A look at some odds and ends as Celtics get ready to open camp

The team will begin practicing on Tuesday morning in Boston, then plays its first of four preseason games on Friday night in North Carolina.

With the Celtics set to report to their new practice facility for the start of training came Tuesday morning, here are some observations about what lies ahead:

Familiar faces: At this time last year, the coaching staff had just four returning players when camp opened – Al Horford, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart and Terry Rozier – following wholesale changes in the summer of 2017.

The Celtics began last season with 10 new players on the roster, so there was a transition process that they went through.

This year, the only two newcomers are first-round draft pick Robert Williams and Brad Wannamaker, who was signed after playing in Europe. They replace Greg Monroe (now with the Toronto Raptors) and Shane Larkin (who signed to play in Turkey).

The roster spot of Abdel Nader, who was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder, was taken by Jabari Bird, but his basketball future is in jeopardy after being arrested recently on assault and battery, kidnapping and strangulation charges in a domestic abuse case.

With so many familiar faces back, coach Brad Stevens won’t have to spend time getting players up to speed.

“It does help that you have some stability with regard to all the continuity in our roster,’’ said Stevens. “I think all of that familiarity makes it more exciting because you’re excited to be back together, too.’’

Home, sweet home: The Celtics got camp underway last year at Salve Regina University in Newport, R.I., where they had five practices in three days. Stevens also brought his team there in 2013, and Doc Rivers held early camp workouts there as well when he was the coach.

This year, the Celtics are staying home to take advantage of their new training facility located in the Brighton section of Boston.

The Red Auerbach Center is a top-notch building and includes everything an NBA team needs.

Right down to business: The Celtics play all four of their preseason games in a nine-day span, then will have nine days before opening night Oct. 16.

Stevens is planning on having double sessions this Tuesday and Wednesday, then will have his team do very little on Thursday before they head to Chapel Hill, N.C., to play the Charlotte Hornets Friday night.

The two preseason home games are next Sunday and Tuesday nights and the final game is a week from a week from Saturday night.

“The beautiful part of our preseason schedule is we play three days into camp, so we’re literally going to practice twice on Tuesday, twice on Wednesday, do very light group work and some guys will have the day off,’’ said Stevens. “If we’re not ready for the competitive side, it’ll smack us in the face pretty quick. That’s part of getting ready for a season.’’

Because the games are starting so quickly, Stevens will have a two-part camp.

“We’re basically breaking our training camp down from a staff standpoint into two separate camps,’’ he said. “The first one is getting back together and making sure we’re fluid in what we’re trying to accomplish for the most part on offense and defense, playing as a team, through those first 10 days where we have four games.

“And then after that, we’ve got a full eight-day period where we’ll basically treat it like another camp as we get ready for the regular season.

The starting lineup: There seems to be a debate going on by some about who should be on the floor to open games. The team has a lot of depth and the ability to work matchups in their favor.

A year ago, it was Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward, Horford, Brown and Jayson Tatum starting on opening night against the Cleveland Cavaliers. That all changed when Hayward was injured in the first quarter.

That same starting five should be reunited this season, and Stevens will have a quality bench with Smart, Rozier, Aron Baynes, Daniel Theis, Marcus Morris and Semi Ojeleye.

The interesting part will be at the end of games where Smart is usually playing and making things happen.

Ready to go?: Stevens said that he has heard about no restrictions being placed on Irving or Hayward as they return from injuries.

Asked whether they’ll be rested in back-to-back games situations, Stevens said, “Not my call at all. The medical team comes and says, ‘This person can’t play in a back-to-back.’ If they can and it’s good for them and barring anything else unforeseen, obviously they’ll play.

“I’m not sure I anticipate that (they’ll have to sit) with either of those guys with everything I’ve been told thus far.’’