Breaking down the Houston Rockets restart schedule

August 14 vs Philadelphia 76ers

This game will be another test for the Rockets to face another elite big in Joel Embiid. Houston won their only matchup with Philadelphia earlier this season, but they have yet to face Joel Embiid without Clint Capela so this game will once again put the Rockets small-ball lineup to the test. Shutting down Embiid will require a team effort but if Houston is able to succeed it would signify that the Rockets, despite their lack of size, can truly compete with anybody and have what it takes to shut down elite bigs over the course of a seven-game series.

It also could be a big game in terms of what seed the Rockets end up with as it marks the final game of the regular season for Houston. With Houston having a chance to move up all the way to the two seed or drop all the way down to the seven seed, this game could make all the difference in where the Rockets stand in the West.

This will also be the Rockets’ last opportunity to shake off any rust they show from their long break from basketball and put things all together before the playoffs begin. Before the NBA suspended play, the Rockets only had a little over a month to truly embrace their small-ball mentality and incorporate new pieces, like Robert Covington, into their lineup so it is extremely important that they use their final eight games to put everything together so that they are fully prepared for the playoffs.