Shootaround notebook: Celtics set starting five, Kyrie Irving on his return to Cleveland, Morris talks injury

CLEVELAND -- Brad Stevens hinted that Jayson Tatum would be getting the starting nod at power forward earlier this week, but the head coach confirmed at Tuesday's shootaround that the rookie will draw the opening night assignment in the frontcourt. Stevens will go with Kyrie Irving, Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward and Al Horford against a likely starting five of Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Jae Crowder and Kevin Love for Cleveland.

Stevens on starting Tatum: "Starting, playing, all the minutes are the same to me. I know it's a big talking point whether a guy starts or not but it's more important how they play when they get in. I think he compliments that first group well and he plays the game with the right pace and he makes the right basketball play. Age doesn't really matter when that comes into effect. I think also at times when you aren't as experienced and you haven't seen it all, it's better to be on the court when Al, Gordon or Kyrie is on the court."

Kyrie reacts to his Cleveland return

It might be hard to find anyone else on either roster that wants to get tonight over with more than Irving.

"I’m just happy to get the season started, regardless of who we play," Irving said at shootaround. "Obviously, it’s made a much bigger deal because it’s the Cleveland Cavaliers and the situation that happened this summer and being a part of a great trade. Just truly appreciative to have this opportunity to play the game on a bigger stage and be back here in Cleveland to start of the season. It feels different but I’m ready to get started."

He also tried to throw some cold water on the controversy caused by him calling Boston a "real live, sports city" last week.

"Of course it was going to turn into a comparison," Irving said. "I was talking about driving into Boston and when I’m actually on the highway driving through Boston and doing this in a new environment of going into that city, it’s something different for me. It kinda worked out that I was talking to Marc Spears and it turned into a comparison of me comparing Boston to Cleveland and it wasn’t anything like that. A real live sports city is anything that you want it to be in terms of your opinion but for me it was me driving in and thinking that I’m in a real live sports city, something that I’ve kinda witnessed from afar that I didn’t really know about until I actually got a chance to be in Boston and see what the fans are like. That was exciting for me."

Marcus Morris travels with the team and talks on his injury

The 6-foot-8 forward will be sidelined for at least the first week of the regular season (right knee soreness) but the veteran made the trip to Cleveland for opening night to give his new teammates some support. He also reflected a little bit on the cause of his injury and whether a quick start to camp was the issue.

"I don’t think so because I was working out," Morris said. "It wasn’t like I just got off my couch or came in overweight. I’m not really sure what it is, but it’s really sore and uncomfortable. My best bet is to just let it get better and play when I’m ready."

Morris is will be re-evaluated by team doctors in the middle of next week.