The Celtics are hoping for a little deja vu from their championship season of 2008. That began with an overseas trip, too.
The C's left Boston on Monday night for preseason games in Istanbul, Turkey on Friday and Milan, Italy, on Sunday.
Coach Doc Rivers recalled how the preseason trip to Rome just after the Big Three was brought together in 2007 ended up being a contributing factor to what wound up being a championship season.
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Captain Paul Pierce is hoping for the same thing this time around.
"It's a better opportunity to get to know your teammates," Pierce said.
New Celtic Jason Terry agreed.
"It gets us out of our comfort zones," Terry said. "You're in a strange city and all you have are your teammates."
Comcast SportsNet will bring you both games, beginning with pregame coverage from Istanbul on Friday at 1:30 p.m.