{"id":236402,"date":"2025-08-17T19:05:48","date_gmt":"2025-08-17T19:05:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/236402\/"},"modified":"2025-08-17T19:05:48","modified_gmt":"2025-08-17T19:05:48","slug":"torrey-craig-says-first-months-with-celtics-are-everything-he-hoped-and-much-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/236402\/","title":{"rendered":"Torrey Craig says first months with Celtics are everything he hoped and \u201cmuch more\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

SAN ANTONIO \u2014 Torrey Craig<\/a> hasn\u2019t gotten too much run since he signed with the Celtics<\/a> in early March. But you won\u2019t find him complaining about the situation.<\/p>\n

So far, Craig\u2019s tenure in Boston has been everything he expected, \u201cand much more,\u201d he told CelticsBlog at shootaround in San Antonio on Saturday morning.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe guys are great, the coaches are great, and it\u2019s a winning culture,\u201d Craig said. \u201cI\u2019m glad to be a part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

This season, Craig has appeared in 12 games with the Celtics, averaging 8.9 minutes a night. He\u2019s shooting 40% from three-point range and has made crashing the glass a priority, averaging 4.1 offensive rebounds per 36 minutes, good for second-best on the team.<\/p>\n

Above all, he\u2019s made an impression among Celtics fans as one of the most raucous sideline celebrators.<\/p>\n

\u201cI get caught up in the game,\u201d Craig said with a smile when asked about his never-ending energy on the sidelines. \u201cI be excited for my teammates, for our team, and I just like to have fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adjusting to a new team midseason<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not the first time Craig has joined a new team in the middle of the season \u2014 in 2021, he was traded from the Milwaukee Bucks<\/a> to the Phoenix Suns<\/a> midseason, and subsequently became a key member of the Suns team that went to the Finals.<\/p>\n

But each team and each acclimation process is different, and with the Celtics, the biggest adjustment has been learning all of the team\u2019s defenses.<\/p>\n

\u201cComing here, there\u2019s more attention to details of switching defenses every so often, and the way they guard guys and the way they game plan for teams,\u201d he said. \u201cSo that\u2019s been the most difficult part \u2014 trying to learn everything on the fly. But, I\u2019ve been here long enough now, I pretty much got to understanding of how they do things, and I\u2019m pretty much caught up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe Mazzulla has liked what he\u2019s seen from the veteran wing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI always appreciate guys like him \u2014 been in the league a long time, come to a new situation, and just have patience and kind of understanding what we\u2019re trying to do,\u201d Mazzulla said Saturday before the Celtics beat the Spurs.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s played in meaningful minutes, he\u2019s played at the end of games, and he really just wants to play and wants to compete at a high level. He\u2019s understanding our defensive schemes better, making reads, communicating, plays with a ton of energy, and done a good job knocking down open shots.\u201d<\/p>\n

Still, it\u2019s rookie Baylor Scheierman who has filled in backup wing minutes for the Celtics, averaging 18.9 minutes across nine games in March. Scheierman is shooting 47.4% from three in March and has shown off his playmaking, too.<\/p>\n

The rookie\u2019s emergence has meant that Craig on-court opportunities have been limited. So, whenever he does get an on-court stint, he\u2019s been dead set on finding a way to contribute to winning, regardless of what that looks like.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I know I\u2019m not playing that much, I just want to figure out ways to impact the game, whether it\u2019s offensive rebounds, getting a block, getting a steal, making a shot, playing defense, getting the deflection,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to impact the game in every way I can. So, if I\u2019m not making shots, then I\u2019m gonna affect it another way. If I\u2019m not getting rebounds, then I\u2019m gonna do this. I just try to find different ways to impact the game right away.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Craig reflected on his evolution with the team, Jordan Walsh<\/a>, the Celtics\u2019 youngest player at 21-year-old, interrupted the interview.<\/p>\n

\u201cOG!!!\u201d he belted, squeezing Craig\u2019s shoulders.<\/p>\n

The two backup wings have formed good rapport on the bench, both known for their wild celebrations when the Celtics score.<\/p>\n

\"Jayson<\/a><\/p>\n

Torrey Craig and Jordan Walsh have formed a celebratory duo on the bench. Photo by Erin Clark\/The Boston Globe via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown\u2019s steady approach has made it easier for a guy like Craig to find his footing on the squad.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just appreciate their demeanor, how they come to work every day,\u201d Craig said. \u201cThey don\u2019t get too high, get too low. They kind of stay the same, you know what I\u2019m saying? They\u2019ve been around for a long time, and been in a lot of clutch games \u2014 been in a lot of games, period. They easy guys to fit along with.\u201d<\/p>\n

Craig could see postseason minutes if the matchup calls for it. His extensive playoff experience (75 games, 16.3 minutes a night) separates him from Scheierman and Walsh.<\/p>\n

But, regardless of what happens, he\u2019ll be a beacon of joy on the sidelines.<\/p>\n

\u201cStuff like that is contagious, you know?\u201d Craig said. \u201cWhen everyone\u2019s having fun, celebrating your teammates\u2019 success and just trying to be a positive vibe all the time for everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n

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