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Ray Allen ready to face Celtics

Ray Allen will face his former team in his first game with the Miami Heat, but says that the season opener against the Miami Heat will be just like any other game.

Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

Ray Allen's first opponent as a member of the Miami Heat is a familiar one, but the offseason acquisition says he has no problems playing the Boston Celtics Tuesday night.

Allen, of course, spent five years with Boston, winning the only title of his career in 2008. But the future Hall of Fame shooter shocked the many by opting to sign with the Heat instead of sticking with Boston, a move that caused Kevin Garnett to say that he no longer speaks to his longtime teammate. Despite the supposed bad blood, Allen said that the game was "nothing personal", and that he just wants to win the season opener, like any other game. From Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel:

"You guys think I have some sort of animosity toward them," he said. "I don't."
Allen said it will be a night of mixed emotions, excited his next teammates are getting championship rings, but disappointed his former team came up short against the Heat in a memorable Eastern Conference finals.
Of the game itself, he said, "It's nothing personal. You want to beat the other team."

Allen was part of the Celtics team that lost to the Heat in seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals last year. The Heat will have a ceremony before the game to receive their championship rings and raise their banner from last year's Finals win, although Allen will obviously not participate.

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