The 1990-91 Houston Rockets season marked a period of transition and challenges for the team. Under head coach Don Chaney, the Rockets ended the regular season with a 52-30 record, finishing third in the Midwest Division. The season was characterized by the remarkable performances of Hakeem Olajuwon, who continued to be the cornerstone of the franchise. Olajuwon averaged 21.2 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 3.9 blocks per game, showcasing his all-around dominance.
Despite Olajuwon’s efforts, the Rockets faced inconsistency and struggled to find cohesion, particularly with their supporting cast. The team dealt with injuries and roster adjustments, which impacted their overall performance. Key players like Otis Thorpe and Vernon Maxwell had solid contributions, but the team lacked depth compared to powerhouse rivals in the Western Conference.
In the postseason, the Rockets faced the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the playoffs. Despite a valiant effort, Houston was eliminated in a closely contested series, losing 3-0. This early exit highlighted the need for further reinforcements and strategic adjustments. The team’s inability to advance past the first round underscored the challenges they faced against more seasoned playoff teams. The 1990-91 season served as a learning experience, setting the stage for future strategic changes that would ultimately lead to greater success in the subsequent years.
- Regular Season Record: 52-30
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 0-3
Houston Rockets Roster and Stats for 1990-91 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Hakeem Olajuwon | 56 | 21.2 | 13.8 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 3.9 | 0.0 | 3 | 22.0 | 14.7 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 2.7 | 0.0 |
| Kenny Smith | 78 | 17.7 | 2.1 | 7.1 | 1.4 | 0.1 | 36.3 | 3 | 15.3 | 2.7 | 8.0 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 50.0 |
| Otis Thorpe | 82 | 17.5 | 10.3 | 2.4 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 42.9 | 3 | 15.7 | 8.3 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Vernon Maxwell | 82 | 17.0 | 2.9 | 3.7 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 33.7 | 3 | 18.7 | 2.7 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 33.3 |
| Buck Johnson | 73 | 13.6 | 4.5 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 13.3 | 3 | 8.0 | 4.7 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Sleepy Floyd | 82 | 12.3 | 1.9 | 3.9 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 27.3 | 3 | 5.3 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| David Wood | 82 | 5.3 | 3.0 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 31.1 | 3 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 |
| Mike Woodson | 11 | 4.8 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 16.7 | |||||||
| Kennard Winchester | 64 | 3.7 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 40.0 | |||||||
| Larry Smith | 81 | 3.3 | 8.8 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 3 | 0.7 | 4.3 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Dave Jamerson | 37 | 3.1 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 26.3 | 2 | 8.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dave Feitl | 52 | 2.6 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Matt Bullard | 18 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Adrian Caldwell | 42 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |||||||
Houston Rockets in the 1991 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Los Angeles Lakers
In the 1991 NBA Playoffs, the Houston Rockets faced the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. Despite a valiant effort from Hakeem Olajuwon, the Rockets were unable to overcome the Lakers' formidable lineup led by Magic Johnson, ultimately losing the series 3-0. The sweep highlighted the Rockets' need for more depth and support around their star center.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 25, 1991 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 94-92 | |
| Apr 27, 1991 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 109-98 | |
| Apr 30, 1991 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 94-90 |
Houston Rockets 1990-91 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1990-91 season for the Houston Rockets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 02, 1990 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 90-89 | |
| Nov 03, 1990 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 118-106 | |
| Nov 06, 1990 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 145-135 | |
| Nov 08, 1990 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 103-99 | |
| Nov 10, 1990 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 111-110 | |
| Nov 11, 1990 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 110-90 | |
| Nov 13, 1990 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 90-88 | |
| Nov 15, 1990 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 108-103 | |
| Nov 17, 1990 | vs. Miami Heat | W 117-100 | |
| Nov 20, 1990 | @ New York Knicks | W 115-88 | |
| Nov 21, 1990 | @ Boston Celtics | L 108-95 | |
| Nov 23, 1990 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 112-111 | |
| Nov 25, 1990 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 107-91 | |
| Nov 27, 1990 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 107-102 | |
| Nov 28, 1990 | @ Utah Jazz | L 103-92 | |
| Dec 01, 1990 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 117-93 | |
| Dec 04, 1990 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 113-110 | |
| Dec 06, 1990 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 116-110 | |
| Dec 08, 1990 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 113-107 | |
| Dec 10, 1990 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 107-95 | |
| Dec 12, 1990 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 108-100 | |
| Dec 14, 1990 | @ Washington Bullets | L 106-93 | |
| Dec 15, 1990 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 100-97 | |
| Dec 18, 1990 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 96-95 | |
| Dec 20, 1990 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 128-126 | |
| Dec 22, 1990 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 122-102 | |
| Dec 26, 1990 | @ Orlando Magic | L 109-103 | |
| Dec 28, 1990 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 101-99 | |
| Dec 29, 1990 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 99-84 | |
| Jan 03, 1991 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 114-92 | |
| Jan 05, 1991 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 112-99 | |
| Jan 08, 1991 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 123-97 | |
| Jan 10, 1991 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 156-133 | |
| Jan 11, 1991 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 114-110 | |
| Jan 13, 1991 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 116-97 | |
| Jan 14, 1991 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 130-126 | |
| Jan 17, 1991 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 97-91 | |
| Jan 19, 1991 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 107-96 | |
| Jan 21, 1991 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 97-94 | |
| Jan 22, 1991 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 123-116 | |
| Jan 24, 1991 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 118-94 | |
| Jan 26, 1991 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 103-97 | |
| Jan 29, 1991 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 91-89 | |
| Jan 31, 1991 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 97-94 | |
| Feb 02, 1991 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 100-94 | |
| Feb 03, 1991 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 143-135 | |
| Feb 06, 1991 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 111-109 | |
| Feb 07, 1991 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 96-92 | |
| Feb 12, 1991 | @ Utah Jazz | L 113-92 | |
| Feb 14, 1991 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 129-117 | |
| Feb 16, 1991 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 100-91 | |
| Feb 19, 1991 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 112-103 | |
| Feb 21, 1991 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 92-90 | |
| Feb 24, 1991 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 100-91 | |
| Feb 26, 1991 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 129-99 | |
| Feb 28, 1991 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 83-80 | |
| Mar 03, 1991 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 104-95 | |
| Mar 05, 1991 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 112-100 | |
| Mar 07, 1991 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 122-90 | |
| Mar 09, 1991 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 97-80 | |
| Mar 12, 1991 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 93-91 | |
| Mar 14, 1991 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 119-95 | |
| Mar 15, 1991 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 135-128 | |
| Mar 17, 1991 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 123-119 | |
| Mar 19, 1991 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 98-85 | |
| Mar 21, 1991 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 98-87 | |
| Mar 23, 1991 | vs. New York Knicks | W 111-98 | |
| Mar 25, 1991 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 100-90 | |
| Mar 28, 1991 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 112-111 | |
| Mar 30, 1991 | @ Orlando Magic | L 114-82 | |
| Mar 31, 1991 | @ Miami Heat | W 123-103 | |
| Apr 03, 1991 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 102-86 | |
| Apr 05, 1991 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 126-120 | |
| Apr 06, 1991 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 97-88 | |
| Apr 09, 1991 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 103-93 | |
| Apr 11, 1991 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 111-99 | |
| Apr 13, 1991 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 95-94 | |
| Apr 15, 1991 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 97-93 | |
| Apr 16, 1991 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 115-96 | |
| Apr 18, 1991 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 102-95 | |
| Apr 19, 1991 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 113-107 | |
| Apr 21, 1991 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 131-125 |