The Houston Rockets made some of the biggest moves of the offseason by signing Dwight Howard and now that move has been rewarded, as the NBA schedule was released and the team will now appear in at least 26 games on national television, way more than last season.
The addition of Howard surely helps and having Jeremy Lin also adds to the intrigue and some of the games will be on ESPN, TNT as well as NBA TV and other games will be on ABC as well. The team will play the Miami Heat on March 16 and some other special games include Christmas Day against the Spurs and another matchup in November against the Lakers, Howard's old team Jeremy Lin will get to visit MSG once again in November to play the Knicks and in January the team will travel to play James Harden's old team in the Thunder.
Last season Lin averaged 13.4 points, 6.1 assists and three rebounds per game and he will be expected to keep up and improve those numbers now that Howard is in the fold. Last season the Rockets ranked first in the NBA in points per game and with Howard in the fold they likely will improve on defense, making the high powered offense work even better. The team has a huge decision to make and while they likely will pick Lin, there is good reason why Beverley deserves a serious look as well. The point guard will not be the focal point of attention in the offense like Chris Paul is with the Clippers, especially now with Howard in the fold, as Dwight and James Harden will lead the offense, manning the most efficient player likely should start.
Lin is owed $17 million for the next two seasons and that makes it pretty clear that he will start, but Beverley showed in the playoffs while subbing in for an injured Lin that he can lead the offense and that he can do it well. Both players put up solid 36 minute averages, including Lin with nearly 15 points and seven assists, but Beverley was close with 12 points and six assists and he also was better in steals, blocks and had turnovers per game. Lin's field goal percentage was slightly better, but the turnovers tell a big story and that could be a factor heading into next season.
Here is the full schedule for the Rockets.
2013-14 schedule
Pre-season
Oct. 5 vs. New Orleans, 7 PM
Oct. 10 vs. Indiana (at Manila, Philippines), 6:30 AM
Oct. 13 vs. Indiana (at Taipei, Taiwan), 12:30 AM
Oct. 16 vs. Orlando, 7 PM
Oct. 21 vs. Dallas, 7 PM
Oct. 24 @ San Antonio, 7 PM
Oct. 25 @ Memphis, 7 PM
Regular-season
October
Wed 30 vs. Charlotte, 7 PM
November
Fri 1 vs Dallas, 7 PM
Sat 2 @ Utah, 8 PM
Mon 4 @ L.A. Clippers, 9:30 PM
Tue 5 @ Portland, 9 PM
Thu 7 vs L.A. Lakers, 8:30 PM
Sat 9 vs L.A. Clippers, 7 PM
Mon 11 vs Toronto, 7 PM
Wed 13 @ Philadelphia, 6 PM
Thu 14 @ New York, 7 PM
Sat 16 vs Denver, 7 PM
Tue 19 vs Boston, 7 PM
Wed 20 @ Dallas, 8:30 PM
Sat 23 vs Minnesota, 7 PM
Mon 25 @ Memphis, 7 PM
Wed 27 vs Atlanta, 7 PM
Fri 29 vs Brooklyn, 7 PM
Sat 30 @ San Antonio, 7:30 PM
December
Mon 2 @ Utah, 8 PM
Wed 4 vs Phoenix, 7 PM
Fri 6 vs Golden State, 7 PM
Sun 8 vs Orlando, 6 PM
Thu 12 @ Portland, 9:30 PM
Fri 13 @ Golden State, 9:30 PM
Sun 15 @ Sacramento, 5 PM
Wed 18 vs Chicago, 8:30 PM
Fri 20 @ Indiana, 7 PM
Sat 21 @ Detroit, 6:30 PM
Mon 23 vs Dallas, 7 PM
Wed 25 @ San Antonio, 7 PM
Thu 26 vs Memphis, 7 PM
Sat 28 vs New Orleans, 7 PM
Sun 29 @ Oklahoma City, 6 PM
Tue 31 vs Sacramento, 6 PM
January
Fri 3 vs New York, 7 PM
Wed 8 vs L.A. Lakers, 8:30 PM
Fri 10 @ Atlanta, 6:30 PM
Sat 11 @ Washington, 6 PM
Mon 13 @ Boston, 6:30 PM
Wed 15 @ New Orleans, 7 PM
Thu 16 vs Oklahoma City, 8:30 PM
Sat 18 vs Milwaukee, 7 PM
Mon 20 vs Portland, 7 PM
Wed 22 vs Sacramento, 7 PM
Fri 24 vs Memphis, 7 PM
Sat 25 @ Memphis, 7 PM
Tue 28 vs San Antonio, 7 PM
Wed 29 @ Dallas, 7:30 PM
February
Sat 1 vs Cleveland, 7 PM
Wed 5 vs Phoenix, 7 PM
Sat 8 @ Milwaukee, 7:30 PM
Mon 10 @ Minnesota, 7 PM
Wed 12 vs Washington, 7 PM
Wed 19 @ L.A. Lakers, 9:30 PM
Thu 20 @ Golden State, 9:30 PM
Sun 23 @ Phoenix, 7 PM
Tue 25 @ Sacramento, 9:00 PM
Wed 26 @ L.A. Clippers, 9:30 PM
March
Sat 1 vs Detroit, 7 PM
Tue 4 vs Miami, 7 PM
Wed 5 @ Orlando, 6 PM
Fri 7 vs Indiana, 8:30 PM
Sun 9 vs Portland, 6 PM
Tue 11 @ Oklahoma City, 7 PM
Thu 13 @ Chicago, 6 PM
Sun 16 @ Miami, 2:30 PM
Mon 17 vs Utah, 7 PM
Thu 20 vs Minnesota, 7 PM
Sat 22 @ Cleveland, 6:30 PM
Mon 24 @ Charlotte, 6 PM
Thu 27 vs Philadelphia, 7 PM
Sat 29 vs L.A. Clippers, 7 PM
April
Tue 1 @ Brooklyn, 7 PM
Wed 2 @ Toronto, 6 PM
Fri 4 vs Oklahoma City, 8:30 PM
Sun 6 vs Denver, 6 PM
Tue 8 @ L.A. Lakers, 9:30 PM
Wed 9 @ Denver, 8 PM
Fri 11 @ Minnesota, 7 PM
Sat 12 vs New Orleans, 7 PM
Mon 14 vs San Antonio, 7 PM
Wed 16 @ New Orleans, 7 PM
