Houston Rockets: What life will be like without James Harden

A look ahead in the upcoming schedule

Can they keep pace for first seed in the West and the league’s best record with the Warriors? Unlikely.

As a matter of fact, the Rockets have the Dubs slated twice in the next three weeks, with a good chance Harden misses both. Frankly, the way that Houston has been slipping the past handful of games even with James, that likelihood seemed a bit far-fetched with Harden’s hammy still intact.

The question should be whether the Rockets can maintain their lead over teams in the hunt for homecourt advantage, such as the Spurs, Timberwolves and even the improving Thunder, which is a far more manageable goal, especially when you look at the schedule.

Here is the schedule for the rest of January:

• @ Orlando
• Vs. Golden State
• @ Detroit
• @ Chicago
• Vs. Portland
• @ Phoenix
• @ L.A. Clippers
• Vs. Minnesota
• Vs. Golden State
• Vs. Miami
• @ Dallas
• @ New Orleans
• Vs. Phoenix
• Vs. Orlando

There is a lot of mediocrity in there, which could even allow Harden some extra time to rest his hamstring, among other nagging ailments, a luxury he had never been afforded in the pre-CP3 era.