Sixers’ Danny Green discusses Matisse Thybulle’s offensive development
For the Philadelphia 76ers to go far in the playoffs, they will need some help off their bench. They will need that bench unit to be able to find some consistency on both ends of the floor and be able to be two-way players.
The Sixers have an intriguing prospect in second-year guard Matisse Thybulle who is one of the more elite defenders in the NBA with his ability to stalk offensive players from behind and his ability to lock up a lot of the elite offensive players in the game.
The tough part is, his offensive game pales in comparison in terms of pure numbers. Coach Doc Rivers is working with him to help him be more decisive with his offensive game and focus more on straight-line drives in order to help him unlock his offensive game.
“I just think Matisse has a lot of things in his arsenal that he doesn’t show,” said veteran Danny Green. “I think it just starts with him just being comfortable and confident. He’s a very capable shooter, he just doesn’t shoot it all the time. He doesn’t look at the basket, he’s not as aggressive as he should be. I think with him, it starts with being aggressive, being confident, comfortable, and Doc talking to him, and getting to be more comfortable.”
To Thybulle’s credit, he is shooting 37.8% from deep since the All-Star break compared to just 26.2% prior to the break. That is the improvement that Philadelphia will need now and going forward. They need a guy who is a consistent 3-and-D type of player and that is what he can offer.
There was a play in Monday’s win over the Dallas Mavericks where the Mavs ran him off the 3-point line and he was forced to put the ball on the floor. Thybulle then aggressively got to the rim and he finished and that is a good sign going forward.
“He’s attacking the rim more, looking at the rim more, and looking for his shot more,” said Green. “We know he’s a very capable, very talented player. When he wants to show it, he could be a problem, especially on that end of the floors if he looks for his shot and stays aggressive. I think he’d be a very good threat for us and open up the floor for our whole second group and our whole team.”
Thybulle will get another chance to show more of his offensive game on Wednesday when the Sixers take on the Brooklyn Nets.
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
