Milwaukee Bucks 2017-18 Season Review: Thon Maker
By Adam McGee
Summer focus and final grade
Much of Maker’s summer focus needs to be about continuing to learn, as much as it needs to be about working on his body and his game.
For all of Maker’s current limitations, his attributes leave plenty of room for him to be a positive contributor. What can often be Maker’s downfall, though, is a lack of understanding or a proclivity to play purely on instincts.
By no means should that be completely removed from Maker’s game, but it’s near impossible to say he wouldn’t benefit from being just a bit more cerebral at times. Just because Maker can block every shot or can force steals on every possession, doesn’t mean he should be forcing those kind of situations every time down floor.
While the Bucks’ defense in particular instilled bad habits and left Milwaukee open to frequent breakdowns in communication, Maker is one of the players who instinctively strays out of position looking to make plays.
Under a new coaching staff and Mike Budenholzer’s famed development program, Maker can improve significantly and learn a lot, but more than anything if he could begin to let the game come to him more often, it could be a real game-changer for his role next season.
To turn to the other end of the floor, Maker continuing to develop a more consistent three-point shooting touch needs to be the focus. Beyond that, continuing to work on his passing would be a welcome addition as Maker as shown brief flashes of great passing potential during his two years in Milwaukee, although they’ve been too seldom overall.
Maker will also compete alongside teammate Matthew Dellavedova for the Australian National Team this summer, giving him the opportunity to get some game reps in too.
On the whole, Maker’s second season was a disappointment, yet having committed to starting (and developing) him late last season, Kidd, Prunty and the Bucks probably did him a disservice with his early season role change.
In spite of that and his own underwhelming contributions, Maker did produce enough in the playoffs to remind the organization and Bucks fans why there was reason to be excited about him heading into the season. That sense of hope should, and likely will, be retained for another year at least.
BTBP Final Grade: C-
Next: Milwaukee Bucks 2017-18 Season Review: Khris Middleton
That wraps up or season reviews for the 2017-18 season, all of our previous reviews are available for you to read on-site, and be sure to stick with us at Behind the Buck Pass throughout the offseason.