The Boston Celtics will spend the season primarily focused on getting ready for the spring and the postseason. But fans will be treated to a little extra excitement earlier on the calendar with the return of the NBA Cup.

Launched last year, the league's in-season tournament is still something fans are getting used to. It's an idea borrowed from European soccer, and a way for the NBA to create some intrigue and suspense. The group stage of the tournament overlaps with ordinary regular season games. Each team plays on unique courts for these contests in order to make it clear to viewers and fans that a game is part of the NBA Cup. The splashy colors and special designs are also meant to build more buzz around the tournament.

On Thursday, the league unveiled the new court for the Celtics and the rest of the league for 2024 NBA Cup

The Group Stage for the NBA Cup begins in early November

Boston's first action is at home against the Atlanta Hawks on November 12. The Celtics will play four games during this part of the tournament in the month of November. By some estimates, they have one of the easiest draws in the league.

Boston advanced from the Group Stage in 2023 before falling to the Indiana Pacers in the penultimate round of last season's NBA Cup. Boston would get the last laugh in the postseason, however.

If the Celtics do advance past the knockout stage of the NBA Cup this year, the quarterfinals will be played in the middle of December.

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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: NBA unveils new courts for 2024 NBA Cup