Wednesday, 30 October 2013

Dwight Howard makes the Houston Rockets more watchable and their schedule more drama-filled.

Now that the off-court spotlight has dimmed on the drama surrounding LeBron James thanks to his two championships, Dwight Howard has become the target of many NBA pundits. He's also one of the best big men in the game, and because of that the Houston Rockets will gladly take whatever comes with him.
The Rockets will likely be fighting for a top-four seed in the Western Conference. Howard alone makes for a number of games to be marked on the calendar in 2013-14.

Five games to watch

Dec. 6 vs. Warriors -- Two of the Western Conference's rising powers clash in Houston, and arguably, the Warriors and Rockets are the two teams in the conference that made the biggest upgrades this offseason. Additionally, Howard met with Golden State as a free agent, making for a fun "what-if" storyline.
Dec. 20 at Indiana -- An early-season ESPN matchup should pit two of the younger perimeter stars in Paul George and James Harden against one another. In the middle, the battle between Roy Hibbert and Howard will be a treat to watch. Indiana and Houston clash with two very different styles, making it about which team imposes itself upon the other more.
Feb. 19 at Los Angeles Lakers -- Yes, the Rockets play the Lakers twice before this date. Both of those games are in Houston. The venom held for Howard in Lakerland will be put on ice for a good portion of the NBA season, but it's unlikely fans forget about how the big man left them high and dry during this summer's free agency period.
March 5 at Orlando -- Remember, it wasn't that long ago when Howard left Orlando in a not-so-pleasant way.
April 4 vs. Thunder -- Harden faces his old Thunder team in what should be a playoff type of atmosphere. It's the fourth and final meeting of the two teams, meaning Russell Westbrook should be hitting his stride after undergoing knee surgery this offseason -- he hurt himself against Houston in the playoffs last season. With more time for this rivalry to marinate a bit, it should only get more entertaining as the playoffs near.

Tough tests

After a successful season following the trade for Harden, Houston has a difficult schedule with 20 back-to-backs, 20 nationally televised games and few easy stretches. Perhaps the most difficult portion of the schedule begins Feb. 26 and runs through March 16. During that nine-game span, the Rockets have two games against the defending-championMiami Heat and four more against the Clippers, Pacers, Thunder and Bulls. Also along that trek are outings against playoff contenders in Portland and Detroit with the only seemingly easy game coming against the Orlando Magic.

Easiest stretches

The Rockets can get hot heading into the All-Star break by playing a reasonable schedule of Cleveland, Phoenix, Milwaukee, Minnesota and Washington from Feb. 1 to Feb. 13. In mid March, the Rockets have a run of five games against Utah, Minnesota, Cleveland, Charlotte and Philadelphia before hitting the homestretch of the season, where a fight for seeding will ensue.

Important schedule facts

Back-to-backs: 20
Season opener: Oct. 30 at home vs. Bobcats
Longest road trip: Five games (Feb. 19-26)
Longest homestand: Five games (Jan. 16-24)

