# 2003–04 Houston Rockets season

The 2003–04 NBA season was the Rockets' 37th season in the National Basketball Association, and their 33rd season in the city of Houston. The season saw the Rockets move their home games from Compaq Center to the new Toyota Center. During the offseason, the Rockets hired head coach Jeff Van Gundy, who is best known for his tenure with the New York Knicks, and signed free agent Jim Jackson. Midway through the season, they signed free agent point guard Mark Jackson. The Rockets finished fifth in the Midwest Division with a 45–37 record, and qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 1999 as the number 7 seed in the Western Conference. Second-year star Yao Ming and Steve Francis were both selected for the 2004 NBA All-Star Game. However, the Rockets were eliminated from the first round of the playoffs by the Los Angeles Lakers, who added Karl Malone and Gary Payton to join Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, in five games. This also marked Francis' only playoff appearance in his career. Following the season, he was traded along with Cuttino Mobley and Kelvin Cato to the Orlando Magic, and Mark Jackson retired.
For the season, the team sported new uniforms and a new logo, they remained in used until 2019.

## Offseason
### NBA draft

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

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Midwest Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Minnesota Timberwolves | 58 | 24 | .707 | – | 31–10 | 27–14 | 14–10 |
| x-San Antonio Spurs | 57 | 25 | .695 | 1 | 33–8 | 24–17 | 15–9 |
| x-Dallas Mavericks | 52 | 30 | .634 | 6 | 36–5 | 16–25 | 14–10 |
| x-Memphis Grizzlies | 50 | 32 | .610 | 8 | 31–10 | 19–22 | 12–12 |
| x-Houston Rockets | 45 | 37 | .549 | 13 | 27–14 | 18–23 | 8–16 |
| x-Denver Nuggets | 43 | 39 | .524 | 15 | 29–12 | 14–27 | 11–13 |
| Utah Jazz | 42 | 40 | .512 | 16 | 28–13 | 14–27 | 10–14 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | c-Minnesota Timberwolves | 58 | 24 | .707 | – |
| 2 | y-Los Angeles Lakers | 56 | 26 | .683 | 2 |
| 3 | x-San Antonio Spurs | 57 | 25 | .695 | 1 |
| 4 | x-Sacramento Kings | 55 | 27 | .671 | 3 |
| 5 | x-Dallas Mavericks | 52 | 30 | .634 | 6 |
| 6 | x-Memphis Grizzlies | 50 | 32 | .610 | 8 |
| 7 | x-Houston Rockets | 45 | 37 | .549 | 13 |
| 8 | x-Denver Nuggets | 43 | 39 | .524 | 15 |
| 9 | Utah Jazz | 42 | 40 | .512 | 16 |
| 10 | Portland Trail Blazers | 41 | 41 | .500 | 17 |
| 11 | Seattle SuperSonics | 37 | 45 | .451 | 21 |
| 12 | Golden State Warriors | 37 | 45 | .451 | 21 |
| 13 | Phoenix Suns | 29 | 53 | .354 | 29 |
| 14 | Los Angeles Clippers | 28 | 54 | .341 | 30 |

### Record vs. opponents

2003-04 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN | NJN | NOH | NYK | ORL | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | TOR | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 |
| Boston | 1–3 | — | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Chicago | 1–3 | 2–1 | — | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 |
| Cleveland | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | — | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| Dallas | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | — | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 |
| Detroit | 3–1 | 3–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 |
| Golden State | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | — | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Houston | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| Indiana | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 |
| L.A. Clippers | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | — | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
| L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | — | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 |
| Memphis | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 |
| Miami | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | 1–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 |
| Milwaukee | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | — | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Minnesota | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| New Jersey | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | — | 2–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 |
| New Orleans | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | — | 1–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| New York | 3–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | — | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 |
| Orlando | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 |
| Philadelphia | 2–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| Portland | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Sacramento | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | — | 4–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | — | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| Toronto | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–3 |
| Utah | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 |
| Washington | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | — |

### Game log
## Playoffs

2004 playoff game log :
First Round: 1–4 (home: 1–1; road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 17
@ L.A. Lakers
L 71–72
Steve Francis (18)
Jim Jackson (12)
Steve Francis (5)
Staples Center 18,997
0–1
2
April 19
@ L.A. Lakers
L 84–98
Yao Ming (21)
Steve Francis (10)
Steve Francis (12)
Staples Center 18,997
0–2
3
April 23
L.A. Lakers
W 102–91
Steve Francis (27)
Jackson, Yao (10)
Steve Francis (7)
Toyota Center 18,226
1–2
4
April 25
L.A. Lakers
L 88–92 (OT)
Steve Francis (17)
Jim Jackson (20)
Steve Francis (9)
Toyota Center 18,219
1–3
5
April 28
@ L.A. Lakers
L 78–97
Jim Jackson (17)
Kelvin Cato (12)
Steve Francis (5)
Staples Center 18,997
1–4 :
2004 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Regular season

