Rudy Tomjanovich took over as head coach midway through the 1991–92 season, ushering in the most successful period in franchise history. The Rockets continued to reach the playoffs throughout the 1980s, but failed to advance past the first round for several years following a second round defeat to the Seattle SuperSonics in 1987. Nicknamed the "Twin Towers", they led the team to the 1986 NBA Finals-the second NBA Finals appearance in franchise history-where Houston was again defeated by Larry Bird and the 67-win Boston Celtics. Paired with 7 feet 4 inches (2.24 m) Ralph Sampson, they formed one of the tallest front courts in the NBA. In the 1984 NBA draft, once again with the first overall pick, the Rockets drafted center Hakeem Olajuwon, who would become the cornerstone of the most successful period in franchise history. As of 2019, the 1980–81 Rockets are the last team since the 1954–55 Minneapolis Lakers to make it all the way to the NBA Finals with a losing record. They would lose in six games to the 62–20 Boston Celtics, led by Larry Bird, Robert Parish, and future Rockets' head coach Kevin McHale. Led by Malone, the Rockets stunned the entire league by making their first NBA Finals appearance in 1981, becoming only the second team in NBA history to make the NBA Finals with a losing record. Despite their losing record, they qualified for the playoffs. During the 1980–81 season, the Rockets finished the regular season with a 40–42 record. Malone went on to win the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award twice while playing with the Rockets and led Houston to the Eastern Conference Finals in his first year with the team. The Rockets did not finish a season with a winning record for almost a decade until the 1976–77 season, when they traded for All-Star center Moses Malone. In the 1968 NBA draft, the Rockets were awarded the first overall pick and selected power forward Elvin Hayes, who would lead the team to its first playoff appearance in his rookie season. The Rockets won only 15 games in their debut season as a franchise in 1967. The team was established in 1967 as the San Diego Rockets, an expansion team originally based in San Diego. The Rockets have won two NBA championships and four Western Conference titles. The team plays its home games at the Toyota Center, located in Downtown Houston.
They compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member team of the league's Western Conference Southwest Division.
#96 HOUSTON ROCKETS ROSTER PROFESSIONAL#
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas.
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