The Boston Celtics will hold training camp at Salve Regina University for the first time since Brad Stevens' rookie year as a coach, a noteworthy decision after Stevens supported a move back to the team's Waltham practice facility three years ago.

Under Doc Rivers, the Celtics regularly held their first handful of practices at the Newport, RI, college. But after sticking with the tradition during his first season on the Celtics sideline, Stevens decided to move training camp back to the team's Waltham practice facility. The Celtics held camp there for each of the last three seasons before opting to return to Salve Regina this fall. They will hold media day Sept. 25 in Canton before practicing at the RI college from Sept. 26-28.

The switch back to Salve Regina suggests a change in strategy. When the Celtics initially shifted training camp back to Waltham three years ago, Stevens' stressed the team had everything it needed at its regular practice facility.

"Because my office is here, the computer is (here). The TV I know how to work is in the same place," Stevens said in 2014. "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 only four returning players this year, the Celtics could potentially benefit from a short trip to open their practice schedule. Especially after the NBA turned to a shorter, four-game preseason and an earlier start date to the regular season, this year's team will need to grow familiarity quickly to reach high expectations. Stevens will need to acclimate two new All-Stars, Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward, as well as five rookies.