The 2015-16 Houston Rockets season was marked by inconsistency and underperformance relative to expectations. Coming off a Western Conference Finals appearance the previous year, the Rockets finished the regular season with a 41-41 record, securing the eighth seed in the Western Conference. This was a significant drop from their 56-26 record in the 2014-15 season.
Key changes included the firing of head coach Kevin McHale just 11 games into the season after a 4-7 start. J.B. Bickerstaff took over as interim head coach. The team’s defense struggled throughout the season, ranking 25th in the league in defensive rating. Offensively, the team was led by James Harden, who averaged 29.0 points, 7.5 assists, and 6.1 rebounds per game, but his high turnover rate and occasional defensive lapses were points of criticism.
In the playoffs, the Rockets faced the top-seeded Golden State Warriors in the first round. Houston managed to secure a Game 3 victory at home but ultimately fell to the Warriors in five games. The series highlighted the gap between the Rockets and the elite teams in the conference, as they struggled to contain Stephen Curry, even though he was limited by injuries.
Overall, the Rockets’ 2015-16 season was a disappointment, prompting significant changes in the offseason, including the hiring of Mike D’Antoni as head coach, signaling a shift towards an even more offensively oriented style of play in future seasons.
- Regular Season Record: 41-41
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 1-4
Houston Rockets Roster and Stats for 2015-16 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| James Harden | 82 | 29.0 | 6.1 | 7.5 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 35.9 | 5 | 26.6 | 5.2 | 7.6 | 2.4 | 0.2 | 31.0 |
| Dwight Howard | 71 | 13.7 | 11.8 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 5 | 13.2 | 14.0 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 0.0 |
| Michael Beasley | 20 | 12.8 | 4.9 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 33.3 | 5 | 10.4 | 4.2 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 33.3 |
| Trevor Ariza | 81 | 12.7 | 4.5 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 37.1 | 5 | 6.6 | 4.2 | 0.8 | 2.6 | 0.2 | 14.3 |
| Marcus Thornton | 47 | 10.0 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 33.8 | |||||||
| Patrick Beverley | 71 | 9.9 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 40.0 | 5 | 5.8 | 4.4 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 21.4 |
| Terrence Jones | 50 | 8.7 | 4.2 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 31.6 | |||||||
| Corey Brewer | 82 | 7.2 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 27.2 | 5 | 4.4 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 10.0 |
| Clint Capela | 77 | 7.0 | 6.4 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 5 | 1.6 | 4.0 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Josh Smith | 23 | 6.6 | 2.9 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 27.1 | 4 | 4.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 50.0 |
| Donatas Motiejūnas | 37 | 6.2 | 2.9 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 28.1 | 5 | 8.8 | 5.2 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 44.4 |
| Jason Terry | 72 | 5.9 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 35.6 | 5 | 7.0 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 31.6 |
| Ty Lawson | 53 | 5.8 | 1.7 | 3.4 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 33.0 | |||||||
| Montrezl Harrell | 39 | 3.6 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 2 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Andrew Goudelock | 8 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 11.1 | 2 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| K.J. McDaniels | 37 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 28.0 | 4 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 33.3 |
| Chuck Hayes | 2 | 2.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Sam Dekker | 3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
Houston Rockets in the 2016 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Golden State Warriors
In the first round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs, the Houston Rockets faced the top-seeded Golden State Warriors and struggled to contain the defending champions' high-octane offense. Despite James Harden's efforts, the Rockets were outmatched and fell 4-1 in the series, highlighting the gap between the two teams and underscoring the Warriors' dominant form that season. The series was marked by Stephen Curry's injury, which sidelined him for part of the matchup, yet Houston still couldn't capitalize on his absence.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 16, 2016 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 104-78 | |
| Apr 18, 2016 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 115-106 | |
| Apr 21, 2016 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 97-96 | |
| Apr 24, 2016 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 121-94 | |
| Apr 27, 2016 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 114-81 |
Houston Rockets 2015-16 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2015-16 season for the Houston Rockets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 28, 2015 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 105-85 | |
| Oct 30, 2015 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 112-92 | |
| Nov 01, 2015 | @ Miami Heat | L 109-89 | |
| Nov 02, 2015 | vs. Oklahoma City Thunder | W 110-105 | |
| Nov 04, 2015 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 119-114 | |
