The Philadelphia 76ers gameplan had to be tweaked this season without Ben Simmons on the floor – especially on the defensive end – with the two-time All-Defensive First Team guard often tasked with defending the opponent's best offensive player.
In his absence, third-year swingman Matisse Thybulle has filled that void, turning heads with his defensive displays against some of the league's best players, more often than not, doing so off the bench. After earning an All-Defensive Second Team nod last season, Thybulle is well on his way to being named to one of the All-Defensive teams again this season.
NBA League Pass: Sign up to unlock live out-of-market games (7-day free trial)
Thybulle has seen his minutes increase and has already doubled the number of games he started last season, but so often Doc Rivers turns to the 24-year-old to enter games and disrupt whatever is going on, blowing up pick-and-rolls, clogging passing lanes and harassing perimeter players with his non-stop energy.
Normally, we stereotype bench players as microwave scorers who can put up points in bunches and turn the tide of games, but Thybulle has mastered the craft of microwave defence, affecting games on that side of the floor with similar results.
The same way Rudy Gobert discourages shots at the rim without having to actually block them, Thybulle, who stands 6-foot-5 with a 7-foot wingspan, uses his Inspector Gadget arms to be a nuisance and force the ball out of shooters' hands, turning opposing offences into mush.
MORE: Steve Kerr praises Thybulle's 'fantastic' defence
The numbers paint a comprehensive picture of his defensive impact, made all the more impressive given he only plays 25.8 minutes per game. He ranks ninth in the league in steals per game (1.8) and fourth in deflections (3.7) while averaging 1.1 blocks per game, which leads all guards in the NBA.
Of those blocks, Thybulle is one of the few players who can boast an extended mixtape swatting 3-point attempts.
This graphic from ESPN's Kirk Goldsberry really sums it up.
Matisse Thybulle This Season
— Kirk Goldsberry (@kirkgoldsberry) January 19, 2022
✅ Most Blocked 3s In The NBA
✅ Lowest 3P% Allowed As Defender
Opposing shooters have made just 21.4% of 126 3PA when Thybulle has been the closest defender. pic.twitter.com/AMEMEvQq0P
No 3-point shot is safe around Matisse Thybulle.
Treading that fine line of gambling for blocks and doing so without fouling is a risky game, but his instincts and length make it a safe bet for the Aussie.
Not even Steph Curry is immune...
...or James Harden...
...or Jaylen Brown.
In the 76ers' recent win over the Boston Celtics, Thybulle was tasked to switch between guarding Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown — two of the best young perimeter wings in the league – holding the duo to a combined 14-of-35 shooting while racking up five steals and two blocks along the way.
“You can tell he loves these types of matchups,” Joel Embiid said. “You go back to the Steph [Curry] one and all year really, we’ve played Boston now three times. JT has really struggled against him. He has length and he’s athletic getting into passing lanes, able to recover, that’s huge.
“Every team needs that and I always tell him to be as aggressive as he wants because I’m back there and I’m gonna cover anything.“
With Embiid anchoring the 76ers defence in the paint, that security blanket allows Thybulle to operate as a free safety, hunting passes and creating turnovers. But what's equally impressive is his one-on-one defence against the league's best players, as the dynamic wing has put together some of the most impressive defensive stretches against the league's stars. From point guards to power forwards, Thybulle's flexibility is one of his greatest strengths.
Matisse Thybulle vs. star players ( NBA.com/Stats )
Averaging 5.8 points per game, clearly the fewest among 76ers to play over 20 minutes per game, Thybulle's offensive game is still a work in progress.
Tagged as a prototypical 3-and-D player, his long-range shooting isn't quite there, shooting a career-low 28.8 percent on a career-high 2.5 attempts per game this season. Oftentimes, when on the floor with Embiid, defenders will sag off Thybulle creating a double team. However as the season has progressed, they've found some success using him closer to the rim.
MORE: Thybulle says the success of Australians in the NBA this season is 'fun to watch'
His ability to impact the offence doesn't come from spacing the floor, it's wreaking havoc on that end, too.
Thybulle creates a lot of offensive opportunities in transition from his steals and deflections, but in recent weeks he has shown plenty of promise from the dunker spot, working with Joel Embiid in the two-man game, getting free along the baseline and reaping the benefits of the big man's improved passing for wide-open slams.
Against the Spurs, they ran the same play, again and again.
...and again...
....and again.
Same result every time.
“Just read the double team and be that outlet,” Thybulle said after their win over the Spurs. "I got a lot of those passes. Other nights, it doesn’t show up in my stat line, but it’s drawing over help defenders and [Embiid is] able to make skip passes and other things like that. It just opens up a lot on the floor.”
Hitting 3-point shots has been seen as the key to unlocking Thybulle's offensive game, but Doc Rivers is now playing to his strengths — getting free from opponents with his off-ball movement and using him as a slashing wing.
As he continues to carve out his offensive game, Thybulle isn't far from becoming an elite two-way player — he's now just becoming disruptive on both ends of the floor.
The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA or its clubs.
