Philadelphia 76ers: 5 most important players in Celtics series
By Uriah Young
4. Matisse Thybulle
How can a rookie be in the top five of the most important players for a playoff team’s success? If we jog back our memories to opening night back in October, you will understand why.
In his NBA debut, Matisse Thybulle made astonishing defensive plays that had Sixer fans optimistically surprised and Celtic fans jealous. He frustrated his opponents, and he created a nice highlight reel for himself, pestering the likes of All-Star guard Kemba Walker. After that game, the NBA was on notice when it came to the defensive tactics of the Sixers’ newest addition. Speaking of Kemba Walker…
In this series, Kemba Walker will be thirsty for a playoff win. After suffering in Charlotte his entire career without playoff success, he knows that his best shot at a ring is in Beantown. That being said, the 76ers rookie out of Washington can make Walker’s life hell. We have seen throughout the year how Thybulle’s quickness and agility can disrupt any offense. When it comes to man-to-man defense, he is probably one of the quickest to recover if his man drives past him. Thybulle has a penchant for tipping the ball away from behind or blocking pull-up jumpers that are assumed safe to take from the same opponent.
In the playoffs, defense is always paramount for a team’s success. In Matisse Thybulle, he gives the 76ers a defensive edge that Boston must account for if they seek to advance.