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. wholesale nfl jerseys . 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No matter how highly-touted, there comes a time when new NHLers need to show what they can do when they play with the big boys.SEATTLE - Blake Beavan got a few texts from old friends on Friday afternoon asking him to take it easy on the Texas Rangers. Instead of taking it easy, the former Rangers prospect dominated his former club in his finest major league performance to date. Beavan threw eight shutout innings, giving up just four hits, and the Seattle Mariners took advantage of one big error from Texas second baseman Ian Kinsler in a 4-0 win over the Rangers on Friday night. "I wanted to go out there and shut them down and thats what I tried to do," Beavan said. "I had a different attitude out there, but calm." Trusting a new curveball more, Beavan kept the Rangers guessing. Beavan hasnt used the strikeout much since coming up from triple-A Tacoma at the beginning of July, but he liberally used his defence. Beavan got 11 fly ball outs taking advantage of Seattles vast outfield and a cool night. The curveball, mixed with a well placed fastball finally slowed down Texas offence. The Rangers had scored at least seven runs in their past six games, but Texas didnt get its first hit until the third inning and only once got a runner into scoring position. Beavan (5-5) allowed four hits and struck out three. Even more important, he didnt walk a batter. "Its a new pitch for me and its getting better every start and every bullpen and tonight I think just showed me that working hard on it and throwing it more is only going to get it better," Beavan said. The only time Texas threatened came in the sixth with consecutive singles by Endy Chavez and Kinsler. After failing to get a sacrifice bunt laid down, Elvis Andrus then hit into a 6-4-3 double play nicely turned by Brendan Ryan and Dustin Ackley. Beavan jammed Josh Hamilton into popping up to end the inning. Beavan was only at 95 pitches entering the ninth and wanted a chance at his first complete game. With the top of the Rangers order coming up in the ninth and the lead only at four, Wedge decided to go with Brandon League. The move looked genius after League, in a non-save situation, struck out Kinsler, Andrus and Hamilton to end the game. The victory ensured that Seattle would avoid 100 losses for just the second time in the past four seasons. "Coming around the top of the lineup again, I felt like that was enough.dddddddddddd If we had tacked on there in the eighth inning I probably would have sent him back out," Seattle manager Eric Wedge said. Kinslers error was his 11th of the season and came with two outs in the third. He charged a slow chopper from Ackley, who raced up the first base line, and he had time to make the throw but it sailed wide of Mitch Moreland and allowed Wells to score from second. It was the beginning of an odd sequence. The next batter, Miguel Olivo, then saw Texas starter C.J. Wilson dump a curveball at his feet and bounce past catcher Yorvit Torrealba allowing Ryan to score. Olivo later singled to keep the inning going. Then it was Mike Carps turn for some wackiness. Wilson got Carp to his a grounder back up the middle and shortstop Andrus was in perfect position to make the play. The ball never got to him as it hit second base and caromed the opposite way Andrus was moving. "It was like the Titanic. Not to make light of tragic situations but it got to the point there wasnt anything anybody could do," Wilson said. "It seemed like everything we tried, whether it was getting grounders or what, it went the wrong way." Wells later hit his 11th homer of the season leading off the seventh inning that led to the end of Wilsons night. It was Wells first homer since Aug. 21. Wilson (16-7) went 6 1-3 innings and gave up just one earned run while striking out eight. But the Rangers were unable to gain a game on the Angels in the AL West. Notes: Texas OF Nelson Cruz expected to return to the Rangers lineup as the DH on Saturday. Cruz has been recovering from a left hamstring strain. ... Seattle unveiled the first statue in franchise history on Friday honouring late broadcaster Dave Niehaus. The statue sits on the concourse in right-centre field and honour Niehaus 34 years as the Mariners lead announcer. Niehaus died of a heart attack last November. ... Young LHP Anthony Vasquez makes his fifth start for Seattle on Saturday. The 24-year-old took a loss in his last start despite giving up just two runs in six innings. ... Texas RHP Colby Lewis starts Saturday for the first time since Sept. 9. Was given few extra days of rest after last start — a win over Oakland. cheap jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '