Maker tries to hit ground running
MADISON - Thon Maker's participation in the Milwaukee Bucks' already-shortened training camp was hindered by a right ankle sprain that kept him out of full-speed work for more than a week.
He couldn't do everything his teammates could, but that didn't mean he was divorced from what they were doing.
Armed with the experience of sitting on the bench often during his rookie season last year, the 20year-old knows what it's like to learn by watching.
"The first few days of the non-contact (work) gave me a good chance to watch everybody and see how we're doing," Maker said Wednesday after the team's final practice at the Univer-
sity of Wisconsin's Nicholas Johnson Pavilion in Madison.
"Having a chance to watch is really big. That's how I started last year, watching a lot, watching a lot of film and taking notes. While I was out this year I was doing the same thing."
Maker said he often kept notes last year. During practices while he was limited during this season's camp, he at times borrowed a notebook so he could make reminders for himself.
Center Joel Anthony, a veteran who has been with four teams over his 10year career before joining the Bucks on a trainingcamp contract, has noticed Maker's willingness to learn and attention to detail. He sees the effort that the second-year center — 15 years Anthony's junior — is making.
"He's someone that's trying really hard to learn," Anthony said. "You can tell he's a student of the game and you can tell he's trying to gather as much information as he can."
In the two days since returning to full speed following his ankle sprain, Maker has tried to make up for the lost on-court time while getting into a rhythm with his teammates. He has tried to continue bringing the high-energy contributions he offered last season — most notably in the final few weeks of the season as well as the playoffs — while utilizing his voice, especially on the defensive end.
Enhanced communication is something the coaching staff has been emphasizing throughout camp, especially in regards to younger players finding their voice and not being afraid to use it. With Maker and second-year guard and reigning NBA rookie of the year Malcolm Brogdon projected to open the season in the starting lineup, their communication skills will be critically important.
"It's extremely hard (to talk as a rookie), and I don't think you can knock that," Brogdon said. "It's hard as a rookie to come in and talk because you're not one of the guys that's really supposed to talk. And then in the huddles rookies are supposed to really be quiet. That's just sort of how it is in the league.
"To have to talk on the court and totally be different on the court it's tough, but if you want to play in the league you've got to do it."
Coach Jason Kidd has appreciated having Maker's energy and spirit back on the court for full practices. This season, he hopes to squeeze more out of Maker, who is in line to play a larger role.
"That's the plan, for him to give us that same energy and effort and do it with more time," Kidd said. "Hopefully he can do it with giving us more minutes."
Maker's first chance to show how much progress he's made could come at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Bucks' preseason finale against the Detroit Pistons at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. He doesn't know yet if or how much he will play.
"I'm excited but mostly looking forward to it because we're trying to set a tone," Maker said. "We had a rough three games, but we had a chance to come out here and fix that. Friday is going to be the real test for us to get back into rhythm."