I had thought he was a good perimeter defender who couldn't shoot. Then last season I noticed he can dribble the ball pretty well for a guy who isn't used as a ball handler. Then finally I've noticed, Matisse passes the hell out of the ball and lets it fly like it's a catch-and-shoot. He wastes no time getting the ball to his teammates, and not only that, his passes are right on target. He's capable of throwing an accurate pass way downcourt, excellent at the hockey assist as if he's the bumper on a pool table, and can throw lobs and short-range passes with the required finesse. It all came together last night and Tisse was a bright spot within F'kin Billups dreadful offense. Matisse's role under F'kin Billups has been severely underutilized so he can have one of his "point guards" dribble the ball to set up a difficult shot many times. Matisse, it looks like, is that glue guy who is unselfish and keeps the ball moving which is Perfect for the Fun style of play that F'kin Billups was supposed be bringing us this season. Couple that with his return to 3-point shooting proficiency (39% last season) in his recent games, and the Blazers have a guy who should be used to his maximum capability. Can he be a primary ball handler for a few dribbles? That's what I'd like to find out while Bouyea stays on the bench forever. Thybulle doesn't need the ball "in his hands" in the traditional sense because he typically gets it to a teammate in a flash. He's the connecting piece. What he does need (and many more Blazers) is more touches instead of F'kin Billups offense of watching Malcolm Brodgon or Skylar Mays dribble time off the clock. Blazers move and pass the f'kin ball already. I didn't even mention his defense! Hey, steals and quick passes/fast breaks? Yes, please. From last night, doesn't show all that Matisse is capable of. But some. At 0:08, he blocks a shot, grabs the ball, and it's out of his hand immediately for an easy score for the Blazers. At 1:05 Matisse makes the hockey assist for an EZ bucket. At 1:16 he becomes a cutter and gets an EZ bucket after the nice recognition by Bari. Mays/Bouyea not needed. At 1:23, he gets the steal and finishes it himself. More needs to be shown. At 0:26, Thybulle finishes the fast break. At 0:34, he makes a sweet move to the basket for a layup. At 0:43, Matisse gives up the ball to a teammate on the fast break for an easy score. At 0:50, he throws a beautiful lob to Embiid. At 1:31, nice bounce pass to Embiid for the easy basket. At 1:37, he dribbles through traffic to the hoop and scores. I don't know if this is a strength of his. At 2:22, Whatever the case may be on that, Thybulle dribbles the ball around defenders, down the baseline and scores with 2 defenders next to him. At 2:45, Thybulle intercepts a pass for a steal, then throws a beautiful lob to Ben Simmons for the monster dunk. Isn't this what Blazer basketball was supposed to be about this season? Plays like this. At 3:35, a defender goes flying by him at the 3-point line, he drives the baseline and puts in a reverse layup. At 3:54, he throws a very nice pass from the 3-point line into the post. As usual, it's a catch-and-pass. At 4:34, after dribbling past a close-out, a fantastic baseline pass to the other side of the hoop for a dunk. At 4:39, another fantastic setup for a teammate for a dunk. At 4:46, a fantastic kick-out to the 3-point line while running the break. Very Scoot-esque. At 6:00 he drives the baseline for a dunk of his own. Matisse Thybulle is an intelligent, unselfish, quick-thinking Guard who fits perfectly with Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson. With his near-40% 3-point shooting, he is absolutely not a burden to the offense. (That crappy offense). Just the opposite. If he were used to his full abilities, instead of Ball Stoppers Brogdon, Mays, and Bouyea, the Blazer's offense could be the beautiful thing we were hoping for.
This one play (1:22 in the video, should be cued up) shows how well Thybulle can play with Scoot, to get the EZ bucket. Can you see it coming? A super pass by Matisse to Scoot. Scoot passes the ball out to the 3-point line, hangs around the basket while Matisse dribbles in and makes the defense key in on him. Scoot knows exactly what should happen, and Matisse makes it happen.
