Personal trainer: Curry shooting more free throws ‘simply because…'

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When Steph Curry was the unanimous MVP in 2015-16, he shot 5.1 free throws per game.

Last year, he got to the line 4.6 times per contest.

Through eight games this season, Curry is averaging a career-high 7.6 free throw attempts.

Why the surge?

“It’s something that we talked about for several years now,” Brandon Payne -- Curry's longtime personal trainer -- told Sam Amick of USA Today Sports. “As he has continued to develop and mature physically, he has a little more speed and burst that might not have been there a couple years ago.

Now when he goes into the paint, instead of absorbing contact, he’s looking to initiate the contact. He’s driving with a purpose. He’s driving looking to finish and initiate the contact, and I think that’s what’s led to this spike in free throws.

"And I don’t think it’s going to slow down anytime soon.”

Considering the fact that Curry is shooting over 95 percent (58 for 61) from the line this year, the Warriors don't want it to slow down.

When you're the deadliest 3-point shooter in the game -- and you get to the line a lot -- you're nearly impossible to guard.

“Teams are going to come out and they’re going to push up on him and they’re going to try to take away space from him out on the perimeter and it leaves driving lanes,” Payne explained. “And now, he certainly has the ability to get in there, and he gets in there very quickly, and he gets in there not only looking to score but to get to the free throw line as well.

"When you drive aggressively, you’re constantly putting the officials in a position where they have to make a decision. You’re not giving them the out by trying to get around contac. I think he’s starting to get more calls simply because of the posture and kind of the aggression that he is going to the basket with now.

"I think once the officials have started to realize that he’s starting to do that, then they’re going to look to make that call.”

Drew Shiller is the co-host of Warriors Outsiders. Follow him on Twitter @DrewShiller

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