Thanks Ken, I'll post a picture of the trunk in the ground

The photos of the leaves show what looks like tar spot disease in its early stages. This is an unsightly but largely cosmetic infection which can effect many different maple species. Generally, tar spot does not appear until later in the summer. Without a location, it's impossible to know if you have already experienced enough warm, humid weather for the infection to appear this early. The leaf spotting is probably a separate issue from the defoliated branches. Such defoliation at the top of a tree usually means a problem at the roots. Diagnosing what that might be can't be done from a photo with any accuracy. Best thing to do is have someone - county extension agent, certified arborist, etc. - look at the tree in person.

This is an unsightly but largely cosmetic infection

==>>> boy that says what i tried to say.. in about 100 less words.. lol

forget about the leaf issue ...

ken

It looks like the roots haven't recovered enough to give the tree the water it needs. A little extra water should help.
akamainegrower is right in the problem is in the roots. It could be one of several causes that's not providing the needed water. One could be that you are watering the lawn often, but very lightly. Just enough for the lawn and not the tree.
Oh, have you put any weed killer on the lawn?
Mike

Weed killer /fertilized was applied on the lawn, also have fungicide/fertilizer applied to the maple tree about 2 weeks ago. The TruGreen guy whom we have been using for past couple of years told us to prune the dead branches carefully & no overdo it since there are some branches that still have life in them. The spots on the leaves are the tar & cosmetic problem like you all mentioned & he said they should go away by next season. I'll start watering the tree & keep an eye. Thank you for all the responses.

I doubt that tar spot will "go away by next season". Generally, once your area's got it, it stays put. I live one hundred miles north of Milwaukee and used to only see tar spot when visiting that city or points further south. In the last few years, tar spot fungus has made it to our neck of the woods and is now an annual occurrence. Maybe he meant that the fungicide treatments would have it vanquished by next year but that too is doubtful, there being so many other maple trees around, each one contributing to the furtherance of this minor pathogen. And it really is minor, the worst thing about it being the way it tends to ruin fall color on afflicted trees. Other than that, no biggie.

Branches dead or dying in a tree's crown (upper portion) typically indicate root damage. Most likely, this will right itself over time as the root system regenerates. I'd resist the urge to "do something about it", most of the work that can be done needing to be done by the tree itself.

+oM