We continue our look back at the 2020-21 season for the Philadelphia 76ers by going through the roster and looking at their season. After looking through the starting lineup, we now turn our attention to the bench unit starting with the defensive star out of Washington.
Matisse Thybulle averaged just 20 minutes per night, but he was named to the All-Defensive second team as he showed off his defensive acumen on a nightly basis. There was a lot that he showed out on the basketball court as he looks to be a part of this team’s rotation for the foreseeable future.
2020-21 season averages:
3.9 points
1.9 rebounds
1.0 assists
1.6 steals
1.1 blocks
42.0% overall percentage
30.1% from deep
Per 36 minutes, Thybulle averaged 2.9 steals and 2.0 blocks as he was able to use his length and instincts to really make an impact out on the floor. There were plenty of times when coach Doc Rivers would go to a zone defense with Thybulle and Ben Simmons out on the perimeter and they would be a big difference-maker in games. He also did a terrific job defending 1-on-1 as well.
Thybulle’s best offensive game came on March 11 when the team opened play after the All-Star break against the Chicago Bulls. He had 13 points while shooting 5-for-5 from the floor and he knocked down all three 3s. He shot 33.3% from deep after the break when he began showing off more of his offensive game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVU_8pxW8Mw
In the playoffs, Thybulle showed off more of that offensive game. He shot 38.9% from deep in the second round against the Atlanta Hawks. He had a tough time against Trae Young and committed bad fouls late in games, but that is a part of his maturation process and his development. He is an elite defender at such an early stage of his career.
As he heads into the offseason, the goal is the same for him. He just needs to add to his offensive game and become a legitimate 3-and-D player. He had continued to show off more of his offensive game, but there are still improvements that must be made.
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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