The Philadelphia 76ers won a solid road victory on Thursday to close 2020 with a 116-92 victory over the Orlando Magic. It was a game that featured an offensive Philadelphia clinic, including a triple of star Ben Simmons.
Another very good development was the fact that Matisse Thybulle played well in his first real minutes of the season. The Sixers are a stronger team at the moment and Thybulle was unable to hinder the rotation of new coach Doc Rivers.
However, with Furkan Korkmaz out, Thybulle is getting an opportunity and has not wasted it. He had nine points and four rebounds while knocking down two from the bottom and his excellent defense was always there too.
“We told him that from the beginning,” said Rivers. “Matisse is going to be a key player for this basketball team. I thought your first half at both ends was phenomenal. In the second half, I was a little upset because he had, I think two 3s that he passed and tried to drive and I told him when he was open, let him fly. He did it in the first half, but defensively, in the second half, he was phenomenal at (Cole) Anthony. Anthony is very aggressive and was phenomenal tonight. “
Thybulle was fully on Brett Brown’s rotation as a rookie while saving time thanks to his phenomenal defense. This is not the case now under Rivers and he understands that, over time, he will have to earn his place. This is now your chance to do that.
“I would say it was very similar to what happened last year,” said Thybulle. “I have to fight for a place in the rotation and it was hit or miss up and down, so it’s nothing new. I didn’t enter the season with any expectations of being on the track based on what I did last year. I knew I would have to deserve it and I think I am in the process of doing that now. “
As far as his offense is concerned, everyone understands that he is not yet up there on that side of the track. He has to keep working on that aspect of his game. The nine points were his first points of the season after going goalless in the first four games of the season.
“I’m just having an idea,” he added. “These are my first buckets of the season, so I’m just starting to feel, and the more minutes I get, the more comfortable we are with each other on the court. I think it will arrive. I think we’re all growing up and trying to find out where our photos are, what the best photos are and, as you can see, I’m going through this while we talk. ”