For the first time in 151 days, the Boston Celtics will play a meaningful game at the TD Garden on Friday night.
The last time the C's took to the parquet in a game that counted, their quest to become the first team in league history to recover from an 0-3 deficit in a best-of-seven postseason series came up short, falling 103-84 in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals at the hands of the Miami Heat.
When Boston takes to the floor on Friday night, it will be against that very team that ended their hopes of reaching the NBA Finals in back-to-back seasons 151 days ago – The Miami Heat.
"[They're] a team we are super familiar with. We have played them a bunch of times in the playoffs," Jaylen Brown said ahead of Friday night's home opener. "[They're] a team we got history with. Tonight we come out, start of a season, looking to set the tone early."
The Celtics and Heat have met in the Eastern Conference Finals in three of the last four years, fueling the budding rivalry between the two.
"Anytime you come up short of your ultimate goal, you are going to have motivation," Brown said. "I didn't have a great Game [7], but we didn't have a great game as a team either so I think that's giving everybody motivation to come back this year to be better."
The Celtics have not forgotten how last season ended, and it will serve as some added motivation when they take to the floor Friday night.
"We're obviously disappointed with how last year ended for us. We've talked about that," Al Horford said. "But I'm excited to see this group and what we're going to be able to do."
Things will look much different Friday night than they did the last time these two squared off in late May. For the Celtics, fans will get their first look at Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday as the new-look Celtics take to the parquet in regular-season action for the first time.
As for Miami, some familiar faces that were a thorn in the side for the Celtics have since departed – Max Strus and Gabe Vincent.
"I feel like every time you play the Heat, it is a big game," Derrick White said. "Especially being the home opener, you want to have a good showing for the crowd. I know they are going to be amazing."
The TD Garden crowd did not disappoint in preseason action, leaving the newcomer Porzingis speechless.
"That was insane. That was insane for a preseason game. I don't know what to say," Porzingis said after Boston's preseason opener. "I'm very happy to be a Celtic. I'm not gonna lie."
If the preseason was any indicator, the TD Garden crowd will be ready to rock on Friday night, something the Celtics are excited about.
"I'm excited to start at the Garden and get to play at home in front of our fans," Horford said. "Our first preseason game here was crazy with the intensity of the fans. I'm really excited for this one."
