The Los Angeles Lakers have quickly found out that Matisse Thybulle is the ideal 3-and-D wing to play next to Luka Doncic. He is starting, but the coaching staff must stick to the plan of keeping his minutes down. Thybulle is averaging just 24.4 minutes per game, despite starting all 13 games. The Lakers are 11-2 and need the 6’5 wing when the games matter most.
Thybulle averages 7.1 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 2.2 steals in 24.4 minutes per game. He is shooting 40.0 percent from 3-point range and making 1.7 triples each night. His shooting improvements have been impressive, and he’s near the top of the NBA in steals. The Lakers have found an impactful 3-and-D wing on a minimum contract, but they can’t get too excited.
Los Angeles did a fantastic job in monitoring Marcus Smart’s minutes last season, but even he played over four more minutes each night. Thybulle has struggled to stay healthy in recent years. The Lakers can’t create additional risk by overtaxing him. They need him when the games matter most, so this plan should stick.
Matisse Thybulle has been a fantastic fit on the Lakers
LA has the best offensive rating in the NBA to start this season. Luka Doncic is playing like the MVP, and the roster around him finally fits. LA gave him a lob threat and rim protector in Walker Kessler. Thybulle, Ziaire Williams, and Jake LaRavia are all making threes and playing stout defense. Austin Reaves is the co-star Doncic needs. This group looks special, despite having nine new players.
The Lakers are 2.3 points per 100 possessions better defensively with Thybulle on the floor. Their offensive rating of 120.2 would still be the best in the NBA, and they have a 6.6 net rating when the 29-year-old plays. Only eight other teams sit above that net rating over the early season.
Thybulle has made two All-Defensive teams, but his jumper was questionable for years. He made a massive improvement over the last two seasons, but he played a total of 45 games because of injuries. It left everyone wondering if the shooting was small-sample-size luck or something real. Thybulle is answering that question in Los Angeles.
The injuries are also real and should force the Lakers to be cautious.
The Lakers need to keep Matisse Thybulle’s minutes down
Thybulle played 65 or more regular season games in each of his first five NBA seasons before appearing in 15 and 30 in the last two years. The 6’5 wing has never averaged more than 25.5 minutes per game and sits at just 20.7 each night for his career.
Coming off two injury-plagued years, the Lakers cannot suddenly play him 30 minutes every game like a normal starter. They need to watch his minutes and use him in key spots. LA should wisely rest Thybulle when the schedule gets dense. Whatever it takes to keep him healthy in the playoffs.
The Lakers should treat the 6’5 wing a bit like the Thunder do with Alex Caruso. They watch his regular season minutes closely before expanding his role in the postseason. Caruso is an elite defender and key floor spacer just like Thybulle. LA should be following this blueprint with their wing.
The injuries and inability to play massive minutes are the only reasons Thybulle was available on a minimum contract. The Lakers got an absolute bargain. That comes with needed maintenance. The Lakers are doing things right, but must stick to the plan.
Matisse Thybulle will play a larger role when the games matter most
Thybulle hasn’t started the majority of his games played in a season since the 2021-22 campaign. The 6’5 wing is an impactful 3-and-D wing, and the Lakers are playing a defensive scheme that maximizes Luka. It has them gambling for turnovers and creating havoc. Thybulle is elite at that.
The purple and gold played Smart 28.5 minutes per game during the regular season before boosting him to 34.5 in the playoffs. They will do something similar with Thybulle. The regular season is an 82-game grind. It is difficult to stay healthy playing massive minutes every night. The Lakers are wisely keeping the minutes down for when the games matter most.
Thybulle just needs to keep sinking open looks and playing stout defense. The Lakers should keep improving. They have nine new players and are just 13 games into working together. The early returns from the 6’5 wing have been fantastic. Expect him to only get better as everyone gets more comfortable in their roles.
The Los Angeles Lakers found a fantastic fit in Matisse Thybulle, but they must stick to limiting his minutes. Thybulle deserves to start and play in the closing lineup. Head coach JJ Redick and his staff need to keep him around 25 minutes per game.
That is their best chance to keep him healthy. The Lakers can unleash Thybulle in the playoffs, but they need to get him there first. That is why sticking to this plan is crucial.
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