Blazers set to open at home on Dec. 26 vs. 76ers

When the 2011-2012 season tips off, nearly eight months will have passed since the Trail Blazers last played a game.

Hopefully, they’re well rested — because there isn’t another breather in sight.

Tuesday, the NBA released this year’s regular-season schedule, which has Portland flitting all over the country in an attempt to squeeze in 66 games in 123 days.

The Blazers will open their season at the Rose Garden against Philadelphia on December 26th, thereby beginning a frenzied four months in which the longest amount of rest will be two days. Portland also will endure 16 back-to-back games and two back-to-back-to-back stretches — the first coming in January and the second in February.

Safe to say the schedule is unlike anything the Blazers, or the rest of the league for that matter, have ever had to navigate.

While Portland will play 33 games at home and 33 on the road, that’s the only semblance of balance this year’s slate possesses.

The Blazers will face Western Conference opponents 48 times and Eastern Conference opponents 18 — but will only play three teams from the East twice (Milwaukee, Washington, Atlanta).

The result? Boston, New York, Chicago, Toronto, Indiana and Detroit will not be visiting the Rose Garden this year.

Portland, meanwhile, will not travel to Philadelphia, New Jersey, Charlotte, Cleveland, Miami or Orlando, against which its record was 3-3 on the road last year.

But that doesn’t mean the Blazers won’t do plenty of traveling.

While it does start the season with a three-game home stand (Philadelphia, Sacramento and Denver), and plays seven of its first 10 game at home (including games versus the Lakers Clippers and Magic), Portland will have to grind through a six-game, nine-day road trip beginning Jan. 13 and a seven-game, 12-day road trip beginning March 7.

The six-game trip will include games against San Antonio, New Orleans and Atlanta — all of which made the playoffs last year. The seven-game stretch will square the Blazers off against such teams as Boston, New York, Chicago and Oklahoma City — which were postseason teams as well.

The Blazers’ longest road trip last year? Four games.

Notable teams visiting the Rose Garden this season include: L.A. Lakers (Jan. 5), Miami (March 1), Oklahoma City (Feb. 6 and March 27) and Dallas (April 13.) Andre Miller will make his return to Portland with Denver on Dec. 29.

The Blazers will only play six teams from the Western Conference four times (Golden State, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Sacramento, Utah, L.A. Clippers), which is why teams such as the Lakers and the Mavericks will only make one stop in Portland.

All 66 games will be televised in some capacity. Eighteen games are scheduled to broadcast nationally — including four on TNT, seven on ESPN, and seven on NBA TV.

BLAZERS 2011-12 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE

(All time Pacific)

DECEMBER

26 Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

27 Sacramento, 7 p.m.

29 Denver, 7 p.m.

JANUARY

1 at L.A. Clippers, 6:30 p.m.

3 at Oklahoma City, 5 p.m.

5 L.A. Lakers, 7:30 p.m.

6 at Phoenix, 7:30 p.m.

8 Cleveland, 6 p.m.

10 L.A. Clippers, 7 p.m.

11 Orlando, 7 p.m.

13 at San Antonio, 5:30 p.m.

14 at Houston, 5 p.m.

16 at New Orleans, Noon.

18 at Atlanta, 5 p.m.

20 at Toronto, 4 p.m.

21 at Detroit, 4:30 p.m.

23 Sacramento, 7 p.m.

24 Memphis, 7 p.m.

25 at Golden State, 7:30 p.m.

27 Phoenix, 7 p.m.

30 at Utah, 6 p.m.

FEBRUARY

1 Charlotte, 7 p.m.

2 at Sacramento, 7 p.m.

4 Denver, 7 p.m.

6 Oklahoma City, 7 p.m.

8 Houston, 7 p.m.

10 at New Orleans, 5 p.m.

11 at Dallas, 5:30 p.m.

14 Washington, 7 p.m.

15 at Golden State, 7 p.m.

16 L.A. Clippers, 7:30 p.m.

18 Atlanta, 7 p.m.

20 at L.A. Lakers, 7:30 p.m.

21 San Antonio, 7 p.m.

29 at Denver, 6 p.m.

MARCH

1 Miami, 7:30 p.m.

3 Minnesota, 7 p.m.

5 New Orleans, 7 p.m.

7 at Minnesota, 5 p.m.

9 at Boston, 4:30 p.m.

10 at Washington, 4 p.m.

13 at Indiana, 4 p.m.

14 at New York, 4:30 p.m.

16 at Chicago, 5 p.m.

18 at Oklahoma City, 6:30 p.m.

20 Milwaukee, 7 p.m.

22 Memphis, 7 p.m.

23 at L.A. Lakers, 7:30 p.m.

25 Golden State, 6 p.m.

27 Oklahoma City, 7 p.m.

29 New Orleans, 7 p.m.

30 at L.A. Clippers, 7:30 p.m.

APRIL

1 Minnesota, 6 p.m.

2 Utah, 7 p.m.

4 New Jersey, 7 p.m.

7 at Milwaukee, 5:30 p.m.

9 Houston, 7 p.m.

11 Golden State, 7:30 p.m.

13 Dallas, 7:30 p.m.

15 at Sacramento, 3 p.m.

16 at Phoenix, 7 p.m.

18 Utah, 7 p.m.

21 at Memphis, 5 p.m.

23 at San Antonio, 5:30 p.m.

26 at Utah, 5 p.m.