Los Angeles Lakers: Biggest enemies of the 1980s

4. Houston Rockets

The only team to beat the Lakers in the Western Conference playoffs in the 1980’s was the Houston Rockets.  The Lakers were 0-2 against the Rockets and 23-0 against the rest of the Western Conference throughout the decade.

In 1981 the Rockets were led by Moses Malone the hall of fame center and that year’s league MVP, in a first round series that was best of three, the Lakers lost the series 2-1.  In the decisive game 3, Magic Johnson was abysmal as he went 2 of 14 from the floor and just 6 of 11 from the free throw line.  The Rockets prevented the Lakers from a chance to repeat as champions and rode the momentum to their first NBA Finals.

In 1986 a different looking Rockets team again ended the Lakers chance at a repeat championship. This time the Rockets were led by the “Twin Towers” of Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson who roughed up the Lakers combining to average 51 points 20 rebounds and 6 blocks in the Western Conference Finals

The moment of the series was in Game 5 when Ralph Sampson hit an off-balanced buzzer beating shot, sending the Rockets to the NBA Finals.  It was assumed that the Rockets ended the Lakers dynasty but the Rockets would fade into mediocrity and the Lakers would return to the Finals for three straight years.