Matisse Thybulle is most similar to an owl in my humble opinion. To begin with, Thybulle's physical appearance is often a point of discussion. With his long wingspan, keen eyes, and a slender build, he exudes an aura of grace and poise on the basketball court. Much like the Great Horned Owl, which boasts a similar wingspan and a majestic demeanor, Thybulle commands attention with his defensive prowess. The Great Horned Owl is known for its silent flight and stealth, and similarly, Thybulle seems to move effortlessly across the court, surprising opponents with his quick and calculated moves. Moreover, just as the Barn Owl relies on its exceptional vision to navigate through the darkness, Thybulle possesses an innate ability to read the game. His anticipation and keen basketball IQ enable him to make crucial defensive plays, intercepting passes and disrupting opponents' strategies. The comparison to the Barn Owl highlights Thybulle's strategic thinking and ability to see opportunities where others might not. In terms of offensive play, Thybulle's agility and versatility on the court draw parallels with the Snowy Owl. Known for their adaptability and ability to cover vast distances in search of prey, Snowy Owls are agile hunters. Similarly, Thybulle showcases a diverse skill set, seamlessly transitioning from defense to offense, making him a multifaceted player. Also, Snowy Owls are really inconsistent 3-point shooters.
Again, from last night, back-to-back breaks where Matisse grabs the ball after a failed possession by Cleveland and instantly gets it moving downcourt. The second highlight is a fantastic pass to Duop Reath. If teammates know they'll get the ball if they run, they'll run more.
Matisse Thybulle is much more a great blue heron for me, like a great blue heron Matisse has a large wingspan and can fly at speeds up to 55kph. Along the Pacific coast, it’s not unusual to see a Great Blue Heron poised atop a floating bed of kelp waiting for a meal to swim by just as Matisse often seems to lull his defenders into a false sense of security and surprise them from behind as they float by him.
Thybulle had a tough start to the season. But he's been picking things up lately and knocking down shots. He's in no way a stretch 4. He kinda gets roughed up by the post players. When the Blazers guards start returning from injury, I hope Chauncey doesn't go small ball with Matisse at PF. The only thing that's working OK in Portland is lineups have enough length and size to play good defense. You gotta keep Matisse on the perimeter so he can do his thing.
6th man Thybulle. Just because a guy doesn't start, shouldn't automatically disqualify him from being in the closing lineup. Matisse getting yanked for Toumani has produced 0 wins on the season.
I hadn't thought about that spot in the rotation for Thybulle, but he his a perfect 6th man with the current roster. Not the typical small-guard-chucker, but instead a defensive disrupting guard who is always looking to push the pace, get the ball to his teammates, and hit the 3-point shot without hesitating.
Thybulle is a younger (by 2 years) Josh-Hart-type player who is from the NW. He's a perfect fit with Scoot and Sharpe. He plays defense, moves the ball quickly, and can hit catch-and-shoot 3-pointers. Why would he be traded?
The next evolution of Thybulle would be to see if he can hit a pull-up 3-pointer. If he can do that at a decent rate, the perception of who he is as a player changes drastically, and more importantly, helps get the Blazer offense to another level. I doubt this idea has even entered Chauncey Billups' mind which seems to be preoccupied with mediocre-shitty PG play as a lynchpin for his fearsome offense.
It’s all about the return he could bring. If the return is less than a 1st, then of course we should just keep him, he’s played really well in 2 games coming off the bench. But it’s a little bit of an overreaction to not think about trading him at all after two good games. Hart is still a better player imo. If the return is good, take the return and don’t even think about it. Thybulle playing better just makes me hope the return is more. Thybulle, Brogdon for Lowry, and the ‘28 and ‘30 unprotected 1sts. Yes please.
I’d be happy to see him catch a shoot at this clip for 40 games. And if he continues to shoot 37+% for extended periods, I want him shooting more volume 3’s to up him ppg average. I’m not opposed to him shooting some pull up 3’s, I just don’t think it’s that needs to be a focal point.
No, not a focal point. Just like Ayton (if it ever happens) shooting threes would never be a focal point. Just my thinking that the more a defense has to worry about the more tools the Blazer offense has to work with.
Hart was not a willing 3-point shooter. We all saw that. It stalls the offense when you have a guy wide open for 3 and he doesn't shoot. If, one the other hand, a player is making them at a rate of 40% on average, and lets it fly immediately, that creates a problem for the defense. It also gives an outlet for Scoot and Sharpe in game-ending situations (and of course during the game too).
