Things haven't exactly gone as planned for the Philadelphia 76ers recently. Not only are they in the midst of a season-long road trip, but they're missing multiple key players as well. Despite being shorthanded, though, the Sixers continued to be competitive on a nightly basis.
In their latest matchup, the Sixers walked away with a 102-94 win over the Sacramento Kings. Like many of their victories of late, it came on the back of a collective team effort. Each player that took the floor Monday night played a small part in the team getting back in the win column.
While the matchup was a true team win for the Sixers, there were still some key standouts—like Matisse Thybulle, who played one of his best games as a professional. In just his second game back on the floor, the defensive specialist tallied 15 points, two rebounds, three steals, and a block in his 32 minutes of action.
Thybulle was a common name brought up by his teammates and coaches when they were asked whose play was sticking out in training camp. Between competing in the Olympics with Australia and training with Tobias Harris over the summer, he looked poised to take the next step in his development this season. Unfortunately, injury and health and safety protocols have forced him to miss time in the early weeks of the season.
Everyone knows how special of a talent Thybulle is on the defensive end of the floor. The key to fully un-tapping his game is finding ways for him to produce on offense. Based on his performance Monday, it appears he has taken a step in the right direction.
Many zero in on Thybulle improving as an outside shooter, but there are other ways for him to be impactful on that end. We are seeing Doc Rivers utilize him as a cutter and placing him in the dunker's spot, not to mention encourage Thybulle to maximize his opportunities in transition—all avenues that take advantage of his explosive athleticism.
Thybulle being a factor offense is more important for he and the Sixers now than ever. With a Ben Simmons return nowhere in sight, they are going to need his elite-level defense when going against premier offensive talents. When Thybulle is producing on offense as he did against the Kings, it makes it much easier for Rivers to play him for long stretches. So far this season, he's already averaging five more minutes per game than he did last season.
Simmons' absence has also played a factor in Thybulle's increased offensive output. The two struggled to play together due to offensive limitations, but a properly spaced offense has allowed Thybulle to attack in multiple ways.
A performance like Monday's is why Thybulle is near the top of the list among X-factors for the Sixers. If he can consistently score close to what he did against Sacramento, he has a chance to be a very impactful player for Philadelphia moving forward.
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