OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 17 games: nine home, seven road, one neutral site. Projected record: 11-6 Coach Kevin McHale has said he could be experimenting with his rotation well into December, but the Rockets cannot afford to wait to find themselves. The schedule offers an opportunity to get off to a good start and build a solid record in the first month, starting with four consecutive games against teams in last season’s lottery and with 10 of the 17 games against teams that failed to make the playoffs.