Philadelphia 76ers second-year guard Matisse Thybulle has continues to make a huge impact on the floor on the defensive end. Whenever the team needs a spark, they will turn to Thybulle and ask him to either shut down an opposing scorer or lead their zone.
The zone defense has been something that coach Doc Rivers has turned to in certain instances with the latest example being in Wednesday’s win over the Houston Rockets. Thybulle got the start in place of the ill Ben Simmons and he did a terrific job at the top of the zone and he drew more praise from his teammates.
“It’s cool,” said Thybulle on Friday. “I wouldn’t even say that I’m like the leader of the zone, I feel like we all kind of go off of each other. Zones are so hard in the league, just based on the rule changes between college and NBA and we really just have to play off of each other. I think the guys at this point just know my strength, so they compliment me in a way in the zone that helps me showcase them. In the same way, I try to do the same for them.”
What Thybulle is really good at is playing the passing lanes and using his length and defensive instincts to be able to bother opponents. Due to having that ability, he will gamble a lot more and it seems he is able to do so in a zone more often than a man.
However, he wouldn’t say he is gambling more. It is just the benefit of the scheme.
“I think just in a zone you can take risks you can’t take in a man,” he explained. “I think my gambles just show up a little bit differently. I’m definitely, I think, more comfortable than most people in the zone but, I wouldn’t say that I’m gambling more since we’re playing zone.”
The amazing part is, Thybulle took exactly two shots on Wednesday and he made them both, but he made such a big impact in other ways. Rivers wants him doing things off the ball rather than focusing on scoring or anything like that.
“Mostly just talked about being more dynamic,” he finished. “Just as a screener as and as a cutter and then just continuing to just space the floor and spotting up for 3s and then trying to get out in transition. Like I said most of it’s been just being a more dynamic player off the ball.”
The Sixers will host the Chicago Bulls on Friday before heading out on the road again to face the Toronto Raptors twice in Tampa starting on Sunday.
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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