Behind the Bucks Pass
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Milwaukee Bucks: 5 goals for Thon Maker in 2018-19 season

By Jordan Treske

MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 13: Thon Maker #7 of the Milwaukee Bucks dunks the ball in the third quarter against the Detroit Pistons during a preseason game at BMO Harris Bradley Center on October 13, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 13: Thon Maker #7 of the Milwaukee Bucks dunks the ball in the third quarter against the Detroit Pistons during a preseason game at BMO Harris Bradley Center on October 13, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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MILWAUKEE, WI – APRIL 26: (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI – APRIL 26: (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Bring defensive enforcer mentality into regular season

We all know Maker’s time to shine has come during each of the Bucks’ last two playoff runs where he effectively threw a wrench in the team’s series with the Toronto Raptors and the Boston Celtics.

That was more seen on the defensive end where Maker’s go-go gadget arms, high intensity and constant movement wreaked havoc when protecting the rim, especially on the Bucks’ home floor.

Maker’s back-to-back block-a-palooza in Games 3 and 4 against the Celtics lifted his shot blocking numbers, which came in at 1.8 blocks over the six appearances he made during the seven-game series.

Needless to say, that vastly differed to the defender Maker posed to be in this regard throughout the regular season. As John Schuhmann of NBA.com noted in his essential Bucks-centric one team, one stat preview earlier last week, opposing teams often had little resistance maneuvering their way inside the paint and towards to the hoop with Maker on the floor:

"“The Bucks prevented restricted-area shots better with John Henson at center than they did with Thon Maker at center. With Maker on the floor, opponents took 39 percent of their shots in the restricted area. That was the highest rate (by a pretty wide margin) among 255 players that were on the floor for at least 2,000 opponent field goal attempts last season.”"

Now plenty can be chalked up to the Bucks’ scheme issues that were stubbornly clung to by the previous coaching regime. With that said, Maker’s defensive struggles went beyond that feature in the Bucks’ defensive failings last season.

Same as is the case for his overall development, how Budenholzer’s philosophy and defensive aspirations affect Maker’s services on that side of the floor will be one of many key aspects to follow throughout the year.

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