Last year Rockets had a bad start in November and gradually turn it around. How they are going to do this year? November Rockets should win their first three games, period. The opponents are not strong, and there are plenty of rest in between. Then it gets tough, with 8 out of the next 11 games on the road in a 17-day span, four back-to-back games, and including games against Heats, Spurs, Pistons, Pacers, and Mavs. I expect the team to hit a bump here and there and comes out of November with a 9-6 record. December Won't get much of a break in term of traveling with the west coast swing. 6 straight road games, including a 4-game in 5-day stretch. However, the opponents seem easier to deal with, and I'll be a little disappointed if we can't win 4 out of the 6. A 9-4 month pushes our record to 18-10. January Schedule eases up with a lot of games against eastern conference teams. Back-to-back games against Pistons and Bucks on the road will be tricky, and another back-to-back at the end of the month with Heats at home and Grizzlies. Overall, should take advantage of this month and win 12 out of 16. 30-14 after January. Feburary A very manageable month with only 13 games total due to all-star game and all more than winnable. Rockets are rounding into their form and will continue the momentum by winning 12 out of 13. 42-15 after Feburary. March A lot of home games this month, but tough opponents as well, including two against both Spurs and Mavs. Going 11-4 will leave us with a 53-19 record going into the final stretch. April A final 6-game west coast trip awaits. A little laps allow us winning only 6 out of the 9 games going into the final game against Spurs at home. With a 59-22 and a No. 1 seed in the playoff on the line, Rockets wins the season finale to finish with 60 wins and earn the top spot.
At first glance, this season's schedule seems tragically brutal. There are four 2-game road trips, two 3-game trips, two west-coast trips of 6 and 7 games apiece, and a healthy 5-gamer in November. The longest homestand is only 4 games long. Ridiculous. Until I saw this: Code: [b][u]February[/u][/b] [b]22 L.A. Clippers 24 Golden State[/b] 26 @ Orlando [b]27 Phoenix[/b] [b][u]March[/u][/b] [b]1 Philadelphia 3 Denver 5 Portland[/b] 7 @ Minnesota [b]8 Indiana 12 @ San Antonio 13 New Jersey 15 Dallas 18 San Antonio 20 L.A. Clippers 21 @ Dallas[/b] 23 @ New Orleans/Okla Cty [b]26 Cleveland 29 Seattle 31 Washington[/b] That's a stretch of 19 games with 16 in the state of Texas. And one of the remaining three is in Oklahoma. Hopefully, they don't get too complacent with only two substantial plane rides in 38 days; because this could be a great launching point for the stretch run and playoffs.
Great post. Awesome point you make there. It will be quite nice, assuming we have a strong home record this year, which would be a nice change from the last several years.
Agree that's a great point. I think once we pass Chinese New Year, we're good, as long as players don't lose concentration during the run.
