The Philadelphia 76ers have their most notorious non-shooter in franchise history not active with the team in Ben Simmons. However, not all of the spacing issues haven’t been completely alleviated this season either.
There’s no denying that Matisse Thybulle is a top-10 perimeter defender in the NBA. However, he’s always has struggled on offense and this season has been no exception. If the Sixers don’t want Thybulle to be a net negative on offense, then they will have to change how they are using him.
The Sixers have to use Thybulle like a big man on offense.
Thus far this season, Thybulle has been averaging a career-high 5.7 points on 48.7 percent shooting from the field and a career-low 26.7 percent from the 3-point line. The third year player has seen his 3-point percentage drop each season and it doesn’t appear like he will ever figure out how to on that end.
This seems like it would cap the minutes’ load Thybulle could play with being such a horrendous shooter, right? However, that’s not the case if head coach Doc Rivers changes how he uses the defensive ace on offense.
Thybulle should be used like a power forward on offense. Now that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be posting. He’s not that type of player, however, he could be used as a lob threat or in the pick-and-roll.
Outside of Andre Drummond, it can be argued that Thybulle would be the best player be a roll-man on the Sixers roster. He could take a similar role that Bruce Brown runs for the Brooklyn Nets. This doesn’t mean that Thybulle can’t space the floor on occasion either but he can be a good finisher around the basket with his athleticism to make him dangerous in that role.
Having Thybulle as a roller would help Tyrese Maxey on offense and it would stop the wing from taking low percentage shots from the 3-point line. That being written, he would guard wings on defense, but for the sake of the Sixers offense he should be treated like a big man on that end of the floor.