clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

The Rockets' Five Remaining "Schedule Losses"

The Rockets suffered a "schedule loss" on Sunday when they were forced to play at OKC in their eighth game in twelve days.

By Max Croes
Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Schedule Loss: When the NBA schedule prevents you from being competitive in a regular season game.

Example: Playing the third night of a back-to-back-to-back against an opponent who had the previous night off in the strike shortened season.

Example: Making the west coast swing and playing the final game of five in eight days in Los Angeles on the second night of a back-to-back when you played in Portland the previous night.

Example: Houston vs. Oklahoma City on Sunday when the Rockets had to play in OKC on the second night of a back to back and their eighth game in twelve days.

There's no single place to put blame for the Rockets loss to the Thunder. They were tired. They shot poorly. They played matador defense. The Thunder are really good.

Those are all factors. However, the way the schedule is set up there was little realistic expectation the Rockets would go into this game with the legs and determination necessary to grit out an extremely competitive victory. Here's the schedule factors working against the Rockets:

  • Oklahoma City had the previous night off and slept in their own beds after playing in Charlotte on Friday.
  • Houston had to play the second night of a back-to-back.
  • Houston was playing their eighth game in twelve nights. This included five road games stretching from Sacramento to Indiana.

The Season's Five Schedule Losses:


With that all under our belt. Here's a look at the five potential schedule losses in the Rockets remaining 49 games:

Oklahoma City @ Houston -- January 16:
  • Second night of a back-to-back for Houston.
  • Houston has to play New Orleans the night before.
  • OKC has a night off day before playing Houston.
  • OKC is really good. We knew this.
Houston @ Dallas -- January 29:
  • Second night of a back-to-back for Houston.
  • Dallas has two nights off before playing Houston.
  • Houston has to play San Antonio at home the night before.
  • Houston is 1 - 2 against Dallas this year.
Houston @ Sacramento -- February 25:
  • The Rockets have a five game west coast road trip. This is game four.
  • This is the fourth game in seven days. Play @LAL - @GS - @PHO before.
  • Sacramento has a night off before playing Houston.
  • The Rockets lost in Sacramento in December.
Houston @ Los Angeles Clippers -- February 26:
  • The Rockets have a five game west coast road trip. This is game five.
  • This is the second night of back-to-back road games.
  • This is the fifth game in eight days. Play @LAL - @GS - @PHO - @SAC before.
  • The Clippers have a night off before playing Houston.
  • The Rockets have lost to the Clippers twice this year.
Houston @ Denver -- April 9:
  • This is the Rockets' sixth game in nine days. Play @BKN - @TOR - OKC - DEN - @LAL before.
  • This is the second night of back-to-back road games.
  • The Nuggets have two nights off before playing Houston.

More From The Dream Shake