (23) Yao Ming (12) Aaron Brooks (4) Ford Center
18,145 		7–4
12 November 19 Dallas L 86–96 Rafer Alston, Tracy McGrady (16) Ron Artest (13) Rafer Alston (8) Toyota Center
18,203 		7–5
13 November 21 @ Washington W 103–91 Tracy McGrady (20) Ron Artest (9) Ron Artest (6) Verizon Center
20,173 		8–5
14 November 22 @ Orlando W 100–95 Yao Ming (22) Yao Ming (13) Rafer Alston (7) Amway Arena
17,461 		9–5
15 November 24 @ Miami W 107–98 Yao Ming (28) Luis Scola (13) Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady (4) American Airlines Arena
18,704 		10–5
16 November 26 Indiana L 90–91 Ron Artest, Yao Ming (19) Luis Scola (18) Rafer Alston (7) Toyota Center
18,194 		10–6
17 November 29 San Antonio W 103–84 Luther Head (21) Ron Artest (8) Rafer Alston (6) Toyota Center
18,282 		11–6
18 November 30 @ Denver L 94–104 Yao Ming (18) Yao Ming (11) Rafer Alston (6) Pepsi Center
17,201 		11–7
December: 10–5 (home: 7–1; road: 3–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
19 December 3 L.A. Clippers W 103–96 Yao Ming (24) Yao Ming (10) Rafer Alston (7) Toyota Center
15,358 		12–7
20 December 5 Golden State W 131–112 Yao Ming (33) Yao Ming (14) Yao Ming, Ron Artest (5) Toyota Center
14,438 		13–7
21 December 8 @ Memphis L 97–109 Luis Scola, Rafer Alston (16) Luis Scola (15) Rafer Alston (8) FedExForum
10,691 		13–8
22 December 9 Atlanta W 92–84 Yao Ming (24) Yao Ming (19) Rafer Alston (6) Toyota Center
16,439 		14–8
23 December 12 @ Golden State W 119–108 Tracy McGrady (24) Yao Ming (14) Tracy McGrady (9) Oracle Arena
19,276 		15–8
24 December 13 @ L.A. Clippers L 82–95 Yao Ming (24) Yao Ming (13) Rafer Alston (7) Staples Center
16,203 		15–9
25 December 16 Denver W 108–96 Yao Ming (32) Tracy McGrady (14) Tracy McGrady (10) Toyota Center
17,737 		16–9
26 December 19 Sacramento W 107–96 Yao Ming (30) Carl Landry (11) Tracy McGrady (8) Toyota Center
18,271 		17–9
27 December 20 @ Minnesota W 109–102 Tracy McGrady (23) Aaron Brooks, Chuck Hayes (10) Tracy McGrady, Aaron Brooks (5) Target Center
12,115 		18–9
28 December 22 @ New Jersey W 114–91 Yao Ming (24) Yao Ming (16) Aaron Brooks (6) Izod Center
16,303 		19–9
29 December 23 @ Cleveland L 90–99 Rafer Alston (20) Luis Scola (8) Tracy McGrady (6) Quicken Loans Arena
20,562 		19–10
30 December 26 @ New Orleans L 79–88 Yao Ming (19) Yao Ming (12) Tracy McGrady (4) New Orleans Arena
18,326 		19–11
31 December 27 Utah W 120–115 (2OT) Ron Artest (28) Luis Scola (14) Ron Artest, Luis Scola (4) Toyota Center
18,245 		20–11
32 December 29 Washington L 87–89 Ron Artest (20) Yao Ming (8) Tracy McGrady (7) Toyota Center
18,278 		20–12
33 December 31 Milwaukee W 85–81 Yao Ming (22) Yao Ming, Luis Scola (10) Tracy McGrady (10) Toyota Center
18,228 		21–12
January: 8–7 (home: 5–2; road: 3–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
34 January 2 @ Toronto L 73–94 Von Wafer (18) Luis Scola (13) Rafer Alston (4) Air Canada Centre
