Just some basic superficial facts about the 2011-2012 Houston Rockets schedule. Link here.
The first thing you notice is that the schedule is composed of several long road trips followed by long homestands. Makes sense.
The Rockets only have one back-to-back-to-back, and they get it out of the way early (12/29 vs. SA, 12/30 @ Mem, 12/31 vs. ATL).
The NBA lied to us: we don't have to play each Southwest team four times. We play San Antonio and Memphis four times, but we only get New Orleans and Dallas thrice each.
Total number of back-to-backs: 21 (counting the b2b2b: 23)
Western Conference teams the Rockets play three times with two games on the road: Dallas, LA Lakers, LA Clippers, and Portland.
Western Conference teams the Rockets play three times with two games at home: New Orleans, Sacramento, Utah (HA!), and Golden State.
Western Conference teams the Rockets play four times: San Antonio, Memphis, Phoenix, Denver, Oklahoma City, and Minnesota. Coincidentally, Rick Adelman returns to the Toyota Center on January 30, 2012.
Eastern Conference teams the Rockets play twice: Charlotte, Washington, Toronto.
Eastern Conference teams that will travel to Houston: Atlanta, Detroit, Milwaukee, New York, Philadelphia, and Indiana.
Eastern Conference teams that will NOT travel to Houston: Orlando, Boston, New Jersey, Cleveland, Chicago, Miami. So, no LeBron, Wade, Bosh, KG, Pierce, Allen, D-Will, D-Rose, or Dwight Howard for Houston residents. Assuming they don't get traded, of course.
So, for the east, it's mostly winnable games at home, and tough games on the road. Interesting.
What do you think?
Update From Tom: Number of times Houston will play an opponent who is finishing its back-to-back: 27. That makes that 23 number a little easier to swallow.