3 matchups to watch in Wizards first round series: Danny Green/Matisse Thybulle vs. Bradley Beal
Technically this matchup is two-folded as I have included both Danny Green and Matisse Thybulle in matching up against All-Star Bradley Beal. Both of these wings for the Philadelphia 76ers should see a lot of time on the Wizards’ most lethal scorer.
On the year, Green has averaged 9.5 points and 1.7 steals, while making 40.5 percent of his 3-pointers. Thybulle averaged 3.9 points, 1.6 steals, and 1.1 blocks, while shooting just 30.1 percent from deep this season.
Beal was the NBA’s second-leading scorer this year, averaging 31.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.4 assists, while going 48.5 percent from the field and 34.9 percent from behind the arc. Regardless to say that both Green and Thybulle have their hands full as the Sixers should be deploying their best perimeter defender elsewhere in this series.
The good news for the 76ers is that Thybulle is an elite defender and despite being a reserve, he’s a legit candidate for an All-Defensive team. Green is still a legit threat as a 3-and-D wing at this stage in his career. As long as they don’t let Beal go off for 60 points like he did earlier this season against Philly, they should be able to defend him adequately.