With Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, Matisse Thybulle is probably the player the Sixers executives care about the most. It is no coincidence that Daryl Morey did not want to send him to the Nets, as part of the exchange between Ben Simmons and James Harden.
The Philadelphia president finally had the final say with his Brooklyn counterparts, even though he had to part ways with Draft picks for it, reclaiming the 2018 MVP without having to part ways with his 24-year-old fullback/winger. Who is none other than the keystone of his team’s defense, along with Joel Embiid.
But beyond his only defensive qualities, Matisse Thybulle seduces as a bonus with his offensive progress, in his role of “cutter” (or player who cuts towards the basket).
An aspect in which he was led to progress more quickly than imagined, in the absence of Ben Simmons, so that Joel Embiid could make his opponents pay for the double-takes he suffered.
” This is what we have been working on for two years [avec lui]“, explained in this regard the Cameroonian pivot, whose qualities as a passer stand out more than ever (4.5 assists on average this season, his career record). ” We have to be on the same wavelength. As soon as I receive the ball and suffer a double-team, we have designated players who are supposed to cut towards the basket and Matisse [Thybulle] has been excellent in this role since the start of the season. He has improved a lot from last season.“
Joel Embiid has found a new accomplice
More liberated in attack, Matisse Thybulle is one of those who benefit the most from the two-man takes on Joel Embiid. Just watch the Sixers’ last games, including the one against the Cavaliers on Saturday night.
Offensively, the Australian’s statistics are certainly not the most impressive of all (5.9 points on average this season, at only 31% at 3-pts), but he understands better and better when and where to cut towards the basket, when his partner has the ball in his hands and the opposing help arrives.
” We know the game plan continued Joel Embiid. ” When the opposing teams take me to two in the high post, we know that we have to make cuts to the basket. But if they take me to two baselines, we know we have to go in the paint to get an open shot on the opposite side.“
Inevitably, the development of Matisse Thybulle can only delight his coach, who can leave his defensive specialist on the floor without having to worry about this “dead weight” side which stuck too much to his skin before.
” He has progressed so much “, estimated Doc Rivers. ” We’re really working on it. In the beginning, most players focus more on the ball than on the players. But when you are someone who cuts towards the basket, you shouldn’t worry too much about the ball, but rather about when your defender will turn his head. Because that’s where you have to cut and that’s what Matisse is doing now. His timing is perfect now.“
| Matisse Thybulle | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2019-20 | PHL | 65 | 20 | 42.3 | 35.7 | 61.0 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 4.7 |
| 2020-21 | PHL | 65 | 20 | 42.0 | 30.1 | 44.4 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 3.9 |
| 2021-22 | PHL | 41 | 27 | 50.8 | 30.6 | 71.4 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 5.9 |
| Total | 171 | 22 | 44.5 | 32.4 | 60.0 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 4.7 | |