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Torraye Braggs$^†$ | 11 | 0 | 12.0 | .464 | | .667 | 3.1 | .5 | .4 | .2 | 3.1 |
| Kelvin Cato | 69 | 67 | 25.3 | .447 | | .676 | 6.8 | 1.0 | .8 | 1.4 | 6.1 |
| Alton Ford | 9 | 0 | 4.6 | .545 | | .500 | 1.2 | .3 | .0 | .1 | 1.7 |
| Steve Francis | 79 | 79 | 40.4 | .403 | .292 | .775 | 5.5 | 6.2 | 1.8 | .4 | 16.6 |
| Adrian Griffin | 19 | 1 | 7.0 | .278 | .500 | .000 | 1.0 | .5 | .4 | .1 | .6 |
| Jim Jackson | 80 | 80 | 39.0 | .424 | .400 | .843 | 6.1 | 2.8 | 1.1 | .3 | 12.9 |
| Mark Jackson | 42 | 3 | 13.7 | .340 | .171 | .718 | 1.7 | 2.8 | .4 | .0 | 2.5 |
| Yao Ming | 82 | 82 | 32.8 | .522 | .000 | .809 | 9.0 | 1.5 | .3 | 1.9 | 17.5 |
| Cuttino Mobley | 80 | 80 | 40.4 | .426 | .390 | .811 | 4.5 | 3.2 | 1.3 | .4 | 15.8 |
| Boštjan Nachbar | 45 | 3 | 11.5 | .356 | .365 | .724 | 1.6 | .7 | .3 | .3 | 3.1 |
| Moochie Norris$^†$ | 30 | 0 | 13.4 | .310 | .348 | .750 | 1.0 | 1.6 | .5 | .1 | 2.7 |
| Charles Oakley | 7 | 0 | 3.6 | .333 | | .833 | .7 | .3 | .0 | .0 | 1.3 |
| Scott Padgett | 58 | 5 | 9.4 | .443 | .431 | .750 | 2.4 | .4 | .2 | .2 | 3.4 |
| Eric Piatkowski | 49 | 0 | 14.3 | .377 | .352 | .875 | 1.5 | .5 | .3 | .1 | 4.1 |
| Maurice Taylor | 75 | 10 | 27.7 | .480 | .000 | .736 | 5.1 | 1.4 | .6 | .6 | 11.5 |
| Clarence Weatherspoon$^†$ | 37 | 0 | 17.6 | .503 | .000 | .660 | 4.2 | .5 | .6 | .4 | 5.6 |
| Mike Wilks | 26 | 0 | 5.6 | .472 | .600 | .833 | .6 | .7 | .1 | .0 | 1.9 |

### Playoffs

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Kelvin Cato | 5 | 5 | 29.6 | .591 | | .429 | 6.8 | .4 | 1.0 | .8 | 5.8 |
| Steve Francis | 5 | 5 | 44.4 | .429 | .412 | .725 | 8.4 | 7.6 | 1.4 | .2 | 19.2 |
| Jim Jackson | 5 | 5 | 44.2 | .397 | .276 | .667 | 10.4 | 2.0 | 1.0 | .2 | 14.8 |
| Mark Jackson | 5 | 0 | 7.6 | .167 | .000 | | .6 | 1.0 | .4 | .0 | .4 |
| Yao Ming | 5 | 5 | 37.0 | .456 | | .765 | 7.4 | 1.8 | .4 | 1.4 | 15.0 |
| Cuttino Mobley | 5 | 5 | 42.0 | .387 | .286 | .800 | 4.8 | 2.8 | .6 | .6 | 14.4 |
| Boštjan Nachbar | 5 | 0 | 8.2 | .444 | .333 | 1.000 | 1.2 | .4 | .2 | .0 | 2.8 |
| Scott Padgett | 4 | 0 | 3.5 | .400 | .333 | | .8 | .0 | .3 | .3 | 1.3 |
| Eric Piatkowski | 1 | 0 | 4.0 | .000 | | | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 |
| Maurice Taylor | 5 | 0 | 23.0 | .474 | | .765 | 3.2 | 1.0 | .0 | .2 | 9.8 |
| Clarence Weatherspoon | 2 | 0 | 11.0 | .400 | | .500 | 2.0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | 3.5 |
| Mike Wilks | 2 | 0 | 2.5 | | | | .0 | .5 | .0 | .0 | .0 |
* $^†$ Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Rockets only.

## Awards and records

* Yao Ming, All-NBA Third Team