Torrey Craig says first months with Celtics are everything he hoped and “much 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 date, Craig’s tenure in Boston has been all the things he anticipated, “and way more,” he advised CelticsBlog at shootaround in San Antonio on Saturday morning.

“The blokes are nice, the coaches are nice, and it’s a successful 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 workforce.

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

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

Adjusting to a brand new workforce midseason

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

However every workforce and every acclimation course of is completely different, and with the Celtics, the most important adjustment has been studying the entire workforce’s defenses.

“Coming right here, there’s extra consideration to particulars of switching defenses on occasion, and the best way they guard guys and the best way they recreation plan for groups,” he mentioned. “In order that’s been probably the most troublesome half — making an attempt to be taught all the things on the fly. However, I’ve been right here lengthy sufficient now, I just about acquired 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 recognize 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 vitality, and achieved a superb job pulling down open pictures.”

Nonetheless, it’s rookie Baylor Scheierman who has stuffed 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, every time he does get an on-court stint, he’s been useless set on discovering a strategy to contribute to successful, no matter what that appears like.

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

“I need to influence 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 alternative ways to influence the sport immediately.”

As Craig mirrored on his evolution with the workforce, 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 shaped good rapport on the bench, each recognized for his or her wild celebrations when the Celtics rating.

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

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

Craig may 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, you realize?” Craig mentioned. “When everybody’s having enjoyable, celebrating your teammates‘ success and simply making an attempt to be a optimistic vibe on a regular basis for everyone.”