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Big day in local hoops (relatively speaking, given that early August is about as Tumbleweedy a time as the NBA calendar has), and I’m not just talking about the big Steve Novak deal. Nope, it’s schedule day! Both the Lakers and Clippers have released their 2008-09 skeds, and there are some fun dates worth noting:                

• The Lakers open on Oct. 28 at home against Portland, then will help kick off the Clippers’ season the next night. Both games will be televised nationally.
• LAL and LAC play again on November 5. The ol’ home and home!
• Clippers: Will visit Elton Brand and the Sixers on Nov. 21, and welcome Brand back to Staples on New Year’s Eve. Nothing like ringing in 2009 with some booing of a former hero! Corey Maggette returns with Golden State on November 15.
• Lakers: 11 of their first 15 games are in LA, so it’ll be important to start strong. In February and March, get used to watching them on TV, because they’ll be on the road for 19 of 28 games.
• Lakers: Christmas Day at home vs. Boston. Can’t imagine anyone will want to watch that one.
• Clippers: Will be gone for 10 of 15 in December, and have a brutal six game trip in late March that, should they be challenging for a playoff spot, could be make-or-break territory.
• Lakers: Finish the regular season at home against the Jazz on April 14. Given that they almost always start the playoffs on a Sunday, that’ll give them one more day of rest before the postseason festivities kick off. LAC caps off the year against New Orleans on the 15th.

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