Boston’s Jayson Tatum credits changing physique, ability to read the game for growth in free throw attempts

“The older I get, the more my body develops,” he added with a shrug, “the more I’m able to take contact.”

Any press conference that starts with the backdrop falling on you is automatically good luck, or at least that’s what Boston Celtics fans watching superstar forward Jayson Tatum talk about his career high in rebounds in Boston’s 123-119 home win over the Chicago Bulls on Friday night.

Still smirking from the near-disaster, the St. Louis native replied that he’s been being aggressive to get to the line to put up the sort of free throw attempts he did in the Bulls win, 20 in total. “The older I get, the more my body develops,” he added with a shrug via CLNS Media, “the more I’m able to take contact.”

“Also, just reading — when we’re in the bonus time, and the situation of the game; I think I’ve gotten a lot better at that over the years.”

The strategy worked out well for the Duke alumnus, with Tatum converting a total of 17 of those 20 attempts, on his way to leading his team in scoring with 36 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists on the way to a game won by a pair of possessions.

There has been rumbling about Tatum being a Most Valuable Player candidate this season, and if he is going to make a serious run at that hardware, this will need to be a consistent part of his game.

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