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[Rockets History] When did Calvin start coming off the bench?

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by durvasa, Dec 10, 2010.

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  1. durvasa

    durvasa Contributing Member

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    Anyone who knows, how far into his career did Calvin Murphy start coming off the bench for the Rockets? Does anyone recall what were the circumstances, and also whether it was a change for the better? Did he accept the role, or did it create a lot of friction?

    Thanks.
     
    #1 durvasa, Dec 10, 2010
  2. DallasThomas

    DallasThomas Contributing Member

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    This has nothing to do with Aaron Brooks, right?

    :p
     
    #2 DallasThomas, Dec 10, 2010
  3. durvasa

    durvasa Contributing Member

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    No, of course not.
     
    #3 durvasa, Dec 10, 2010
  4. DaDakota

    DaDakota If you want to know, just ask!

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    #4 DaDakota, Dec 10, 2010
  5. durvasa

    durvasa Contributing Member

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    I know he was coming off the bench during the 1981 Finals too.

    Does anyone know ... was he starting throughout the 70s?
     
    #5 durvasa, Dec 10, 2010
  6. DaDakota

    DaDakota If you want to know, just ask!

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    When I watched him in the 70s he was starting, yes.

    DD
     
    #6 DaDakota, Dec 10, 2010
  7. Deckard

    Deckard Blade Runner
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    Didn't Calvin move to shooting guard after the Rockets got John Lucas in the mid-'70's? Honestly, I can't remember when he moved to the bench as either a point or a SG. Certainly by 1981.
     
    #7 Deckard, Dec 10, 2010
  8. AMS

    AMS Contributing Member

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    http://www.nba.com/rockets/history/history.html
     
    #8 AMS, Dec 10, 2010
    Last edited: Dec 10, 2010
  9. durvasa

    durvasa Contributing Member

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    After a google news archive search, I think he started coming off the bench in the 1980-1981 season. Which makes sense -- his minutes dropped from 35 to 26.5 per game. He was still third on the team in MPG, though.

    I remember hearing in the past that he wasn't too happy with the change and there was friction between him and the coach. Anyone have details on that?

    One interesting note: up until the 80-81 season, the Rockets were bottom 5 in defense every year.
     
    #9 durvasa, Dec 10, 2010
    1 person likes this.
  10. TheChosenOne

    TheChosenOne Contributing Member

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    FREE CALVIN
     
    #10 TheChosenOne, Dec 10, 2010
  11. rockets934life

    rockets934life Contributing Member

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    Well played sir, well played... ;)
     
    #11 rockets934life, Dec 10, 2010
  12. Easy

    Easy Boban Only Fan
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    He played PG at the beginning only because he was small. He was obviously a gunner, not a playmaker. I think it was Rudy T (not sure) who said that they realized that asking him to pass the ball was a waste of his shooting skills.
     
    #12 Easy, Dec 10, 2010
  13. Rip Van Rocket

    Rip Van Rocket Contributing Member

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    While Calvin lead the team in assists several times, he was never really a point guard. Mike Newlin was as much as a Point guard as Calvin. Newlin averaged 4.27 assists per game as a Rocket, and Calvin averaged 4.39 assists per game. Both Newlin and Calvin could play either guard position, but Newlin had the body of a shooting guard and Murphy the body of a small PG. When Lucas came on the scene, the Rockets had a pure PG and Newlins minutes dropped to make room for Lucas. At that point it was really a three guard rotation with Murph, Lucas, and Newlin. After Lucas left, Rick Barry came in for a couple years, and although Barry was not a point guard, much of the offense flowed through Barry.

    Finally in the '79-'80 season Allen Leavell, Mike Dunleavy(Chicken Man) and Tom Henderson did most of the ball handling chores. By the '81-'82 season Calvins shooting percentage began to drop, as did his minutes. I'm pretty sure Calvin had a few nagging injuries his last couple of years, but I don't remember him causing any problems in regard to his playing time or the fact he wasn't always starting. I can't remember when he stopped starting, but it was probably the '81-'82 season, because he only averaged about 19 minutes per game that year.
     
    #13 Rip Van Rocket, Dec 10, 2010
    Last edited: Dec 10, 2010
    1 person likes this.
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