1986–87 Houston Rockets season

1986–87 Houston Rockets season
Head coachBill Fitch
General managerRay Patterson
Owner(s)Charlie Thomas
ArenaThe Summit
Results
Record42–40 (.512)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Midwest)
Conference: 6th (Western)
Playoff finishConference semifinals
(lost to SuperSonics 2–4)

Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKTXH
Home Sports Entertainment
RadioKTRH
< 1985–86 1987–88 >

The 1986–87 NBA season was the Rockets' 20th season in the NBA and 16th season in the city of Houston.[1] The Rockets entered the season as runner-ups in the 1986 NBA Finals, having lost to the Boston Celtics in six games.

In the playoffs, the Rockets defeated the Portland Trail Blazers in four games in the First Round before losing to the Seattle SuperSonics in six games in the Semifinals.

Draft picks[edit]

Round Pick Player Position Nationality College/Club team
1 20 Buck Johnson  United States Alabama
2 43 Dave Feitl  United States UTEP
3 66 Anthony Bowie  United States Oklahoma
4 89 Conner Henry  United States UC Santa Barbara
5 112 Andre Banks  United States Iowa
6 135 Robert Worthy  United States Myers
7 158 Rick Olson  United States Wisconsin

Roster[edit]

Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
PF 40 Anderson, Richard 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) UC Santa Barbara
C 5 Feitl, Dave 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) UTEP
SG 20 Harris, Steve 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Tulsa
SF 1 Johnson, Buck 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Alabama
PG 30 Leavell, Allen 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Oklahoma City
SF 18 Maxwell, Cedric 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Charlotte
SF 22 McCray, Rodney 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Louisville
PG 10 Minniefield, Dirk 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Kentucky
C 34 Olajuwon, Akeem 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 255 lb (116 kg) Houston
PF 43 Petersen, Jim 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Minnesota
SG 33 Reid, Robert 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Saint Mary's
PF 50 Sampson, Ralph 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m) 228 lb (103 kg) Virginia
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

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

Regular season[edit]

Season standings[edit]

W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Dallas Mavericks 55 27 .671 35–6 20–21 19–11
x-Utah Jazz 44 38 .537 11 31–10 13–28 19–11
x-Houston Rockets 42 40 .512 13 25–16 17–24 19–11
x-Denver Nuggets 37 45 .451 18 27–14 10–31 14–16
Sacramento Kings 29 53 .354 26 20–21 9–32 10–20
San Antonio Spurs 28 54 .341 27 21–20 7–34 9–21
#
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Los Angeles Lakers 65 17 .793
2 y-Dallas Mavericks 55 27 .671 10
3 x-Portland Trail Blazers 49 33 .598 16
4 x-Utah Jazz 44 38 .537 21
5 x-Golden State Warriors 42 40 .512 23
6 x-Houston Rockets 42 40 .512 23
7 x-Seattle SuperSonics 39 43 .476 26
8 x-Denver Nuggets 37 45 .451 28
9 Phoenix Suns 36 46 .439 29
10 Sacramento Kings 29 53 .354 36
11 San Antonio Spurs 28 54 .341 37
12 Los Angeles Clippers 12 70 .146 53
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents[edit]

