The full 2008-09 NBA schedule is out.

Here are some games NW fans will be interested in:

First NBA game: Tues., 10/28, Cleveland @ Boston.
Blazers first game: Tues., 10/28, Blazers @ Lakers (almost assuredly on ESPN).
OKC’s first game: Wed., 10/29, Milwaukee @ OKC.
First Blazers vs. OKC game: Fri., 2/6, Portland @ OKC.
First OKC appearance in Northwest: Wed., 2/11, OKC @ Portland. (TrueHoop’s Henry Abbott speculates that the NBA put this game as late as they could, till “tempers will have cooled as much as possible.”)

Blazers broadcaster Mike Barrett said the first part of the schedule is very tough, and here’s what he meant: Of the Blazers’ first 24 games, 15 are on the road. This includes two five-game road trips. Also, the Blazers open up with this five game stretch: @ LAL, vs. San Antonio, @ Phoenix, @ Utah, and vs. Houston. Those games are all in a ten-day stretch.

Tough games, sure, but the Western Conference is a tough league. If they want to contend, they’ll have a ton of tough-looking stretches like this.

Of course, the Blazers get some recompense at the end of the year: 13 of their final 24 will be at home. That 24-game stretch also includes three games against Memphis and two against OKC.

As for the Blazers’ marquee home games:
–Boston: 12/30
–Cleveland: 1/21
–Lakers: 3/9, 4/10
–Christmas Day vs. Dallas, 7:30pm

Other games of note, via Marc Stein of ESPN (who lists a bunch more here):
–Thanksgiving Day (new this year): Orlando @ Washington, New Orleans @ Denver
–12/15: Knicks @ Phoenix (D’Antoni returns)
–Christmas Day: New Orleans @ Orlando, San Antonio @ Phoenix, Celtics @ Lakers, Washington @ Cleveland, Dallas @ Portland.
–2/15: All-Star Game (Which puts All-Star Saturday Night on Valentine’s Day…good thing I don’t watch it anyway.)
–4/15: Last day of the season, with 28 teams playing.

Links for you:
Full NBA schedule
Blazers schedule
OKC schedule