NBA

Expect Heat rivalry after LeBron’s shot at new Nets

Last summer, Ray Allen was criticized in Boston – including by former teammates – for leaving the Celtics to join the defending champion Heat.

So both LeBron James and Dwyane Wade wondered Wednesday what the difference was between what Allen did and what Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry did this offseason in joining the Nets.

“The first thing that I thought was like, `Wow, Ray got killed for leaving Boston and now these guys are leaving Boston,’ ” James told reporters after practice. “I think it’s OK. I don’t mind it, but there was a couple guys that basically [criticized] Ray for leaving and everybody else is leaving.”

After Allen left the Celtics last summer, Garnett said he had deleted Allen’s phone number.

“I don’t have Ray’s number anymore,” he said. “I’m not trying to communicate. I’m just being honest here … it’s just what it is.”

Terry later lauded Pierce’s willingness to “stick through the tough times” in Boston – a clear shot at Allen, who would go on to win a title with the Heat.

“Listen, we all know how the world works,” Wade said. “The biggest thing is Ray is happy here. If they’re happy in Brooklyn, I’m going to be happy. We all know how it works. People say things about people when they decide to do something, but then people do the same thing. It’s about putting yourself in the best situation. It’s about doing what’s best for your family.”

The fairly significant difference in the two situations, of course, is the three former Celtics were traded to Brooklyn and Allen left willingly as a free agent.

Regardless, it’s becoming clear the venom that existed between the Heat and Celtics over the past four seasons thanks to the long-standing personal battles between Wade, James, Pierce and Garnett has extended to Brooklyn, with Wade admitting that “you might see green when you see those guys.”

Though Thursday night’s game is a meaningless preseason contest, that won’t be the case in just over two weeks, when the Nets will host the Heat in their home opener on Nov. 1.

“Right now we’re still in preseason, we’re still in the mode of learning each other again and playing certain minutes,” Wade said. “It’s not Nov. 1. That will be a little different.”