19,800 		21–13
35 January 3 @ Atlanta L 100–103 Carl Landry (18) Yao Ming (15) Rafer Alston (9) Philips Arena
16,740 		21–14
36 January 6 @ Philadelphia L 96–104 Luis Scola (18) Luis Scola (17) Tracy McGrady (9) Wachovia Center
14,858 		21–15
37 January 7 @ Boston W 89–85 Yao Ming (26) Yao Ming, Chuck Hayes (8) Yao Ming, Aaron Brooks, Ron Artest (4) TD Banknorth Garden
18,624 		22–15
38 January 9 @ Oklahoma City W 98–96 Tracy McGrady (26) Yao Ming (7) Rafer Alston (6) Ford Center
19,136 		23–15
39 January 10 New York W 96–76 Luis Scola (18) Luis Scola (11) Rafer Alston (6) Toyota Center
18,280 		24–15
40 January 13 L.A. Lakers L 100–105 Von Wafer (23) Yao Ming (17) Rafer Alston (6) Toyota Center
18,557 		24–16
41 January 17 Miami W 93–86 Yao Ming (26) Yao Ming (10) Shane Battier (6) Toyota Center
18,369 		25–16
42 January 19 Denver W 115–113 Yao Ming (31) Luis Scola (8) Rafer Alston (11) Toyota Center
18,199 		26–16
43 January 21 Utah W 108–99 Rafer Alston (23) Yao Ming (12) Rafer Alston (8) Toyota Center
17,037 		27–16
44 January 23 @ Indiana L 102–107 Luis Scola (25) Shane Battier (12) Rafer Alston (8) Conseco Fieldhouse
14,486 		27–17
45 January 25 @ Detroit W 108–105 Ron Artest (24) Ron Artest (9) Rafer Alston (10) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076 		28–17
46 January 26 @ New York L 98–104 Tracy McGrady (20) Luis Scola (14) Tracy McGrady (6) Madison Square Garden
19,155 		28–18
47 January 28 Philadelphia L 93–95 Tracy McGrady (24) Luis Scola (10) Rafer Alston (9) Toyota Center
15,544 		28–19
48 January 31 Golden State W 110–93 Ron Artest (27) Yao Ming (11) Aaron Brooks (9) Toyota Center
16,702 		29–19
February: 8–3 (home: 8–0; road: 0–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
49 February 3 Chicago W 107–100 Yao Ming (28) Luis Scola (18) Tracy McGrady, Ron Artest (6) Toyota Center
16,653 		30–19
50 February 4 @ Memphis L 93–104 Tracy McGrady (21) Yao Ming (9) Rafer Alston (6) FedExForum
10,109 		30–20
51 February 7 Minnesota W 107–90 Yao Ming (30) Luis Scola (10) Rafer Alston, Ron Artest, Shane Battier (6) Toyota Center
16,815 		31–20
52 February 9 @ Milwaukee L 112–124 Aaron Brooks (23) Yao Ming (10) Tracy McGrady (5) Bradley Center
13,904 		31–21
53 February 11 Sacramento W 94–82 Yao Ming (24) Yao Ming (18) Rafer Alston (13) Toyota Center
15,626 		32–21
54 February 17 New Jersey W 114–88 Yao Ming (20) Yao Ming (12) Rafer Alston (11) Toyota Center
14,921 		33–21
55 February 20 Dallas W 93–86 Yao Ming (22) Luis Scola (15) Aaron Brooks (8) Toyota Center
18,195 		34–21
56 February 22 Charlotte W 99–78 Ron Artest (26) Luis Scola (10) Shane Battier (5) Toyota Center
17,124 		35–21
57 February 24 Portland W 98–94 Ron Artest (21) Luis Scola (11) Ron Artest (5) Toyota Center
17,515 		36–21
58 February 26 Cleveland W 93–74 Yao Ming (28) Luis Scola (9) Kyle Lowry, Aaron Brooks (7) Toyota Center
18,399 		37–21
