TORONTO - In a matchup between a couple of Atlantic Division rivals, the Raptors will tip off their 19th NBA season at the Air Canada Centre Wednesday night against a Boston Celtics team some may not recognize. Watch the home opener live on TSN2 at 7pm et/4pm pt. "One thing you have to do on opening night, youve got to temper emotions," said Raptors coach Dwane Casey Wednesday morning after shoot-around. "Its hyped up, a lot of glitz and glamour as far as the game is concerned but one thing you have to do, you have to understand its going to be a grind." After an offseason makeover, the Celtics begin a new era with new head coach and former Butler boss Brad Stevens at the helm. The Raptors saw the new-look Celtics twice in the preseason, a 97-89 win in Boston to open the exhibition campaign and a two-point victory at home two weeks ago. "When we played here, I thought it was a good environment," Stevens said on the morning of his first NBA game. "Weve played this team twice. Obviously, we didnt play the guys that are going to play the majority of the minutes as much as theyre going to play tonight." "The task is big enough that Im just focused on that. Im sure Ill feel it a little bit before the game." The Raptors are optimistic heading into the 2013-14 season coming off a strong camp. Theyll enter the new season with the same starting five that closed out 2012-13 on a five-game winning streak, looking to carry over that success into the new year. "I think were a hell of a team," guard DeMar DeRozan boasted. "Were all together. Everybody has each others back from the first guy to the 15th guy. Everybody respects each other and were out here for one goal and thats to win." Trends and Tidbits Toronto finished the preseason with a 6-1 record for the second straight year. The Raptors were one of four teams with one loss or fewer in the exhibition season (Chicago: 7-0, New Orleans: 7-1, Houston: 5-1) after their final game in Milwaukee was cancelled due to unsafe playing conditions on the slippery court. "It all changes tonight," Casey said Wednesday after a successful preseason. "Youll see a different Boston team come in, ready to prove something, with a chip on their shoulder so all the preseason games dont mean anything." The Raptors are 9-9 all-time in season opening games, including 6-6 at the ACC. Theyve split two opening night games against the Celtics, the last meeting coming on Nov. 2, 1999, the first season opener played at the ACC. DeRozan will join Vince Carter, Chris Bosh and Antonio Davis as the fourth player in team history to start in five consecutive opening night games. The fifth-year guard, along with Amir Johnson - who will play in his 300th game as a Raptor Wednesday night - are the longest tenured players on the team. The Raptors will unveil a replacement mascot Wednesday evening after the predecessor suffered a torn Achilles, sidelining him for the entire season. "I understand that they have some things in mind for tonight," Casey acknowledged, playing coy in regards to the teams new mascot. "Im not at liberty to talk about it, its kind of a company secret right now but itll be exciting for our fans." What to Watch For Protect the ball The Raptors were the NBAs third best team taking care of the ball a year ago but struggled with turnovers throughout the preseason. Toronto turned the ball over 20 or more times in four of seven exhibition games, including both meetings with these young and scrappy Celtics. Although the miscues seemed to come from the entire roster, starters and subs, point guard Kyle Lowry had a team-high 17 in the seven games. Lowry will be playing his first game with a protective splint on his injured left ring finger. Although reports out of practice have been positive and Casey has indicated that the injury has not and will not affect Lowrys ability to lead the team at the point of attack, he and the rest of the team will have to shake off the preseason rust on Wednesday. Quick start With a returning starting five, the Raptors have not missed a beat early in games this fall. Toronto has won or tied the first quarter in each of its seven preseason games, shooting 55 per cent and holding opponents to 38 per cent in the opening frame. Torontos experienced first unit should have an advantage over a young, inexperienced Celtics roster out of the gate. Surely they should be viewing this game, against a rebuilding Boston team, as one they must win, especially with a difficult early-season schedule setting in. Following Wednesdays game, 19 of their next 33 contests will be played on the road. "Guys have bought in, we worked hard on it this summer," Casey said. "Even from last year, we worked hard on what we want to do, how we want to play [and] what were going to do when adversity hits. We didnt handle it well at the beginning of last season. It kind of snowballed on us, but weve finally got the ship righted." Who to Watch For DeMar DeRozan The Raptors guard is coming off a strong preseason, leading the team in points (15.3) while shooting an efficient 54 per cent from the field and 82 per cent from the line. "Im just hyped," DeRozan said after shoot-around. "Im more hyped than any other season, especially knowing the work that I put in this summer to be the player I want to be to help this team win. I just cant wait to get out on the court." Kelly Olynyk The Toronto-native and 13th pick of the 2013 draft will play his first NBA regular season game in front of his hometown crowd Wednesday. Olynyk was a standout at the Orlando Summer League and carried over his promising and versatile game into the preseason where he averaged 9.0 points and 4.5 rebounds, including a 13-point, 9-rebound performance in Toronto on Oct. 16. "The young man knows how to play," Casey said of Olynyk, who he called a steal at the 13th pick. "[Hes an] excellent passer, he struggled a little bit from the three but hes very capable. I like his game." Injury Report Steve Novak, who missed most of the preseason with an injury to his right thumb, will be available for the Raptors. Rajon Rondo is still out for Boston, recovering from knee surgery. He hopes to return to the Celtics sometime in December. Philadelphia 76ers Pro Shop . -- Brandon Hope stopped 46 shots and Kurtis MacDermid scored with 27 seconds remaining in overtime as the Owen Sound Attack edged the visiting Kingston Frontenacs 5-4 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Markelle Fultz Jersey . That still leaves a big hole.You dont replace the leadership, defensive co-ordinator Billy Davis said. You just dont. Leadership is something that is earned over time. https://www.cheap76ers.com/436e-george-yardley-jersey-76ers.html . Ryan Getzlaf certainly got them started in the second. Getzlaf scored the first two goals in the second, and Teemu Selanne scored the go-ahead goal late in the period as the Anaheim Ducks beat the Nashville Predators 4-3 Thursday night. Allen Iverson Jersey . The Brazilian-born strikers brace drew him level with Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo as the leagues leading scorers with 17 goals apiece through 16 rounds. "The important thing is to help the team win, not the goals," Diego Costa said. After a first half dominated by defence, Atletico pressed Valencia into its area and Diego Costa did the rest. Dana Barros Jersey . With the players association in the midst of meetings in Las Vegas, a vote will be held on Friday to decide the CFLPAs presidency and other executive positions.NEW YORK -- Retiring New York Yankees pitchers Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte have been voted the Joe DiMaggio Toast of the Town award by the New York chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America. The pair will receive the award at the chapters annual dinner on Jan. 25. Tim McCarver, a former big league catcher and a Fox broadcaster who is retiring this year, was voted the William J. Slocum and Jack Lang Long and Meritorious Service award at the chapters annual meeting Wednesday. The Arthur and Milton Richman You Gotta Have Heart award goes to Boston Strong, led by the efforts of the World Seriies champion Red Sox, and Boston designated hitter David Ortiz earned the Babe Ruth Award as post-season MVP.dddddddddddd Mets pitchers Bobby Parnell and Dillon Gee were selected for the Joan Payson Award for community service, and Yankees reliever David Robertson was voted the Ben Epstein/Dan Castellano Good Guy award. The Casey Stengel You Could Look It Up award was given to the 1994 Montreal Expos, who had the best record in the major leagues at the time a season-ending players strike began in August. Writers voted to abolish the Sid Mercer/Dick Young Player of the Year award. ' ' '