Sixers: How team can replace Ben Simmons’ defensive impact

How Sixers can replace Ben Simmons defensively: Thybulle’s increased role

Thybulle impressed so much defensively in his second season that he earned a Second Team All-Defensive Team selection despite playing under 20 minutes a game. In his limited matchups with star players, Thybulle by and large shut them down: he held Zach LaVine to 20 percent from the field, Devin Booker to 27 percent, and Khris Middleton to an icy 17 percent.

Two things will need to change in Thybulle’s game for him to more adequately replicate Simmons’ impact defensively. First, he’ll need to bulk up so that big small forwards and power forwards like LeBron can’t take him in the post. Second, he’ll need to become offensively competent enough to remain on the floor in big moments — the easiest way for Thybulle to do this is to develop an average three-point shot.

If Thybulle can pull off both of those goals — and, to be fair, that’s a big if — he should be able to slot into the rotation as the star-stopper Simmons was when the team needs it. Couple Thybulle’s improvements with Embiid improving his game-to-game intensity on the defensive end, and the Sixers should be able to field a defense roughly on par with their Simmons-led squads from last season.