2003–04 Houston Rockets season

The 2003-04 NBA season was the Rockets' 37th season in the NBA and its 33rd season in the city of Houston.^[1] The season saw the Rockets move their home games from Compaq Center to the new Toyota Center. Before the season, the team hired head coach Jeff Van Gundy, who is best known for his tenure with the Knicks. Despite winning only 45 games, the team qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 1999 as the number 7 seed in the Western Conference. However, the Rockets did not make it out of the first round this time as they were outmatched by a Los Angeles Lakers squad that featured Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, Karl Malone, and Gary Payton, in five games. For the season, the team sported a new logo and new uniforms. Today, the logo and the uniforms remain in use with the Rockets.

Despite a down year from Steve Francis, who finished the season with 16.6 PPG, he and teammate Yao Ming were selected to play in the 2004 NBA All-Star Game. It was Francis' final and third consecutive All-Star Game appearance and the second for Yao.

Game 5 of the Lakers-Rockets series was Francis last game in a Rockets uniform as he would be traded to the Orlando Magic for Tracy McGrady following the season. Francis would return to the Rockets for the 2007-08 season. However, after a brief second stint with the Rockets, Francis never played in the NBA again.

Offseason

NBA Draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	School/Club
2	44	Malick Badiane	Forward	Senegal	Langen (Germany)

Roster

Houston Rockets roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From 4.5 !PF 13 USA ! Cato, Kelvin 7000210820000000000♠6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 275 lb (125 kg) Iowa State 1.0 !PG 3 USA ! Francis, Steve 7000190500000000000♠6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Maryland 2.0 !SG 7 USA ! Griffin, Adrian 7000195580000000000♠6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 217 lb (98 kg) Seton Hall 3.0 !SF 21 USA ! Jackson, Jim 7000198120000000000♠6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Ohio State 1.0 !PG 31 USA ! Jackson, Mark 7000185420000000000♠6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) St. John's 2.0 !SG 5 USA ! Mobley, Cuttino 7000193040000000000♠6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Rhode Island 3.0 !SF 9 SLO ! Nachbar, Boštjan 7000205740000000000♠6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 221 lb (100 kg) Slovenia 4.5 !PF 35 USA ! Padgett, Scott 7000205740000000000♠6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Kentucky 3.0 !SF 52 USA ! Piatkowski, Eric 7000200659999999999♠6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Nebraska 4.5 !PF 2 USA ! Taylor, Mo 7000205740000000000♠6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 265 lb (120 kg) Michigan 4.5 !PF 30 USA ! Weatherspoon, Clarence 7000198120000000000♠6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Southern Mississippi 1.0 !PG 29 USA ! Wilks, Mike 7000177800000000000♠5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Rice 6.0 !C 11 CHN ! Yao Ming 7000228600000000000♠7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) 310 lb (141 kg) China	Head coach Jeff Van Gundy Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster

Regular season

Season standings

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

Playoffs

West First Round

(2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (7) Houston Rockets: Lakers win series 4–1

• Game 1 @ Staples Center, Los Angeles: Los Angeles 72, Houston 71 ESPN 10:30et
• Game 2 @ Staples Center, Los Angeles: Los Angeles 98, Houston 84 TNT 10:30et
• Game 3 @ Toyota Center, Houston: Houston 102, Los Angeles 91 ESPN 9:30et
• Game 4 @ Toyota Center, Houston: Los Angeles 92, Houston 88 (OT) ABC 3:30et
• Game 5 @ Staples Center, Los Angeles: Los Angeles 97, Houston 78 TNT 10:30et

Last Playoff Meeting: 1999 Western Conference First Round (Los Angeles won 3-1)

Player statistics

Awards and records

• Yao Ming, All-NBA Third Team

References

See also

• 2003-04 NBA season