2001–02 Houston Rockets season

2001–02 Houston Rockets season
Head coachRudy Tomjanovich
ArenaCompaq Center
Results
Record28–54 (.341)
PlaceDivision: 5th (Midwest)
Conference: 11th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKTBU
Fox Sports Net Southwest
RadioKTRH
< 2000–01 2002–03 >

The 2001–02 NBA season was the Rockets' 35th season in the National Basketball Association, 31st season in the city of Houston, and their 27th and penultimate season at Compaq Center.[1] In the 2001 NBA draft, the Rockets selected Richard Jefferson from the University of Arizona with the 13th pick,[2] but soon traded him to the New Jersey Nets in exchange for top draft pick Eddie Griffin.[3][4] During the off-season, the team acquired All-Star forward Glen Rice from the New York Knicks,[5][6][7] and re-acquired former Rockets forward Kevin Willis from the Milwaukee Bucks.[8]

In their first season without All-Star center Hakeem Olajuwon, the Rockets got off to a 7–5 start, but then suffered a dreadful 15-game losing streak. Rice only played just 20 games due to a knee injury,[9] and Maurice Taylor missed the entire season with a ruptured Achilles tendon.[10][11] Due to injuries that hindered their roster for parts of the year, the Rockets played mediocre basketball all season long, losing 15 of their final 18 games, and finishing fifth in the Midwest Division with a disappointing 28–54 record.[12]

Team captain Steve Francis averaged 21.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game, and made his first All-Star appearance being selected for the 2002 NBA All-Star Game,[13][14][15][16][17] but he only played 57 games, and starting 56 of them due to recurring foot injuries and migraines.[18][19] He also participated in the Slam Dunk Contest. Cuttino Mobley led the team in scoring averaging 21.7 points per game, and Griffin was selected to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.[20]

Following the season, Walt Williams signed as a free agent with the Dallas Mavericks,[21] and Willis signed with the San Antonio Spurs.[22][23]

Offseason

[edit]

Draft picks

[edit]
Main article: 2001 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 13 Richard Jefferson SF  United States Arizona
1 18 Jason Collins C  United States Stanford
1 23 Brandon Armstrong SG  United States Pepperdine

Roster

[edit]
2001–02 Houston Rockets roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
G 10 Brown, Tierre 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 189 lb (86 kg) McNeese State
F/C 13 Cato, Kelvin 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 255 lb (116 kg) Iowa State
C 52 Collier, Jason 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 260 lb (118 kg) Georgia Tech
G 3 Francis, Steve 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Maryland
F/C 33 Griffin, Eddie 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Seton Hall
F 14 Langhi, Dan 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Vanderbilt
G/F 5 Mobley, Cuttino 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Rhode Island
F 44 Morris, Terence 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 221 lb (100 kg) Maryland
G 12 Norris, Moochie 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) West Florida
F 41 Rice, Glen Injured 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Michigan
F 21 Thomas, Kenny 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 261 lb (118 kg) New Mexico
G/F 18 Torres, Oscar 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Xavier
F/C 2 Taylor, Maurice Injured (IN) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 260 lb (118 kg) Michigan
F 42 Williams, Walt Injured 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 219 lb (99 kg) Maryland
F/C 43 Willis, Kevin 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Michigan State
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • (IN) Inactive
  • Injured Injured

Roster

Roster Notes

[edit]
  • Forward/center Maurice Taylor missed the entire season due to a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Regular season

[edit]

Season standings

[edit]
Midwest Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-San Antonio Spurs 58 24 .707 – 32–9 26–15 21–3
x-Dallas Mavericks 57 25 .695 1 30–11 27–14 16–8
x-Minnesota Timberwolves 50 32 .610 8 29–12 21–20 15–9
x-Utah Jazz 44 38 .537 14 25–16 19–22 8–16
Houston Rockets 28 54 .341 30 18–23 10–31 9–15
Denver Nuggets 27 55 .329 31 20–21 7–34 8–16
Memphis Grizzlies 23 59 .280 35 15–26 8–33 7–17
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Sacramento Kings 61 21 .744 –
2 y-San Antonio Spurs 58 24 .707 3
3 x-Los Angeles Lakers 58 24 .707 3
4 x-Dallas Mavericks 57 25 .695 4
5 x-Minnesota Timberwolves 50 32 .610 11
6 x-Portland Trail Blazers 49 33 .598 12
7 x-Seattle SuperSonics 45 37 .549 16
8 x-Utah Jazz 44 38 .537 17
9 Los Angeles Clippers 39 43 .476 22
10 Phoenix Suns 36 46 .439 25
11 Houston Rockets 28 54 .341 33
12 Denver Nuggets 27 55 .329 34
13 Memphis Grizzlies 23 59 .280 38
14 Golden State Warriors 21 61 .256 40

