Because hey, what better way to start a season than to lose at your most hated rival without your star player.  Awesome!

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/aug/05/melo-will-be-back-for-nuggets-home-opener/

Also, Portland (who along with New Orleans gives me hope for the future of basketball) apparently has a brutal start to the season.  From the Blazers.com blog:

Wednesday morning the NBA schedule will be released. I've seen it, and was even pouring over it with Kevin Pritchard last week. One word describes the first six weeks of the season- brutal. I don't mean kind of difficult, I mean brutal. You'll understand what I mean when you see it, and I'm sure you'll agree. If this team comes through the first 24 games with a record anywhere near .500 it will be remarkable. You think I'm overstating that. Again, you'll see.

I guess a babtism by fire isn't necessarily a horrible thing. For this team's sake, let's hope not.

We also know that Xmas will give us Magic vs Hornets (yay!), Lakers vs Celtics (boo!) and Spurs at Suns (meh).  Hawks open the season at Orlando (which, provided Atlanta has removed their heads from their asses and re-signed Josh Smith should be fun).  Oh, and the Nugs play at Toronto on New Year's Eve.

EDIT - see my reply for the schedule that was just announced.