Jayson Tatum reveals what sophisticated shooting mechanics are “a reflection” of

Jayson Tatum said at the start of training camp that he had adjusted the form of his jump shot. That was a focus of offseason work with coach Drew Hanlen after the perennial All-NBA forward failed to perform at his level during the Celtics’ championship run.

In Boston’s first two preseason appearances, Tatum demonstrated the elimination of a problem that led to a quicker release. More wrist movement and a concerted effort to keep the shoulders forward also helped.

Tatum once again excelled in the Celtics’ 130-104 win over the Denver Nuggets in their second game in Abu Dhabi. He scored 17 points and four assists in 23 minutes and shot 6-14 from the field. He also took a 3:7 lead from distance for the second game in a row.

“After every season you look back and think about things you can get better at,” Tatum said of his refined shooting techniques. “I shot 38 percent of my threes last year, I shot 8.5 threes per game. Especially in the playoffs, I didn’t shoot threes as well as I would have liked.”

Even with Tatum’s long-distance struggles during Boston’s dominant 16-3 postseason run on Banner 18, he still could have won Finals MVP. He became the sixth player in NBA history to win a championship and lead in every statistical category.

Tatum delivered an incredible performance of 31 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds in Game 5 to help Boston reach the NBA summit. He also had a significant impact on defense, including neutralizing the Mavericks’ centers as lob threats.

But as he strives to be the best version of himself, Tatum wasn’t about to spend the summer on a recording that needed fine-tuning.

“Just a look back at what happened last season and next season: what can I do better and what can I work on? “Being more efficient out of three was at the top of the list.”

Matching his shot while continuing to make an all-round impact and helping lead the Celtics through the upcoming season will go a long way in Boston’s title hunt and Tatum’s quest to win MVP.