Philadelphia 76ers: Matisse Thybulle adds another layer to an elite defense
The Philadelphia 76ers traded up for Matisse Thybulle and should reap the rewards on defense.
Despite an underwhelming performance by Elton Brand, the Philadelphia 76ers ended the 2019 NBA Draft with Matisse Thybulle. The 15th-ranked prospect on my draft board, Thybulle is a strong value at No. 20 and should contribute immediately in the NBA.
Thybulle averaged 3.5 steals and 2.2 blocks per game last season, freelancing in Washington’s effective zone defense. He won’t have the same freelance opportunities in the NBA, but elite off-ball defenders still carry significant value.
The Sixers were one of the better defensive teams in the playoffs last season. Philadelphia’s long, physical rotation was enough to stymie the eventual champions on multiple occasions. Danny Green went as far as to mention the Sixers’ size and physicality when describing the Raptors’ 2-1 series deficit.
More from Sixers News
- 3 Sixers players who could help Team USA Basketball
- 76ers 2k24 ratings: 3 most underrated players on Philadelphia roster
- 76ers head coach Nick Nurse bares lofty plans for Paul Reed this season
- Grade the Trade: 76ers swap Tobias Harris for superstar PG in mock deal
- Breaking Down Bombshell Report on Sixers Star James Harden
In the seven-man postseason rotation, only J.J. Redick was listed under 6-foot-6. The Sixers were able to switch screens and throw constant length at Toronto, all without sacrificing on-ball defense. It almost won Philadelphia the series.
Now the Sixers add Thybulle, who’s listed at 6-foot-5 but plays well above his height. A 7-foot wingspan and plus athleticism make Thybulle the ideal free safety. He’s able to read passing lanes, make quick closeouts and protect the weak side on defense.
Let’s assume, for a moment, that Philadelphia returns the same starting five next season, plus Mike Scott and James Ennis. It’s a difficult proposition, but still in the cards. That’s a top-five defense in the NBA. At least in the postseason, when the intensity gets ratcheted up and moments matter.
Now the Sixers can introduce both Thybulle and a healthy Zhaire Smith to the mix, affording Philadelphia two elite defensive prospects in the second unit. Smith is a dynamite on-ball defender who explodes through screens and possesses elite-level athleticism. Thybulle can loom behind, filling the Robert Covington void.
In Ben Simmons and Jimmy Butler, the Sixers have two options to defend the opposing team’s best perimeter player. In Joel Embiid, the Sixers have arguably the best defensive big in basketball — a hulking presence in the paint, but also a 7-foot-2 center who can defend in space and contain quicker guards on switches.
Barring further injury, Smith can give the Sixers another on-ball presence — perhaps one who can defend opposing point guards, something Philadelphia has long lacked. Thybulle will thrive on-ball as well, but has freedom to roam and maximize his off-ball talents due to the Sixers’ bevy of talented defenders elsewhere in the rotation.
The Sixers are betting on size, defense and talent for next season. That’s a solid bet, even in a modern NBA that priorities spacing and tempo. Embiid affords perimeter defenders more leeway than the average rim protector. Simmons, Butler, Smith and Thybulle is one heck of a defensive quartet on the exterior.
dark. Next. Grading the Sixers' poor 2019 NBA Draft performance
There’s a clear, comfortable spot for Thybulle to come in and do what he does best. He can search for steals, rotate for blocks and use his athleticism to disrupt otherwise routine offensive possessions. He couldn’t be in a better spot.