Milwaukee Bucks: Grades from 116-92 Game 3 win over Boston Celtics

A+. Thon Maker was a game-changer on Friday night, and if the Bucks find a way to advance to round two from here, he’ll be looked back on as a series-changer too. Maker was the catalyst to unleashing the best version of the Bucks for parts of last season’s first round series in Toronto, and with an unexpected chance to contribute on Friday he managed to do it again. Most players don’t even have it in them to bring the kind of frantic, relentless and contagious energy and intensity that Maker possesses at his best. His shot-blocking was out of this world and Maker’s sheer presence around the basket became enough to scare off Boston at moments later in the game. Henson proved in Game 1 that the Celtics are at their most challenged offensively when the Bucks show them resistance at the rim, and Maker has built on that in Game 3. Maker’s defensive influence extended beyond his five blocks as he acted as the key to Milwaukee unlocking their nightmare inducing potential as a switch everything defense. Thon was locked in on every switch, he fought relentlessly and he very clearly spurred his teammates on. On the other end of the floor, Maker regained his three-point shooting touch at the perfect time, knocking down three long balls en route to 14 points. As confidence flowed through Maker on Friday night, it grew and grew throughout the BMO Harris Bradley Center too.. Center. Milwaukee Bucks. THON MAKER

JABARI PARKER. A-. On countless occasions over the past couple of months, Jabari Parker has found his game much easier than he ever really came close to on Friday. This wasn’t a game when Jabari’s jumper ever felt truly automatic or his herky-jerky movement seemed to open up repeatable openings to drive to the rim, and in truth that’s what made Parker’s performance all the more impressive. After making his strangest and most concerning comments of a month filled with strange and concerning comments at practice on Thursday, Parker clearly found his focus. Whether it was his coach, teammates or his agent that got Jabari’s eyes back on the prize, or the player himself finally finding the right way to channel his frustrations, the outcome was vital to Milwaukee’s effort. Parker worked up and down the floor, filling lanes correctly on offense rather than clogging things up for Milwaukee. Parker excelled in taking up a bigger role in clean-up duty and he thrived in finding the spots in behind or up above the Celtics’ defense where teammates could find him for easy looks. On defense, Parker was locked in and engaged throughout. That included forcing a couple of turnovers and taking a charge. On Thursday, Parker spoke about what he deserves and gave off a sense of entitlement in regard to playing time. On Friday, he came out and earned every single second of his playing time with one of the more selfless and complete performances of his tumultuous NBA career. The Bucks will hope that message isn’t lost on their mercurial young forward and that he’ll be just as locked in on Sunday.. Forward. Milwaukee Bucks

Milwaukee Bucks. MATTHEW DELLAVEDOVA. B+. For all of his limitations, it’s on a night like this when <a href=. Guard

B-. Tony Snell deserves a lot of credit. He’s become something of a strangely contentious figure among the Bucks’ community of late, in large part to underwhelming box score efforts. The problem with those critiques is they have never been Snell’s strength. On Friday, he could have reacted poorly to falling out of the starting lineup and he has indeed struggled with changes of role this year, but he was ready to contribute when his number was called. There are many who would like Snell to take more than the three shots he put up in this one, but Snell’s two makes from deep and diligent defensive effort allowed the Bucks to thrive in his time on the court.. Guard. Milwaukee Bucks. TONY SNELL