For the Philadelphia 76ers, they will need help from just about everybody out on the perimeter to combat the talented offensive wing players the Boston Celtics possess. Whether it’s Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown or whoever, the Sixers have to put their defensive focus in those players.
Therefore, that puts a lot of responsibility on rookie Matisse Thybulle–and possibly even a starting role–who will obviously be playing in the playoffs for the first time in his career and he will have a steep test. However, according to Thybulle, this isn’t anything new.
“This is really no different,” said the rookie. “Every game I’ve played, my job is to guard the best player. Really for me, it’s no different. I think the stakes are a little bit higher and I think we all feel that, but in terms of how I’m approaching it, it’s the same way I’ve had to approach every game. Because every game thus far has been me trying to prove myself to the league and to our coaches and my teammates and now it’s our team trying to prove ourselves as being the best.”
The one knock on Thybulle is that he can be a bit out of control at times. He had two games inside the bubble where he had four fouls and then a third game where he had five fouls. That comes from being a bit to overzealous on defense. He can bother his opponents to no end, but he can also gamble at times which then gets him into the aforementioned foul trouble.
“I think I’ve been able to make my decision-making process a little bit cleaner,” Thybulle added. “I think I’d just act more instinctively before and I still do, but without any frame of reference or with any type of leash so I wouldn’t say emotional. When I get frustrated, I don’t just go out there and hack somebody. I guess it’s more so for me just staying under control really.”
In the rookie’s defense, the officiating in Orlando has been a bit spotty. They have been inconsistent in terms of their calls and that is something that he can’t control. Granted, he had to defend some elite players in the bubble such as Devin Booker and Damian Lillard so that has something to with it as well.
“I have no control over what the officials are doing out there,” he finished with. “All I know is that guys are good. Guys know how to draw fouls and just doing my part to just move my feet and show my hands so I don’t get stuck in a bad situation where I’m going to pick up a cheap one is all I can really do.”
Game 1 against the Celtics is set for Monday at 6:30 p.m. EST inside the bubble in Orlando. [lawrence-related id=36865,36859,36838]