In the chase for the NBA championship last season, the Boston Celtics had to navigate through challenges presented by a less-than-stellar bench. However, this year’s journey is shaping up to be somewhat different. Despite still finding themselves near the league’s bottom in terms of bench points per game, there are glimmers of hope with Payton Pritchard’s impressive contribution of 14.1 points per game. Along with Pritchard, the Celtics have brought in forward Torrey Craig, who seems ready to uplift the team’s second unit.
Craig, reflecting on his contribution to the team, shared with Justin Turpin from WEEI, “Ultimately, the goal is to win. So I’m gonna do whatever I can to try to contribute on helping us win ball games.”
Poised at the second spot in the Eastern Conference, the Celtics might not be in dire need of additional assistance, but a player like Craig could be a significant asset on both sides of the court. Known for his skills as a solid 3-and-D wing, Craig is shooting a promising 45.9 percent from beyond the arc this season. Although it’s based on a small sample size of 11 games, nine of which were with the Chicago Bulls, it still marks a significant impact.
Looking back four years, Craig was a key player off the bench during the Phoenix Suns’ journey to the 2021 NBA Finals. While Boston cruised to the 2024 NBA Finals last season, this year presents tougher competition. Teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks have shown marked improvement, promising a more contested path through the Eastern Conference.
Yet, if the Celtics can reignite their passion and drive, they might just secure the top spot once more and find themselves favorites in the title race. Next on the agenda: Jaylen Brown shares his candid thoughts on the new NBA All-Star Game format.