Record vs. opponents

[edit]
2001-02 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MEM MIA MIL MIN NJN NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA TOR UTA WAS
Atlanta — 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–1 0–2 2–0 1–3 2–0 1–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–1 1–3 0–2 2–1 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–4 1–1 0–3
Boston 2–2 — 2–1 2–2 4–0 0–2 2–0 2–2 1–1 0–2 3–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–3 1–1 3–1 4–0 3–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–2 1–1 3–1
Charlotte 2–2 1–2 — 4–0 3–1 0–2 2–0 1–3 2–0 1–1 3–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–0 2–2 0–2 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 3–1
Chicago 1–3 2–2 0–4 — 1–3 0–2 0–2 1–3 1–1 2–0 0–4 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–3 2–2 0–2 0–4 3–1 0–3 1–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–4 0–2 1–3
Cleveland 1–3 0–4 1–3 3–1 — 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–1 2–0 2–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 3–1 3–1 2–0 1–3 2–2 1–3 0–3 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 0–2 1–2
Dallas 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 — 4–0 1–1 4–0 2–2 2–0 2–2 1–3 4–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 1–3 3–1 1–1 3–1 1–1
Denver 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–4 — 0–2 1–3 2–2 0–2 1–3 1–3 3–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 3–1 2–2 0–4 0–4 3–1 1–1 1–3 0–2
Detroit 3–1 2–2 3–1 3–1 3–1 1–1 2–0 — 1–1 1–1 3–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–1 2–2 1–1 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 3–1 1–1 4–0
Golden State 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–4 3–1 1–1 — 1–3 0–2 2–2 1–3 3–1 0–2 0–2 1–3 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–4 2–2 0–4 0–4 0–4 0–2 0–4 1–1
Houston 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 2–2 1–1 3–1 — 0–2 1–3 0–4 1–3 0–2 1–1 2–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–2 1–3 0–4 0–4 2–2 1–1 2–2 1–1
Indiana 3–1 0–3 1–3 4–0 2–2 0–2 2–0 1–3 2–0 2–0 — 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–2 1–3 1–1 1–3 2–1 3–1 3–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–1 3–1
L.A. Clippers 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 2–2 3–1 1–1 — 1–3 3–1 2–0 1–1 2–2 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 3–1 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–1 0–4 1–1
L.A. Lakers 1–1 0–2 2–0 0–2 2–0 3–1 3–1 2–0 3–1 4–0 2–0 3–1 — 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–1 3–1 1–1 3–1 2–0
Memphis 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–4 1–3 0–2 1–3 3–1 1–1 1–3 1–3 — 1–1 0–2 0–4 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–3 2–2 1–3 0–4 0–4 1–1 3–1 0–2
Miami 1–3 1–3 0–3 3–1 1–3 1–1 2–0 1–2 2–0 2–0 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 — 3–1 0–2 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–3 0–2 2–2
Milwaukee 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 0–2 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 3–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–3 — 0–2 1–2 1–3 2–1 1–3 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–0 0–2 4–0 2–0 3–1
Minnesota 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 2–2 2–2 1–1 3–1 2–2 1–1 2–2 2–2 4–0 2–0 2–0 — 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–2 1–1 3–1 2–0
New Jersey 1–2 1–3 3–1 4–0 3–1 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–1 1–1 — 4–0 3–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–2 1–1 3–1
New York 3–1 0–4 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–2 3–1 0–2 0–4 — 0–4 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 3–0 1–1 1–3
Orlando 3–1 1–3 1–3 3–0 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 2–0 2–0 1–3 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–3 1–2 1–1 1–3 4–0 — 3–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 3–1 1–1 2–2
Philadelphia 3–1 3–1 3–1 2–1 3–0 1–1 1–1 1–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–0 1–1 0–2 3–1 3–1 1–1 2–2 3–1 1–3 — 2–0 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 0–2 2–3
Phoenix 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–3 1–1 4–0 2–2 1–1 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 — 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 1–1 2–2 0–2
Portland 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–2 2–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–1 2–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 — 2–2 1–3 3–1 1–1 1–3 2–0
Sacramento 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–3 4–0 2–0 4–0 4–0 0–2 3–1 1–3 3–1 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–2 — 3–1 2–2 2–0 4–0 1–1
San Antonio 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 4–0 2–0 4–0 4–0 1–1 3–1 1–3 4–0 1–1 0–2 2–2 0–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–3 — 2–2 1–1 4–0 2–0
Seattle 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–3 1–3 1–1 4–0 2–2 2–0 3–1 1–3 4–0 0–2 2–0 2–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–2 — 2–0 1–3 1–1
Toronto 4–0 2–2 2–2 4–0 3–1 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–0 1–1 3–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 0–4 1–1 2–2 0–3 1–3 3–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 — 1–1 1–2
Utah 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–3 3–1 1–1 4–0 2–2 1–1 4–0 1–3 1–3 2–0 0–2 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 0–4 0–4 3–1 1–1 — 2–0
Washington 3–0 1–3 1–3 3–1 2–1 1–1 2–0 0–4 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–2 1–3 0–2 1–3 3–1 2–2 3–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–1 0–2 —

