MILWAUKEE BUCKS

Notes: Kidd cuts down center rotation to Maker, Monroe

Charles F. Gardner, and Matt Velazquez
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Bucks forward Thon Maker hits a 3-point shot in the victory over the Raptors.

Milwaukee Bucks center Thon Maker played 16 minutes in Game 1 and 21 minutes in Game 2.

How many would it be in Game 3 on Thursday night?

The answer turned out to be 21 minutes for the second successive game, as head coach Jason Kidd pared down his center rotation from three players to two in the Bucks' 104-77 victory over the Toronto Raptors at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.

The Milwaukee Bucks rookie center is making it tough for Kidd to keep him off the floor in the first two games and continue his playoff surge on Thursday with 11 points, two assists and two rebounds. He stayed in for his usual run in the first quarter despite picking up a pair of fouls in the first three minutes, continuing to defend actively and well despite the strikes against him.

"Thon has responded in a positive way, not just in the playoffs but in the month of March and April," Kidd said in his pregame comments Thursday. "He was starting to get very comfortable and he was starting to show that he was picking things up and becoming a positive. He has earned more minutes and we'll see how this series works out.

"We've got quite a few centers. We're going to try to play them. But we'll see what situation fits who and go from there."

Greg Monroe excelled in the first two games off the Bucks bench, the same way he has done all season. That stretch also continued Thursday as Monroe scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds in 23 minutes, a number that might have been larger had he not fouled out in the fourth quarter. Throughout the game, Monroe didn't wait long to make an impact, going to work in the post for 12 points in the second quarter.

"He has been with us now for two years," Kidd said. "We've asked him to come off the bench. I think when you do the right thing, good things happen.

"He is one that works extremely hard at his craft; he's always one of the first ones in the gym. That hard work is paying off."

With Maker and Monroe playing well, Kidd moved away from the three-center rotation he has relied upon in recent weeks. Spencer Hawes had played late in the second quarter during the first two games of the series, but didn't see the court until late in the fourth when Kidd emptied the bench. John Henson, the Bucks' fourth center, still has not played in this series.

GAME STORY: An overwhelming performance

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Maker played a huge role in the Bucks' victory in Game 1, particularly on the defensive end in the second half. He had five points, four assists and two blocks in Game 2, despite only shooting 2 of 7 from the field.

Monroe put up strong numbers in both games: 14 points and 15 rebounds in Game 1 and 18 points and four rebounds in Game 2.

The art of screen-setting: Kidd could set a mean screen during his NBA playing career. So could former Utah Jazz star guard John Stockton.

Now the Bucks have a player who is not afraid to put his body on the line to clear a path for Giannis Antetokounmpo or his other teammates. That, of course, is Matthew Dellavedova, the subject of scrutiny from Raptors coach Dwane Casey after Game 1 of the series.

Casey praised Dellavedova but also said some of his screens were illegal. The Bucks guard tandem of Dellavedova and Malcolm Brogdon responded by saying there were plenty of illegal screens every night in NBA games.

Kidd said the Bucks teach screening and it is an important part of their offense.

BOX SCORE: Milwaukee 104, Toronto 77

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"If you want to screen in this league, you're going to get hit," Kidd said. "Look at some of the Hall of Fame players; they all set screens.

"You don't have to be a big. You talk about John Stockton. Nobody liked playing against him because he was going to set a screen, and yes, it was going to be physical.

"But that's what a screen entails. When you look at what we try to do, we set a screen and try to make a play for a teammate. It doesn't show on the stat sheet, but we set pride in setting screens, and that goes for our bigs and smalls."

Casey also cited Stockton and said screening is essential. But can everyone do it?

"That's an age-old question," Casey said. "John Stockton was one of the best, most fierce screeners there were. Gary Payton used to love to set screens; Jason Kidd was a great screen-setter.

"They have a guy now (Dellavedova) that is a very good screen-setter. A lot of it is not having a fear of contact. Some players get there and they will ole it, just because they don't want to get hit.

"Some guys don't like to be touched. Some guards are much better screeners than big guys. I think the DNA has to be there of a player who loves contact, loves to hit people and put his body in the way. Defensively, you have to make sure there's a confrontation."