59 February 28 @ Chicago L 102–105 Ron Artest (32) Luis Scola (12) Aaron Brooks (7) United Center
22,394 		37–22
March: 11–4 (home: 6–2; road: 5–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
60 March 1 @ Minnesota W 105–94 Ron Artest (23) Yao Ming, Luis Scola (11) Aaron Brooks (10) Target Center
13,716 		38–22
61 March 3 Toronto W 107–97 Carl Landry (22) Luis Scola (16) Ron Artest, Aaron Brooks (5) Toyota Center
16,291 		39–22
62 March 4 @ Utah L 94–101 Ron Artest (25) Yao Ming (7) Yao Ming (6) EnergySolutions Arena
19,911 		39–23
63 March 6 Phoenix W 116–112 Aaron Brooks (30) Yao Ming (13) Yao Ming (6) Toyota Center
18,045 		40–23
64 March 8 Memphis W 93–83 Yao Ming (24) Yao Ming (17) Kyle Lowry (9) Toyota Center
16,179 		41–23
65 March 9 @ Denver W 97–95 Ron Artest (22) Luis Scola (15) Kyle Lowry (5) Pepsi Center
16,020 		42–23
66 March 11 L.A. Lakers L 96–102 Von Wafer (20) Luis Scola (9) Kyle Lowry (5) Toyota Center
18,449 		42–24
67 March 13 @ Charlotte W 91–86 Yao Ming (23) Yao Ming (8) Ron Artest, Shane Battier (4) Time Warner Cable Arena
16,809 		43–24
68 March 14 San Antonio L 85–88 Ron Artest (21) Yao Ming (11) Shane Battier (4) Toyota Center
18,300 		43–25
69 March 16 @ New Orleans W 95–84 Ron Artest (18) Luis Scola (12) Ron Artest, Von Wafer (5) New Orleans Arena
17,723 		44–25
70 March 18 Detroit W 106–101 (2OT) Yao Ming (31) Yao Ming (15) Shane Battier (5) Toyota Center
18,275 		45–25
71 March 20 Minnesota W 107–88 Ron Artest (20) Luis Scola (9) Ron Artest (6) Toyota Center
17,456 		46–25
72 March 22 @ San Antonio W 87–85 Ron Artest (24) Luis Scola (17) Luis Scola (4) AT&T Center
18,797 		47–25
73 March 24 @ Utah L 86–99 Aaron Brooks (20) Yao Ming (13) Ron Artest (7) EnergySolutions Arena
19,911 		47–26
74 March 28 L.A. Clippers W 110–93 Aaron Brooks, Yao Ming (21) Yao Ming (15) Kyle Lowry, Shane Battier (4) Toyota Center
18,267 		48–26
April: 5–3 (home: 3–0; road: 2–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
75 April 1 @ Phoenix L 109–114 Ron Artest (28) Yao Ming (14) Aaron Brooks (5) US Airways Center
18,422 		48–27
76 April 3 @ L.A. Lakers L 81–93 Ron Artest (21) Yao Ming (10) Aaron Brooks (6) Staples Center
18,997 		48–28
77 April 5 Portland W 102–88 Yao Ming (21) Yao Ming (12) Kyle Lowry (6) Toyota Center
18,214 		49–28
78 April 7 Orlando W 93–83 Yao Ming (20) Yao Ming (16) Ron Artest (7) Toyota Center
18,389 		50–28
79 April 9 @ Sacramento W 115–98 Ron Artest (26) Yao Ming (9) Von Wafer, Aaron Brooks, Ron Artest, Yao Ming (3) ARCO Arena
12,897 		51–28
80 April 10 @ Golden State W 113–109 Luis Scola (28) Dikembe Mutombo (15) Ron Artest (6) Oracle Arena
19,596 		52–28
81 April 13 New Orleans W 86–66 Yao Ming (22) Luis Scola (15) Ron Artest (5) Toyota Center
18,409 		53–28
82 April 15 @ Dallas L 84–95 Yao Ming (23) Yao Ming (9) Kyle Lowry, Ron Artest (5) American Airlines Center
20,350 		53–29
2008–09 schedule

