No. 5: Great rebounder
In his freshman season at Duke University, Jayson Tatum averaged 7.3 rebounds per game. This is a positive sign. At only 19 years of age, his body hasn’t quite filled out yet. Standing at 6’8″, he only weighs 204 pounds. As he puts on more weight, he should be able to continue grabbing boards at a proficient rate at the next level.
The Celtics were the fourth-worst rebounding team in the NBA last season. Al Horford, an undersized center, leads the team with just 6.8 rebounds per game. Without an elite rebounder, Boston is forced to take a rebound-by-committee approach.
Nothing is more deflating to a team than an offensive rebound after a solid defensive possession forcing an opponent into attempting a difficult shot.
Boston was dead last in defensive rebounding percentage last postseason. Tatum’s contributions on the boards will lead to less second chance points for opponents and more fast break opportunities for Boston.