Much to the chagrin of NBA TV; an anonymous source has leaked the details of the opening night for the 2010-11 season just hours before it is to be announced live in primetime.
The two-time defending world champion Los Angeles Lakers will play host to the Houston Rockets and L.A. native Trevor Ariza on October 26th on the second half of a twin bill featuring the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics in the opener.
Two years ago, the Lakers began the season with a heart breaking 95-93 loss to the Rockets in Staples Center thanks to a buzzer beating three-pointer by Shane Battier that sealed the fate of the Lake Show.
Things have certainly changed since then.
That Houston team featured both Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming in the starting lineup. The Rockets that will open the season in Los Angeles in 2010 have since dumped the albatross known as T-Mac and are praying for Yao to be healthy enough to play a single game in the upcoming season.
As for the Lakers, well about all you need to know is that team actually opened the season with Luke Walton, Kwame Brown and Ronny Turiaf in the starting 5. And you wonder why Kobe Bryant wanted out of Los Angeles.