Doc Rivers has a great problem ahead of the 2021-22 Sixers season. Who should start? Danny Green or Matisse Thybulle?
These last few weeks have left a lot of questions for Sixers fans as the uncertainty of the starting lineup for the 2021-2022 season still looms heavily over the point guard position. With the resigning of Danny Green this past month and Matisse Thybulle cooking it up at the Olympics, it brings up yet another question for this years starting five, “Who will Doc Rivers pick to start?”
Green and Thybulle play similar games in the sense that they both are members of the 3-and-D committee, with each having their own strong suit; Green with his three-point shooting and Thybulle on defense. The answer lies in the details for Doc Rivers as to who he should reward with the permanent starting spot come October.
Why Doc Rivers Will Start Danny Green
As the old saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” During the 2020-2021 season, Danny Green proved that he was a capable starter. Shooting 41.2% from the floor and an impressive 40.5% from beyond the arc on top of solid defense, Danny Green did what he was brought here to do. He brought a veteran presence that was needed in the Sixers locker room and stayed on the perimeter to allow Joel Embiid to shine in the post.
Deciding Factor: Doc Rivers will look to utilize Green as he did last year and look to keep Thybulle as a great burst of energy off his defense-heavy bench.
Why Doc Rivers Will Start Matisse Thybulle
After showcasing his talents and winning a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Matisse Thybulle proved that he is worthy of a coveted starting position. This past year, Thybulle was absolutely stellar on defense, earning a spot on the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, and was the only non-starter on both the first and second-team list.
He also recently polished up his inconsistent three-point shooting and shot 62.3% from three at the Tokyo Games. Doc Rivers is a coach who does not let hard work and dedication go unnoticed and most likely did not miss watching his only player in the Olympics.
Deciding Factor: Doc Rivers will see Thybulle as the younger, more athletic version of Green and look to reverse their roles from last season.
With the possibility of trading Ben Simmons seeming less likely as time goes on, there is a big chance that the Sixers will run it back with almost all of the same players as last year. Doc Rivers might not want to push the big red button yet to switch things up, as the Sixers earned the number one seed with his solidified lineup of Simmons, Curry, Green, Harris, and Embiid.
However, change might be in Doc’s best interest as Matisse showed immense progress during his time with the Australian Boomers this summer. With bigger fish to fry at the moment, Sixers fans have a long way to go before any decisions are made regarding the lineup.
