5 things we learned from Day 1 of Celtics training camp

NEWPORT, R.I. — The Celtics just wrapped up their first two practices of the 2017-18 season on the campus of Salve Regina University. The media was only allowed in for a glimpse of the action during the final 10 minutes of the evening session (plenty of video of that coming later) but the positive vibes were prevalent throughout the gym as a new era begins. Here's what you need to know after Day 1:

1. The Celtics weren't going to hold training camp in Rhode Island but called an audible after the Kyrie Irving trade: Brad Stevens has held training camp at the team's practice facility in Waltham for the past three seasons, largely to ensure the team had all of the resources it needs.

"Because my office is here, the computer is (here). The TV I know how to work is in the same place," Stevens said at the start of his second season. "The equipment guys don't have to carry thousands of bags. The video guys don't have to move their whole life. It made a lot more sense to stay here. We're in the age and stage where work and the familiarity in which you work — the kind of work we're getting done is a lot more important than anything else, than where we're doing it."

With 10 new faces in the fold for the 2017-18 season, Stevens decided he wanted to switch things up in order to help the bonding process during a shortened training camp.

"Spending time together," Stevens said, "that was it. At the end of the da, it’s about eating dinner last night together, eating all three meals together today, the practices. And if we were doing it at Waltham we’d all likely go home or go on to do our own thing. We may hang out a little bit, but not like we are now and so I think that’s a positive. There’s only so much you can expedite in terms of getting to know each other, but I thought it would be good to spend time together."

The Celtics will only spend four days total in Newport before heading back to Waltham on Friday, but teammates are already enjoying spending extra time together after the work day is done.

"Team dinners. That’s what everybody does," Marcus Smart explained. "Everybody talking to one another, texting one another, we’re in each other’s rooms, hanging out. That’s a good thing."

"We went to dinner yesterday," Kyrie Irving noted. "Coach Stevens, I’m pretty sure will have some guest-speakers or, Coach Stevens is known for that, right? Having guest speakers and guys that have great influence on just the world in general and how it applies to basketball, it all ties in, I’m sure we’ll do a lot more of that. This week, I don’t even know if we have time for activities. This is more or less about diving into film, getting used to one another, getting used to each other’s company."

2. Marcus Smart's new physique is already paying dividends on the court: The hype train continues to build for the fourth-year guard who looked very muscular next to his backcourt mates on Day 1. Stevens for one has already taken note of Smart's improved stamina after the weight loss.

"Yeah. I think we all can tell," Stevens declared. "He looks good and he's worked hard to do that. He's going to continue to work hard to do that. Obviously, you don't notice it from a standpoint of him looking just as strong and feisty as ever, it's just a matter that he can do it longer. That should be a real positive."

"It feels a lot different, it feels good," Smart added. "I’m getting up on my jump shots, I’m actually getting up a lot better for real. I can definitely keep going. I lost the weight, but the strength is still there so that’s real good."

3. Kyrie Irving likes having a shorter preseason: The 25-year-old All-Star has a lot of work to do in three weeks of the preseason to get himself fully acclimated to the C's system, but Irving is a fan of the fact he won't be wasting too much time on the court during the exhibition season.

"Hell yeah," Irving said when asked if he liked the new preseason schedule. "It’s like you get so used to playing, what, eight games? And it’s a month. I like it. I like it. We get games starting earlier and we just get the season started. It’s a limited amount of time, especially if you’re in a new situation but it’s all a learning experience at the same time. So I enjoy getting to know all these guys, like I said. Unusual training camp but I can get used to it over the next few years."

Count Gordon Hayward among those who prefer the shift as well, despite its potential drawbacks.

“With a new team, new players, probably the more you play, the more experience you have, the better you’ll be," Hayward explained. "But as a player, I like the shortened preseason just because then you can get right into it. You don’t have as many exhibition games.”

Stevens is withholding his judgment for now until the real season begins.

"I think I’ll tell you in five years," he quipped. "I think as coaches you always like practice, but time will tell. We’ll see. You’ve got to be pretty specific about what you’re trying to accomplish and there’s some challenges with that in three weeks."

4. Gordon Hayward's versatility is coming in handy: The reunion between Hayward and Stevens is just one day old on the court, but it didn't take long for his college head coach to appreciate the ability Hayward has to make his teammates better on both ends.

"I think what Gordon brings to the table from a versatility standpoint and from the way he plays the game, he can pretty much mesh with anyone, anytime, anywhere," Stevens continued. "That's a really good quality to have obviously. I thought when Al got here last year, he enhanced everyone's games around him because of the way that he played. You can kind of see some of that with Gordon as well. ... Winning has to be the most important thing. You have to competitive and tough-minded and he's always been all of that."

5. Geno Auriemma watched training camp with a number of other local college coaches: The sidelines were packed at Salve Regina with college coaches as Stevens opened the team's doors to observers, including the University of Connecticut coaching legend:

"He's just checking it out," Stevens said of Auriemma. "I mean, I've gotten to know him really well and I appreciate his insights and his thoughts. It's fun to have him around. I said last year, we lost 29 games last year, he hasn't lost 29 games in 20 years."