1986-87 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 3–3 4–2 4–2 2–0 2–0 3–3 1–1 1–1 3–3 2–0 1–1 3–3 5–0 5–1 3–3 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 5–0
Boston 3–3 6–0 3–2 2–0 2–0 3–2 2–0 2–0 5–1 2–0 0–2 3–3 4–2 4–2 3–3 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 4–2
Chicago 2–4 0–6 5–1 1–1 1–1 3–3 0–2 0–2 3–2 2–0 0–2 4–2 3–2 4–2 3–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 3–3
Cleveland 2–4 2–3 1–5 0–2 1–1 1–5 1–1 0–2 3–3 2–0 0–2 1–5 4–2 4–1 2–4 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–4
Dallas 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–0 4–2 1–1 5–0 3–3 0–2 5–0 3–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 3–2 2–3 5–1 4–2 5–0 3–3 1–1
Denver 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–4 0–2 4–1 3–3 1–1 2–3 0–5 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 3–2 3–2 2–4 5–1 2–3 2–4 1–1
Detroit 3–3 2–3 3–3 5–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–3 2–0 1–1 3–3 5–1 6–0 5–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–3
Golden State 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–5 1–4 1–1 4–1 0–2 6–0 2–4 0–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–5 4–2 4–1 4–1 4–2 2–3 0–2
Houston 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 3–3 3–3 1–1 1–4 2–0 4–1 1–4 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 3–2 2–3 5–1 5–1 1–4 3–3 1–1
Indiana 3–3 1–5 2–3 3–3 2–0 1–1 3–3 2–0 0–2 2–0 0–2 2–4 5–1 3–2 2–4 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 4–2
L.A. Clippers 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–5 3–2 0–2 0–6 1–4 0–2 0–6 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–5 0–6 1–4 1–4 2–4 2–3 0–2
L.A. Lakers 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–3 5–0 1–1 4–2 4–1 2–0 6–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 5–1 5–1 5–0 4–1 4–2 3–2 1–1
Milwaukee 3–3 3–3 2–4 5–1 0–2 1–1 3–3 2–0 2–0 4–2 2–0 1–1 4–2 4–2 2–3 2–0 0–2 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 4–1
New Jersey 0–5 2–4 2–3 2–4 0–2 0–2 1–5 0–2 1–1 1–5 1–1 0–2 2–4 5–1 3–3 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–4
New York 1–5 2–4 2–4 1–4 0–2 0–2 0–6 0–2 1–1 2–3 2–0 0–2 2–4 1–5 3–3 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–4
Philadelphia 3–3 3–3 3–3 4–2 0–2 2–0 0–5 1–1 2–0 4–2 2–0 0–2 3–2 3–3 3–3 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–3
Phoenix 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–3 2–3 1–1 5–1 2–3 1–1 5–1 1–5 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–4 2–3 2–3 1–5 4–1 0–2
Portland 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–2 2–3 2–0 2–4 3–2 2–0 6–0 1–5 2–0 2–0 2–0 0–2 4–2 3–2 4–1 4–2 3–2 1–1
Sacramento 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–5 4–2 1–1 1–4 1–5 1–1 4–1 0–5 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 3–2 2–3 3–3 2–3 1–5 1–1
San Antonio 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–4 1–5 1–1 1–4 1–5 0–2 4–1 1–4 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–2 1–4 3–3 1–4 2–4 0–2
Seattle 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–5 3–2 0–2 2–4 4–1 1–1 4–2 2–4 0–2 2–0 2–0 0–2 5–1 2–4 3–2 4–1 3–2 1–1
Utah 0–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 3–3 4–2 1–1 3–2 3–3 1–1 3–2 2–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–4 2–3 5–1 4–2 2–3 1–1
Washington 0–5 2–4 3–3 4–2 1–1 1–1 3–3 2–0 1–1 2–4 2–0 1–1 1–4 4–2 4–2 3–3 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1

Game log[edit]

Regular season[edit]