Game log

[edit]

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
Tierre Brown 40 1 10.1 .426 .333 .750 1.1 1.8 .5 .1 3.1
Kelvin Cato 75 73 25.6 .583 .000 .582 7.0 .4 .5 1.3 6.6
Jason Collier 25 2 14.6 .432 .000 .750 3.3 .4 .2 .2 4.2
Steve Francis 57 56 41.1 .417 .324 .773 7.0 6.4 1.2 .4 21.6
Eddie Griffin 73 24 26.0 .366 .330 .744 5.7 .7 .2 1.8 8.8
Dan Langhi 34 8 12.8 .392 .250 .727 2.0 .4 .2 .1 3.1
Cuttino Mobley 74 74 42.1 .438 .395 .850 4.1 2.5 1.5 .5 21.7
Terence Morris 68 12 16.3 .384 .192 .643 3.1 .9 .3 .4 3.8
Moochie Norris 82 26 27.4 .398 .269 .751 3.0 4.9 1.0 .0 8.1
Glen Rice 20 20 30.3 .389 .281 .800 2.4 1.6 .6 .2 8.6
Kenny Thomas 72 71 34.5 .478 .000 .664 7.2 1.9 1.2 .9 14.1
Óscar Torres 65 13 16.5 .396 .294 .781 1.9 .6 .4 .1 6.0
Walt Williams 48 25 23.3 .419 .426 .784 3.4 1.4 .4 .2 9.4
Kevin Willis 52 5 16.6 .440 .000 .747 5.8 .3 .5 .4 6.1

Awards and records

[edit]

Transactions

[edit]
Main article: List of 2001–02 NBA season transactions

References

[edit]
  1. ^ 2001-02 Houston Rockets
  2. ^ "2001 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  3. ^ Wise, Mike (June 28, 2001). "PRO BASKETBALL; Three High School Stars Are Among First Four Chosen". The New York Times. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  4. ^ Sheridan, Chris (June 28, 2001). "High School Player Tops NBA Draft". Associated Press. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  5. ^ Robbins, Liz (August 11, 2001). "PRO BASKETBALL; Looking for Balance, the Knicks Trade Rice". The New York Times. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  6. ^ Services, Times Wire (August 11, 2001). "Rice Goes to Houston in Three-Team Trade". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  7. ^ Wise, Mike (October 30, 2001). "PRO BASKETBALL; Jordan Against the New Generation, Lakers Against the World". The New York Times. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  8. ^ Gardner, Kris (October 22, 2001). "Rockets Get Kevin Willis". The Houston Roundball Review. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
  9. ^ Berman, Marc (January 7, 2002). "Rice Reunion Derailed by Injury". New York Post. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  10. ^ "PLUS: BASKETBALL; Rockets' Taylor Will Miss Season". The New York Times. September 6, 2001. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  11. ^ Services, Wire (December 17, 2001). "Wizards Keep Rolling". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  12. ^ "2001–02 Houston Rockets Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  13. ^ "NBA All-Star Game Rosters". United Press International. February 8, 2002. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  14. ^ Liao, Henry (February 10, 2002). "Five Teams, Five Pairs". Philippine Daily Inquirer. p. A19. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  15. ^ "2002 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  16. ^ "2002 All-Star Weekend - at Philadelphia: February 8-10". Eskimo North. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  17. ^ "2002 NBA All-Star Game: West 135, East 120". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  18. ^ "Cartwright Gets Bulls' Promotion". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. December 29, 2001. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  19. ^ "Francis' Migraine Eases Up; Guard Rejoins Team". Chron. January 18, 2002. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  20. ^ "2001–02 Houston Rockets Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  21. ^ "Mavericks Sign Walt Williams". United Press International. October 18, 2002. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  22. ^ "Spurs Sign C-F Kevin Willis". United Press International. August 27, 2002. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  23. ^ Heisler, Mark (October 28, 2002). "West Capsules in Predicted Order of Finish". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 20, 2022.

See also

[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2001–02_Houston_Rockets_season&oldid=1252942577"