A Rematch to Open Season

The NBA schedule for the 2009-10 season has now officially been released, and the Trail Blazers will open the season against the same team that closed out their playoff run last year.The Houston Rockets will be in Portland for the Trail Blazers' opener on October 27th at the Rose Garden. Then, following a home game against Denver on the 29th, the Blazers will fly to Houston where the Rockets will host their home opener against Portland on Halloween night.The two games against Houston will have a decidedly different feel, and different look than when these teams last played. The Rockets will not have Yao Ming in the lineup, and of course, won't have Ron Artest, who signed a free-agent contract with the Lakers last month.Unlike last year's brutal start, the Blazers this season will play five of their first seven games at the Rose Garden, before heading out on their first extended road trip of the season, that will take them to Memphis, Minnesota, New Orleans, Charlotte, an...