1986–87 game log
Total: 42–40 (home: 25–16; road: 17–24)
November: 7–7 (home: 5–3; road: 2–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
1 November 1, 1986 L.A. Lakers W 112–102 The Summit 1–0
6 November 12, 1986 @ Dallas
8 November 18, 1986 Portland
9 November 20, 1986 Utah
10 November 21, 1986 @ Washington
11 November 23, 1986 @ Philadelphia
13 November 26, 1986 @ Indiana
December: 4–9 (home: 2–5; road: 2–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
15 December 2, 1986 @ Golden State L 99–104 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 7–8
16 December 4, 1986 Atlanta L 93–109 The Summit 7–9
17 December 6, 1986 Seattle L 80–136 The Summit 7–10
19 December 11, 1986 Golden State L 104–111 The Summit 8–11
22 December 18, 1986 @ Seattle L 100–114 Seattle Center Coliseum 9–13
23 December 19, 1986 @ Portland
24 December 21, 1986 L.A. Lakers L 96–103 The Summit 9–15
26 December 26, 1986 @ L.A. Lakers L 111–134 The Forum 10–16
27 December 27, 1986 @ Utah
January: 11–4 (home: 6–2; road: 5–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
29 January 2, 1987 @ Denver
30 January 3, 1987 Seattle W 138–114 The Summit 13–17
31 January 6, 1987 @ Golden State L 100–118 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 13–18
32 January 8, 1987 Indiana
33 January 10, 1987 Dallas
35 January 15, 1987 @ Chicago
36 January 16, 1987 @ Detroit W 112–106 Pontiac Silverdome 18–18
37 January 18, 1987 @ Boston L 99–122 Boston Garden 18–19
41 January 24, 1987 Washington
42 January 27, 1987 Utah
43 January 29, 1987 Milwaukee L 93–99 The Summit 22–21
February: 8–4 (home: 5–2; road: 3–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
44 February 1, 1987 @ Atlanta W 106–104 The Omni 23–21
45 February 3, 1987 Denver
46 February 5, 1987 Golden State W 120–110 The Summit 24–22
All-Star Break
49 February 14, 1987 @ Milwaukee L 101–116 MECCA Arena 26–23
50 February 16, 1987 Dallas
51 February 19, 1987 Boston L 92–99 The Summit 27–24
52 February 21, 1987 Utah
53 February 23, 1987 Denver
54 February 24, 1987 @ Denver
55 February 26, 1987 @ Utah
March: 7–10 (home: 4–3; road: 3–7)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
56 March 1, 1987 Philadelphia
59 March 5, 1987 @ Golden State L 96–105 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 32–27
60 March 7, 1987 @ Seattle L 115–118 Seattle Center Coliseum 32–28
61 March 8, 1987 @ Portland
62 March 10, 1987 Seattle L 127–136 (2OT) The Summit 32–30
64 March 14, 1987 @ Dallas
65 March 16, 1987 Chicago
68 March 21, 1987 @ Utah
69 March 23, 1987 Detroit L 110–114 The Summit 36–33
71 March 26, 1987 Portland
72 March 28, 1987 L.A. Lakers L 109–123 The Summit 37–35
73 March 31, 1987 @ L.A. Lakers L 96–111 The Forum 37–36
April: 5–4 (home: 3–0; road: 2–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
76 April 6, 1987 @ Portland
79 April 11, 1987 Denver
80 April 15, 1987 @ Dallas
81 April 17, 1987 Dallas
82 April 18, 1987 @ Denver
1986–87 schedule

Playoffs[edit]

1987 playoff game log
First Round: 3–1 (home: 1–1; road: 2–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Series
1 April 24, 1987 @ Portland W 125–115 Olajuwon (30) Olajuwon (10) Leavell (10) Memorial Coliseum
12,666
1–0
2 April 26, 1987 @ Portland L 98–111 Leavell,
Sampson (28)
McCray (12) Leavell (8) Memorial Coliseum
12,666
1–1
3 April 28, 1987 Portland W 117–108 Olajuwon (35) Olajuwon (11) Leavell (13) The Summit
16,279
2–1
4 April 30, 1987 Portland W 113–101 Olajuwon (27) McCray,
Sampson (10)
Leavell (8) The Summit
16,279
3–1
Conference semifinals: 2–4 (home: 1–2; road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Series
1 May 2, 1987 Seattle L 106–111 (OT) Olajuwon (28) Olajuwon (16) McCray (8) The Summit
16,279
0–1
2 May 5, 1987 Seattle L 97–99 Olajuwon (27) Olajuwon,
Sampson (13)
Leavell,
McCray (8)
The Summit
16,279
0–2
3 May 7, 1987 @ Seattle W 102–84 Olajuwon (33) Olajuwon (11) Reid (9) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,587
1–2
4 May 9, 1987 @ Seattle L 102–117 McCray,
Olajuwon (20)
McCray (12) Leavell (5) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,559
1–3
5 May 12, 1987 Seattle W 112–107 Olajuwon (26) McCray (10) McCray (11) The Summit
16,279
2–3
6 May 14, 1987 @ Seattle L 125–128 (2OT) Olajuwon (49) Olajuwon (25) Reid (12) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,751
2–4
1987 schedule
A ticket for Game 2 of the 1987 Western Conference semifinals between the Rockets and the Seattle SuperSonics.

Player statistics[edit]

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[edit]

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

Playoffs[edit]

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

Awards and records[edit]

Transactions[edit]

References[edit]

See also[edit]