Busy Road Schedule Didn’t Trip Clippers : Pro basketball: Schuler didn’t like the itinerary at first, but now says he thinks it may benefit his squad, which faces Rockets tonight.

The rest stop on a Clipper journey that has been more grueling than any they will face in the regular season has arrived.

There will be no more itineraries that cram three games into three nights and four into five, the stretch just completed from Lincoln, Neb., to Miami and points in between. The Clippers, who were off Wednesday after flying home from Florida, practiced Thursday and will meet the Houston Rockets tonight at 7:30 at the Sports Arena, and they don’t play again until Wednesday against the Portland Trail Blazers, their only other home exhibition.

“When I first saw the schedule, I didn’t like it,” Coach Mike Schuler said. “That was my first inclination. But the more I thought about it, by trying to give everyone an equal opportunity with playing time, I figured it would be a good thing. I wouldn’t be surprised if we do it again next year. By getting quality practice time at the end in camp instead of a lot of games, it (should) help out a lot.”

The Clippers have only four more exhibitions before the season opens in two weeks. The other two road dates are in San Jose and Houston.

The vice coach: The comparison has come about 20 times, but that’s OK with John Hammond. People are talking about looks, not image.

Indeed, a quick glance at one of the Clippers’ two new assistant coaches is worth a double-take. That’s how much Schuler’s running mate looks like Dan Quayle--same youthful appearance, same blond hair, same cut. Even a Midwestern background.

“I’ve had people walk up and say, ‘Hello, Mr. Vice President,’ ” Hammond said. “I just grin. Obviously, I’m not, because the Secret Service agents are not as big as the guys I’m walking with, or as well-paid.”

Hammond’s popularity rating is probably more intact, too, heading into his second NBA season. He spent 1989-90 as a scout with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Before that, the native of Zion, Ill., was at Southwest Missouri State (where he successfully recruited Clipper guard Winston Garland), Houston Baptist and the University of Nebraska.

Charles Smith, emerging NBA star, spent part of his off-season as Charles Smith, TV star.

He was star and co-producer, actually, of “Beyond the Classroom,” a four-show cable program taped in his native Connecticut and underwritten by the Charles D. Smith Jr. Foundation. Issues geared for a youth audience--teen-age pregnancy, substance abuse, the effects of media on kids--will be explored in the telecasts sometime this fall.

“It was something I wanted to do,” Smith said. “It was another way to help kids and let them know what’s going on in the community. I’ve gotten a lot of good feedback from both the kids and the community, and that’s what really matters.”

The Clippers plan to increase the number of charter flights this season. Most will come when they play on consecutive nights.

“Like most teams, we’ll use it on a spot basis,” said Andy Roeser, executive vice president for business operations.

One of the few times the Clippers chartered last season, they traveled home after playing at Portland, instead of having an early wake-up call the next morning, and beat the Detroit Pistons at the Sports Arena the next night.

The Lakers use charter flights on all trips.

Clipper Notes

Danny Manning, who has missed all four exhibition games because of a badly sprained left ankle, is doubtful for tonight’s game. . . . Bo Kimble is shooting 31.7%, having made 13 of 41 shots, and is averaging 7.5 points a game. . . . Loy Vaught, the other first-round draft choice, has been impressive. His average of 6.0 rebounds a game is second-best on the team behind Benoit Benjamin’s average of 11.5. . . . Buck Johnson, who has a sore left arch, and Otis Thorpe, who has a sore left knee, will not play for Houston. Sleepy Floyd, who hasn’t even practiced because of a sprained left ankle, made the trip and might see action against theClippers.