Playoffs

2009 playoff game log
First Round: 4–2 (home: 3–0; road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 18 @ Portland W 108–81 Aaron Brooks (27) Dikembe Mutombo (9) Aaron Brooks (7) Rose Garden Arena
20,329 		1–0
2 April 21 @ Portland L 103–107 Aaron Brooks (23) Yao Ming (8) Aaron Brooks (5) Rose Garden Arena
20,408 		1–1
3 April 24 Portland W 86–83 Luis Scola (19) Yao Ming (13) Aaron Brooks (5) Toyota Center
18,731 		2–1
4 April 26 Portland W 89–88 Yao Ming (21) Yao Ming (12) Ron Artest (9) Toyota Center
18,271 		3–1
5 April 28 @ Portland L 77–88 Luis Scola (19) Yao Ming (10) Ron Artest (5) Rose Garden Arena
20,462 		3–2
6 April 30 Portland W 92–76 Ron Artest (27) Yao Ming (10) Kyle Lowry (3) Toyota Center
18,376 		4–2
Conference Semifinals: 3–4 (home: 2–1; road: 1–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 4 @ L.A. Lakers W 100–92 Yao Ming (28) Yao Ming (10) Ron Artest (7) Staples Center
18,997 		1–0
2 May 6 @ L.A. Lakers L 98–111 Ron Artest (25) Yao, Landry (10) Ron Artest (5) Staples Center
18,997 		1–1
3 May 8 L.A. Lakers L 94–108 Ron Artest (25) Yao Ming (14) Shane Battier (7) Toyota Center
18,495 		1–2
4 May 10 L.A. Lakers W 99–87 Aaron Brooks (34) Luis Scola (14) Ron Artest (6) Toyota Center
18,313 		2–2
5 May 12 @ L.A. Lakers L 78–118 Aaron Brooks (14) Luis Scola (13) Scola, Lowry (4) Staples Center
18,997 		2–3
6 May 14 L.A. Lakers W 95–80 Aaron Brooks (26) Luis Scola (12) three players tied (4) Toyota Center
18,501 		3–3
7 May 17 @ L.A. Lakers L 70–89 Aaron Brooks (13) Ron Artest (8) Ron Artest (5) Staples Center
18,997 		3–4
2009 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 Source: [1]

Playoffs

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Rafer Alston 11 11 31.5 .360 .244 .864 2.9 4.5 1.0 0.1 9.3
Ron Artest 13 13 39.1 .354 .371 .679 6.4 2.8 1.9 0.5 14.4
Brent Barry 11 0 19.3 .281 .217 1.000 1.6 1.1 0.4 0.0 2.6
Shane Battier
Aaron Brooks 12 2 23.2 .442 .409 .897 2.5 2.2 0.3 0.1 12.0
Joey Dorsey 1 0 2.0 .000 .000 .000 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Steve Francis
Chuck Hayes 13 1 16.2 .385 .000 .333 4.2 0.5 0.3 0.5 1.7
Luther Head 4 0 14.5 .316 .333 1.000 0.8 1.0 0.0 1.0 4.8
Carl Landry 13 0 19.7 .547 .000 .903 5.2 1.0 0.3 0.1 8.5
Luis Scola 13 13 26.8 .504 .000 .926 6.8 0.8 1.1 0.1 11.8
Von Wafer 5 0 14.0 .346 .455 .000 2.4 0.4 0.4 0.0 4.6
Yao Ming 12 12 35.3 .514 .000 .831 9.2 1.1 0.3 1.6 17.0

Awards and records

Awards

Transactions

Trades

June 26, 2008
 To Houston Rockets
The 28th pick in the 2008 NBA draft
(Donté Greene)
and
The 33rd pick in the 2008 NBA draft
(Joey Dorsey) 		To Portland Trail Blazers
The 25th pick in the 2008 NBA draft (Nicolas Batum) 		To Memphis Grizzlies
The 27th pick in the 2008 NBA draft (Darrell Arthur)
August 6, 2008
 To Houston Rockets
Option to exchange 2nd round picks with Clippers in 2011 		To Los Angeles Clippers
Steve Novak
August 14, 2008
 To Houston Rockets
Ron Artest,[citation needed] Patrick Ewing Jr., Sean Singletary 		To Sacramento Kings
Bobby Jackson, Donté Greene, 1st round pick for 2009
August 25, 2008
 To Houston Rockets
D. J. Strawberry 		To Phoenix Suns
Sean Singletary
August 29, 2008
 To Houston Rockets
Draft rights to Frédéric Weis 		To New York Knicks
Patrick Ewing Jr.
December 24, 2008
 To Houston Rockets
Conditional Draft Pick in 2011 		To Memphis Grizzlies
Steve Francis, 2009 NBA Draft Pick
December 24, 2008
 To Houston Rockets
Kyle Lowry, Brian Cook 		To Memphis Grizzlies
Adonal Foyle, Mike Wilks, NBA 1st Round Pick 		To Orlando Magic
Rafer Alston,

Free agents

References

  1. ^ "Roster and Statistics". Basketball-Reference.
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