| Nov 06, 2015 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 116-110 | |
| Nov 07, 2015 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 109-105 | |
| Nov 11, 2015 | vs. Brooklyn Nets | L 106-98 | |
| Nov 13, 2015 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 107-98 | |
| Nov 14, 2015 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 110-98 | |
| Nov 16, 2015 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 111-95 | |
| Nov 18, 2015 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 108-103 | |
| Nov 20, 2015 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | L 96-84 | |
| Nov 21, 2015 | vs. New York Knicks | L 107-102 | |
| Nov 25, 2015 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | L 102-93 | |
| Nov 27, 2015 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 116-114 | |
| Nov 29, 2015 | @ New York Knicks | W 116-111 | |
| Nov 30, 2015 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 116-105 | |
| Dec 02, 2015 | vs. New Orleans Pelicans | W 108-101 | |
| Dec 04, 2015 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 100-96 | |
| Dec 05, 2015 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 120-113 | |
| Dec 08, 2015 | @ Brooklyn Nets | L 110-105 | |
| Dec 09, 2015 | @ Washington Wizards | W 109-103 | |
| Dec 12, 2015 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 126-97 | |
| Dec 14, 2015 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 114-108 | |
| Dec 15, 2015 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 107-97 | |
| Dec 17, 2015 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 107-87 | |
| Dec 19, 2015 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 107-97 | |
| Dec 21, 2015 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 102-95 | |
| Dec 23, 2015 | @ Orlando Magic | L 104-101 | |
| Dec 25, 2015 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 88-84 | |
| Dec 26, 2015 | @ New Orleans Pelicans | L 110-108 | |
| Dec 29, 2015 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 121-115 | |
| Dec 31, 2015 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 114-110 | |
| Jan 02, 2016 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 121-103 | |
| Jan 04, 2016 | @ Utah Jazz | W 93-91 | |
| Jan 07, 2016 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 103-94 | |
| Jan 10, 2016 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 107-103 | |
| Jan 12, 2016 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | W 107-91 | |
| Jan 13, 2016 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 107-104 | |
| Jan 15, 2016 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 91-77 | |
| Jan 17, 2016 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 112-95 | |
| Jan 18, 2016 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 140-132 | |
| Jan 20, 2016 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 123-114 | |
| Jan 22, 2016 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 102-98 | |
| Jan 24, 2016 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 115-104 | |
| Jan 25, 2016 | @ New Orleans Pelicans | W 112-111 | |
| Jan 27, 2016 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 130-99 | |
| Jan 29, 2016 | @ Oklahoma City Thunder | L 116-108 | |
| Jan 30, 2016 | vs. Washington Wizards | L 123-122 | |
| Feb 02, 2016 | vs. Miami Heat | W 115-102 | |
| Feb 04, 2016 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 111-105 | |
| Feb 06, 2016 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 96-79 | |
| Feb 09, 2016 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 123-110 | |
| Feb 10, 2016 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 116-103 | |
| Feb 19, 2016 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 116-100 | |
| Feb 23, 2016 | @ Utah Jazz | L 117-114 | |
| Feb 25, 2016 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 119-105 | |
| Feb 27, 2016 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 104-94 | |
| Feb 29, 2016 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 128-121 | |
| Mar 02, 2016 | vs. New Orleans Pelicans | W 100-95 | |
| Mar 05, 2016 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 108-100 | |
| Mar 06, 2016 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 113-107 | |
| Mar 09, 2016 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 118-104 | |
| Mar 11, 2016 | @ Boston Celtics | W 102-98 | |
| Mar 12, 2016 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 125-109 | |
| Mar 14, 2016 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 130-81 | |
| Mar 16, 2016 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 122-106 | |
| Mar 18, 2016 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 116-111 | |
| Mar 19, 2016 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 109-97 | |
| Mar 22, 2016 | @ Oklahoma City Thunder | L 111-107 | |
| Mar 23, 2016 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 89-87 | |
| Mar 25, 2016 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 112-109 | |
| Mar 27, 2016 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 104-101 | |
| Mar 29, 2016 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 106-100 | |
| Mar 31, 2016 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 103-100 | |
| Apr 03, 2016 | vs. Oklahoma City Thunder | W 118-110 | |
| Apr 06, 2016 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 88-86 | |
| Apr 07, 2016 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 124-115 | |
| Apr 10, 2016 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 130-110 | |
| Apr 11, 2016 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 129-105 | |
| Apr 13, 2016 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 116-81 |