Through six regular-season games, the play of the second unit has been arguably the biggest bright spot for the Philadelphia 76ers. Multiple factors can be attributed to this early success, but the development of multiple young role players sits near the top.

First it was Furkan Korkmaz, who showed nice flashes at point guard when running the offense due to Shake Milton being out with an ankle injury. Now, there appears to be another young role player who has taken a step forward in their development.

Matisse Thybulle was someone Doc Rivers brought up frequently during training camp as a standout, but injury cost him most of the preseason. Over the Sixers' recent stretch of games, we have caught a glimpse of Thybulle's growth that Rivers and teammates raved about before the start of the preseason.

We already know what Thybulle can do on the defensive end, but finding ways to utilize him on offense is the key to fully unlocking his potential. Rivers continues to put him in different spots to be successful this season, and it looks to be paying off.

Take Saturday's matchup against the Hawks as a prime example. Thybulle finished the night with a season-high 11 points on an efficient 4-of-7 shooting. The 24-year-old also stepped out and connected on one of his three attempts from beyond the arc.

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Many focus on Thybulle's outside shot as the key area of development for the defensive specialist, but there are other ways to generate looks on the offensive end. We've seen him in the dunker's spot more this season, and Rivers likes to use him as a cutter. Thybulle's growing willingness as a driver is something Rivers brought up postgame after Saturday's win over Atlanta.

“Matisse [Thybulle], just defensively all over the floor, steals, blocked shots, energy. Drives offensively, which is something we've really worked with him every day on, so he's in a great place,” said Rivers.

With Ben Simmons out of the lineup, the Sixers need Thybulle's defense more than ever. The disruption he causes on that end of the floor greatly helps fill the void of the Defensive Player of the Year finalist.

The more Thybulle can grow on offense, the easier Rivers' job becomes. When he is finding ways to score and be effective on offense, it allows him to stay on the floor longer and impact the game with his elite-level defense.

Most players use the offseason to rest and recover, but Thybulle put in a lot of overtime to improve his game. Not only did he compete in the Olympics, but upon returning home, he spent a week training with teammate Tobias Harris. Surrounding himself with a group of experienced veterans looks to be paying dividends to start this season.

If Matisse Thybulle can continue to round out his offensive game and up his minutes each night, it will shoot him up the list of biggest X-factors for the Sixers.