NBA Playoff 2017: Three Observations And Three Overreactions

Observation: Thon Maker Might Be Ready Sooner Than We Thought

When the Milwaukee Bucks selected Thon Maker with the 10th pick in the 2016 Draft, there were more than a few skeptics. Sure, 7-foot-1 big men will always have a place in the NBA, but the Sudan-born Maker didn’t have the added benefit of playing AAU and college ball (he only played high school basketball, in Canada, but was allowed to jump to the NBA without college ball because of his age and being one year removed from high school) the way so many of today’s stars do.

Instead, he was viewed more as a long-term project who was a few years away from any meaningful contributions, if any. He needed to learn the pace of the NBA, needed to bulk up, and needed to improve his post-presence. It wasn’t a stretch to forecast him as the next Hasheem Thabeet.

Instead, Maker took great strides to improve under the tutelage of head coach Jason Kidd, improving his footwork and defensive awareness enough to earn the starting center job for the Bucks last 31 games of the season and the Game 1 start in Toronto, only an hour from his high school.

While he still needs to bulk up and improve his stamina (he only played 15 minutes in Game 1), there was a thrilling third quarter sequence that reminded many of a young Kevin Garnett.

With the Bucks trailing the Raptors, Kyle Lowry had a lane to the hoop for what looked like an easy two points. Maker chased Lowry down from behind and with a monstrous block sent the ball into the stands. On the very next Raptors possession, DeMar DeRozan drove to the hoop and had his attempt blocked by Maker, igniting a quick fast break opportunity that kept Milwaukee from looking back the remainder of the game.

It was only a brief stretch, but it was a playoff game and it is looking like Maker could pay off sooner, rather than later for this Young Bucks team as a defensive force in the mold of Garnett.