The NBA released its full schedule last week and the Rockets saw a few interesting changes including fewer nationally televised games and a rather favorable early-season. As usual, we won’t know until we play the games, but the Rockets will have some early opportunities and may fly under the radar this year.
The Rockets are expected to be a playoff competitor this season, but with all eyes on San Antonio and OKC, we’ll have to accept a little less spotlight, even with Kevin Durant still around.
There will be a game in…Austin?
The second game of the season will take place in the state capital against the Spurs. Durant will make his return to the University of Texas, but most fans will likely be rooting for the team just an hour south of them on I-35. It’s a big early season matchup against Wemby and Company and an interesting environment. Expect a lot of Rockets fans to travel for this one.
15 of the first 25 are at home including NBA Cup group play.
Yes, that also means there is a very tough stretch of road games in the dead of winter (between Christmas and the All-Star break), but the Rockets want to get out to a good start, this should help. Admittedly, those home games include OKC (on a back-to-back travel day which happens to be Halloween – spooky), Boston, Minnesota, Denver, the Clippers, Philly (Lebron!) and the Lakers. But, early season and at home certainly helps.
Start times are back to 7:30.
You might think, why? But, in truth, this is good for the games. Houston fans are notoriously late arrivals and any extra time to get fans into the seats is a good thing. And during the 90-minute pregame, fans can get 50 percent off deals on drinks and food. The idea was launched during the postseason last year and it was a hit. The Astros and Texans both have spirited pregame rituals, why not the Rockets.
The number of national games are down from last year.
The Rockets are still on national TV a bunch (21 times) but down slightly from last year including no game on Christmas Day. Space City Home Network will carry all but nine of the games that have exclusive distribution. Prep your streaming services because five are on Prime and two are on Peacock.
Almost half of home games are on the weekend.
In a weird quirk of the schedule, a boatload of the games at Toyota Center this year are on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. That should help to boost attendance, but we wonder how it will impact viewership. It does make for some interesting date night opportunities.
Related