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Posted:
Houston Rockets
(41-41, 4th in Midwest, 21 games back)
DRAFT PICKS: (14,16,18,41)
| Team Strengths |
Offense
Experience
|
| Team Statistics |
| |
PPG |
FG% |
REBs |
TOs |
| Rockets |
98.8 (7th) | .452 (13th) | 40.7 (19th) | 15.8 (18th) |
| Opponents |
99.5 (24th) | .469 (23rd) | 41.1(13th) | 14.3 (22nd) |
| Weaknesses |
Old
Defensive Units
Three-Point Emphasis
|
| Changes |
Drexler Retired
Traded Kevin Willis To Toronto For Roy Rogers And Two First Rounders In '98 (16th and 18th)
|
| Needs |
New Backcourt/ Power Forward
Youth
|
| Notes: |
Rockets 40+ wins for 13th consecutive season
Led the league in 3-pointers attempted (1670) and were 2nd in trey's made (573)
Their defense ranked in the bottom third of the league in PPG (24th), FG% (23rd), 3-point FG% (21st) and steals (22nd)
Were only 13-33 vs teams .500 or better
A dismal 5-15 vs the top five teams in the West (Utah, Seattle, L.A. Lakers, Phoenix and San Antonio)
Games missed due to injury: Olajuwon (35), Barkley (14) and Drexler (12)
Mario Elie was hurt by the longer three-point distance as he shot .420 in '96-'97 and .291 last year
The Rockets' age showed as they dropped 10 of their last 15 and beat only one team (Indiana) with a winning record in their final 19 games
The Rockets were the only team to make the playoffs that posted a negative point differential (-0.8)
Olajuwon is signed through the 2002 season (USA Today)
Have three first round picks in this year's draft(14th, 16th and 18th)
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| First Round Draft Picks in the 90's |
1990 Alec Kessler, F, Georgia (12)
1991 John Turner, F, Phillips (20)
1992 Robert Horry, F, Alabama (11)
1993 Sam Cassell, G, Florida State (24)
1994 None
1995 None
1996 None
1997 Rodrick Rhodes, G, USC (24th)
Complete draft list over the years |
| Players by Position |
| Small Forwards |
Power Forwards |
Centers |
Point Guards |
Shooting Guards |
Rodrick Rhodes
Matt Bullard
Joe Stephens
|
Charles Barkley
Othella Harrington
Roy Rogers
|
Hakeem Olajuwon
Serge Zwikker
|
Matt Maloney
Brent Price
Emanuel Davis
|
Mario Elie
Eddie Johnson?
|
| Free Agents |
| 1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
Charles Barkley
Matt Bullard
Eddie Johnson
Mario Elie
Emanuel Davis
Matt Maloney
Serge Zwikker
Othella Harrington
Joe Stephens
|
Price (P-FA)
Rogers
|
Rhodes
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| Related information |
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