Torrey Craig says first months with Celtics are every thing he hoped and “rather more”

SAN ANTONIO — Torrey Craig hasn’t gotten an excessive amount of run since he signed with the Celtics in early March. However you received’t discover him complaining concerning the scenario.

To this point, Craig’s tenure in Boston has been every thing he anticipated, “and rather more,” he instructed CelticsBlog at shootaround in San Antonio on Saturday morning.

“The fellows are nice, the coaches are nice, and it’s a profitable tradition,” Craig mentioned. “I’m glad to be part of it.”

This season, Craig has appeared in 12 video games with the Celtics, averaging 8.9 minutes an evening. He’s taking pictures 40% from three-point vary and has made crashing the glass a precedence, averaging 4.1 offensive rebounds per 36 minutes, good for second-best on the group.

Above all, he’s made an impression amongst Celtics followers as some of the raucous sideline celebrators.

“I get caught up within the sport,” Craig mentioned with a smile when requested about his endless power on the sidelines. “I be excited for my teammates, for our group, and I similar to to have enjoyable.”

Adjusting to a brand new group midseason

It’s not the primary time Craig has joined a brand new group in the midst of the season — in 2021, he was traded from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Phoenix Suns midseason, and subsequently grew to become a key member of the Suns group that went to the Finals.

However every group and every acclimation course of is totally different, and with the Celtics, the largest adjustment has been studying the entire group’s defenses.

“Coming right here, there’s extra consideration to particulars of switching defenses now and again, and the way in which they guard guys and the way in which they sport plan for groups,” he mentioned. “In order that’s been probably the most tough half — making an attempt to be taught every thing on the fly. However, I’ve been right here lengthy sufficient now, I just about bought to understanding of how they do issues, and I’m just about caught up.”

Joe Mazzulla has favored what he’s seen from the veteran wing.

“I at all times admire guys like him — been within the league a very long time, come to a brand new scenario, and simply have endurance and sort of understanding what we’re making an attempt to do,” Mazzulla mentioned Saturday earlier than the Celtics beat the Spurs.

“He’s performed in significant minutes, he’s performed on the finish of video games, and he actually simply desires to play and desires to compete at a excessive degree. He’s understanding our defensive schemes higher, making reads, speaking, performs with a ton of power, and achieved a great job flattening open pictures.”

Nonetheless, it’s rookie Baylor Scheierman who has crammed in backup wing minutes for the Celtics, averaging 18.9 minutes throughout 9 video games in March. Scheierman is taking pictures 47.4% from three in March and has proven off his playmaking, too.

The rookie’s emergence has meant that Craig on-court alternatives have been restricted. So, each time he does get an on-court stint, he’s been lifeless set on discovering a method to contribute to profitable, no matter what that appears like.

“If I do know I’m not enjoying that a lot, I simply wish to determine methods to impression the sport, whether or not it’s offensive rebounds, getting a block, getting a steal, making a shot, enjoying protection, getting the deflection,” he mentioned.

“I wish to impression the sport in each manner I can. So, if I’m not making pictures, then I’m gonna have an effect on it one other manner. If I’m not getting rebounds, then I’m gonna do that. I simply attempt to discover other ways to impression the sport instantly.”

As Craig mirrored on his evolution with the group, Jordan Walsh, the Celtics’ youngest participant at 21-year-old, interrupted the interview.

“OG!!!” he belted, squeezing Craig’s shoulders.

The 2 backup wings have fashioned good rapport on the bench, each identified for his or her wild celebrations when the Celtics rating.

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown’s regular method has made it simpler for a man like Craig to search out his footing on the squad.

“I simply admire their demeanor, how they arrive to work on daily basis,” Craig mentioned. “They don’t get too excessive, get too low. They sort of keep the identical, what I’m saying? They’ve been round for a very long time, and been in a number of clutch video games — been in a number of video games, interval. They simple guys to suit together with.”

Craig might see postseason minutes if the matchup requires it. His in depth playoff expertise (75 video games, 16.3 minutes an evening) separates him from Scheierman and Walsh.

However, no matter what occurs, he’ll be a beacon of pleasure on the sidelines.

“Stuff like that’s contagious, ?” Craig mentioned. “When everybody’s having enjoyable, celebrating your teammates’ success and simply making an attempt to be a constructive vibe on a regular basis for everyone.”