Breaking down the Houston Rockets restart schedule
The Houston Rockets’ final eight games give them a chance to secure a higher playoff seed and get into playoff form after a long break from basketball.
The Houston Rockets have officially entered the Orlando bubble as they prepare for the restart of the NBA season after nearly a four-month hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Rockets will play eight games, beginning on July 31, to determine their playoff seeding. Here’s a look at their eight-game schedule to determine playoff seeding:
- July 31 vs Dallas Mavericks
- August 2 vs Milwaukee Bucks
- August 4 vs Portland Trailblazers
- August 6 vs Los Angeles Lakers
- August 9 vs Sacramento Kings
- August 11 vs San Antonio Spurs
- August 12 vs Indiana Pacers
- August 14 vs Philadelphia 76ers
The Rockets, who have already clinched a playoff spot, currently occupy the sixth seed in the Western Conference but can easily move up or down in seeding since they are only 2.5 games behind the third seed and 1.5 games ahead of the seventh seed. Even though home court advantage will not matter this postseason since all games will be played at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, securing a top-four seed in the West will greatly improve the Rockets chances of going deep in the playoffs.
These games will also be huge for Robert Covington, who the Rockets acquired in early February in a blockbuster four-team deal, to continue to develop chemistry with his new team and feel comfortable playing in a small-ball lineup since Covington will be key to Houston’s ability to go deep into the playoffs.
While all of these games are important in terms of the Rockets rising in seeding, three games stand out above the rest because of the importance they have on Houston’s playoff seeding as well as getting them in playoff form.