Milwaukee Bucks sophomore center Thon Maker may not be a household name, but he’s certainly putting his imprint on his team’s opening-round series against the Boston Celtics.
Maker played sparingly in the first two games of the series, logging just over a minute combined and making no discernible impact. But the Sudanese big man came alive in Games 3 and 4 and helped his team even things up at 2-2 as the series shifts back to Boston for a pivotal Game 5 on Tuesday night.
The 7-foot Maker scored 14 points and eight points, respectively, in the last two games, including a couple of big three-pointers in Game 4 on Sunday, but arguably made his biggest contributions on the defensive end with five huge blocks in each of those contests.
When asked about his newfound inspiration, Maker pointed to a recent Instagram video featuring Kevin Garnett, wherein the legendary big man discusses both his notorious on-court intensity and his approach to guarding the game’s best players.
Nick Friedell of ESPN reported that the two connected after Garnett’s video stood out to Maker.
“He posted it on his Instagram, and somebody showed it to me,” Maker said after Tuesday’s shootaround. “And then I watched it and I sent it back to him and told him how motivational it was and said I liked it. So then we started talking.”
Garnett has spent the past two seasons working out with Maker and the Bucks at various points throughout the season, and the video served as another reminder for Maker of just how much intensity is needed on the postseason stage.
“The biggest thing is having that attack mindset on both ends of the floor,” Maker said. “With him, he doesn’t care who you are in front of him if you’re playing against him. On the defensive end, [defending] your shot and protecting your teammates. The biggest thing when it comes to your teammates, him dealing with his teammates, was always touching a guy, telling him, ‘Stay up’ — keeping the guys positive.”
Garnett’s work with Maker is clearly paying dividends, and it couldn’t have come at a better time for Milwaukee.
After dropping the first two games of the series, it appeared the Bucks were headed for another quick postseason exit, but they have an opportunity to take command of the series when Game 5 tips off at TD Garden on Tuesday night, and Maker’s sudden surge could definitely be a turning point for a team looking to disrupt the power dynamic in the East this postseason.
