DALLASAvery Bradley isn't new to this.
Rajon Rondo will be out for the next two games serving a two-game suspension for throwing the ball at official Sean Wright in Boston's loss on Sunday in Detroit.
When Rondo's out, Bradley's in.
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But tonight's game will be different.
This will be the first time Bradley will start in front of most of his family and friends who made the short trek from Arlington, Texas.
"It's always good to play in front of your friends and family," Bradley told CSNNE.com. "I'm going to take it like any other game and just come out and play hard."
Effort has not been an issue for Bradley, easily the Celtic's best on-the-ball defender.
That defensive presence has been instrumental in his eight starts for the C's, who sport a nice 6-2 record with him in the starting lineup.
Although the Celtics have proven they can win with Bradley filling in for Rondo on a temporary basis, he still has plenty of room to grow.
"Avery, he's still working on his jump-shot," said Celtics guard Ray Allen. "He can still knock it down, but athletically, he does change the dynamics of our defense."
And for a team that prides itself on being a defensive-minded bunch, that's what you want.
"I just want to do whatever the team needs me to do, for us to win," said Bradley, who was in the middle of reviewing the scouting report on the Mavericks. "Of course it would be nice to play well in front of family. But for me, I just want to win. Whether I play good or bad, as long as we get the win, I'm good."