2013-14 schedule

OCTOBER
CharlotteWednesday, October 30 20138:00 PM EDTcoverage
NOVEMBER
DallasFriday, November 01 20138:00 PM EDTcoverage
@ UtahSaturday, November 02 20139:00 PM EDTcoverage
@ Los Angeles ClippersMonday, November 04 201310:30 PM ESTcoverage
@ PortlandTuesday, November 05 201310:00 PM ESTcoverage
Los Angeles LakersThursday, November 07 20139:30 PM ESTcoverage
Los Angeles ClippersSaturday, November 09 20138:00 PM ESTcoverage
TorontoMonday, November 11 20138:00 PM ESTcoverage
@ PhiladelphiaWednesday, November 13 20137:00 PM ESTcoverage
@ New YorkThursday, November 14 20138:00 PM ESTcoverage
DenverSaturday, November 16 20138:00 PM ESTcoverage
BostonTuesday, November 19 20138:00 PM ESTcoverage
@ DallasWednesday, November 20 20139:30 PM ESTcoverage
MinnesotaSaturday, November 23 20138:00 PM ESTcoverage
@ MemphisMonday, November 25 20138:00 PM ESTcoverage
AtlantaWednesday, November 27 20138:00 PM ESTcoverage
BrooklynFriday, November 29 20138:00 PM ESTcoverage
@ San AntonioSaturday, November 30 20138:30 PM ESTcoverage
DECEMBER
@ UtahMonday, December 02 20139:00 PM ESTcoverage
PhoenixWednesday, December 04 20138:00 PM ESTcoverage
Golden StateFriday, December 06 20138:00 PM ESTcoverage
OrlandoSunday, December 08 20137:00 PM ESTcoverage
@ PortlandThursday, December 12 201310:30 PM ESTcoverage
@ Golden StateFriday, December 13 201310:30 PM ESTcoverage
@ SacramentoSunday, December 15 20136:00 PM ESTcoverage
ChicagoWednesday, December 18 20139:30 PM ESTcoverage
@ IndianaFriday, December 20 20138:00 PM ESTcoverage
@ DetroitSaturday, December 21 20137:30 PM ESTcoverage
DallasMonday, December 23 20138:00 PM ESTcoverage
@ San AntonioWednesday, December 25 20138:00 PM ESTcoverage
MemphisThursday, December 26 20138:00 PM ESTcoverage
New OrleansSaturday, December 28 20138:00 PM ESTcoverage
@ Oklahoma CitySunday, December 29 20137:00 PM ESTcoverage
SacramentoTuesday, December 31 20137:00 PM ESTcoverage
JANUARY
New YorkFriday, January 03 20148:00 PM ESTcoverage
Los Angeles LakersWednesday, January 08 20149:30 PM ESTcoverage
@ AtlantaFriday, January 10 20147:30 PM ESTcoverage
@ WashingtonSaturday, January 11 20147:00 PM ESTcoverage
@ BostonMonday, January 13 20147:30 PM ESTcoverage
@ New OrleansWednesday, January 15 20148:00 PM ESTcoverage
Oklahoma CityThursday, January 16 20149:30 PM ESTcoverage
MilwaukeeSaturday, January 18 20148:00 PM ESTcoverage
PortlandMonday, January 20 20148:00 PM ESTcoverage
SacramentoWednesday, January 22 20148:00 PM ESTcoverage
MemphisFriday, January 24 20148:00 PM ESTcoverage
@ MemphisSaturday, January 25 20148:00 PM ESTcoverage
San AntonioTuesday, January 28 20148:00 PM ESTcoverage
@ DallasWednesday, January 29 20148:30 PM ESTcoverage
FEBRUARY
ClevelandSaturday, February 01 20148:00 PM ESTcoverage
PhoenixWednesday, February 05 20148:00 PM ESTcoverage
@ MilwaukeeSaturday, February 08 20148:30 PM ESTcoverage
@ MinnesotaMonday, February 10 20148:00 PM ESTcoverage
WashingtonWednesday, February 12 20148:00 PM ESTcoverage
@ Los Angeles LakersWednesday, February 19 201410:30 PM ESTcoverage
@ Golden StateThursday, February 20 201410:30 PM ESTcoverage
@ PhoenixSunday, February 23 20148:00 PM ESTcoverage
@ SacramentoTuesday, February 25 201410:00 PM ESTcoverage
@ Los Angeles ClippersWednesday, February 26 201410:30 PM ESTcoverage
MARCH
DetroitSaturday, March 01 20148:00 PM ESTcoverage
MiamiTuesday, March 04 20148:00 PM ESTcoverage
@ OrlandoWednesday, March 05 20147:00 PM ESTcoverage
IndianaFriday, March 07 20149:30 PM ESTcoverage
PortlandSunday, March 09 20147:00 PM EDTcoverage
@ Oklahoma CityTuesday, March 11 20148:00 PM EDTcoverage
@ ChicagoThursday, March 13 20147:00 PM EDTcoverage
@ MiamiSunday, March 16 20143:30 PM EDTcoverage
UtahMonday, March 17 20148:00 PM EDTcoverage
MinnesotaThursday, March 20 20148:00 PM EDTcoverage
@ ClevelandSaturday, March 22 20147:30 PM EDTcoverage
@ CharlotteMonday, March 24 20147:00 PM EDTcoverage
PhiladelphiaThursday, March 27 20148:00 PM EDTcoverage
Los Angeles ClippersSaturday, March 29 20148:00 PM EDTcoverage
APRIL
@ BrooklynTuesday, April 01 20148:00 PM EDTcoverage
@ TorontoWednesday, April 02 20147:00 PM EDTcoverage
Oklahoma CityFriday, April 04 20149:30 PM EDTcoverage
DenverSunday, April 06 20147:00 PM EDTcoverage
@ Los Angeles LakersTuesday, April 08 201410:30 PM EDTcoverage
@ DenverWednesday, April 09 20149:00 PM EDTcoverage
@ MinnesotaFriday, April 11 20148:00 PM EDTcoverage
New OrleansSaturday, April 12 20148:00 PM EDTcoverage
San AntonioMonday, April 14 20148:00 PM EDTcoverage
@ New OrleansWednesday, April 16 20148:00 PM EDTcoverage
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