Teams play better when they play their best players more often, this seems like a simple concept, but it almost seems revolutionary when it comes to the Philadelphia 76ers and their rookie wing Matisse Thybulle.
They are 17-4 when he plays more than 20 minutes in a game. So why don't they play him more?
Well they are finally starting too. Brett Brown has finally started to give the 22 year-old more minutes recently, although these are at the expense of swingman James Ennis instead of the struggling Mike Scott; who has made himself into a cultural hero since being traded to Philly. This is just one of the problems that fans have with Brown's rotations, another being the fact it has taken until this year for him being able to stagger Simmons and Embiid's minutes, but that could be a whole different article.
Thybulle has wrecked havoc on the defensive end leading all rookies in both steals per game and total steals and being third in blocks per game. He has also been charged with guarding the opposition's best player, guarding dynamic ball handlers like Kemba Walker and Kyrie Irving and yet still holding his own.
The only problem is since his return against Boston in early January, Thybulle has struggled to find his shooting stroke that he developed before his injury. Although he is still shooting a respectable 38% on 2.5 attempts a game from three on the season. Even if his shot doesn't improve he will still earn considerable playing time in Brett Brown's playoff rotation.
Has his stellar performance on the defense been enough for him to earn a place at the Rising Stars Challenge game during All-Star weekend?
We can only wait and find out.
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