PHILADELPHIA — In James Harden’s first three games as a 76er, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Harden flourished, scoring 20-plus points in each Sixers win.
Meanwhile, Tobias Harris’s numbers dropped off as he adjusted to getting fewer touches and was seemingly more hesitant to shoot open 3-pointers and attack the rim.
The most important role for fifth starter Matisse Thybulle continues to be defending the opponents’ best guard or wing player. As an added bonus, Thybulle, a second-team All-NBA Defensive selection last season, was more active at the offensive end, thanks in large part to Harden.
After averaging 5.6 points in his first 43 games this season, Thybulle improved to 9.7 points in the first three games alongside Harden.
Thybulle did it with a combination of flashing into the lane in the halfcourt offense, taking open 3-pointers and leaking out for easy baskets in transition. Harden is not only finding Thybulle but encouraging Thybulle to shoot the ball.
“Him and I (are) developing a relationship and a feel for each other,” said Thybulle earlier this week. “For me having it be something relatively new, it’s just a learning process. His ability to find me and just feeling the whole thing out has been pretty cool.”
With all of the attention Harden and Embiid receive, Thybulle did a nice job taking advantage of his opportunities, much to the delight of coach Doc Rivers.
“We need him,” Rivers said prior to Friday’s come-from-behind 125-119 home victory over the Cavaliers. “He’s going to get open shots, Obviously, teams are going to game plan that at times try to get him open shots. Now he’s got to take some of ’em and some of ’em he’s got to make plays with.
“That’s a tough spot. Draymond (Green of the Warriors) goes through that a lot. Jack one up and then dribble handoff to someone else. Those are the same things that we want Matisse to do.”
Thybulle’s strengths complement the offensive-minded Harden’s well, which can make keeping them together on the floor a sensible idea.
For Thybulle to maximize his time on the court and prevent what amounts to playing 4-on-5 in the set offense, he has to continue to be active. He wasn’t nearly as involved Friday, going scoreless while missing the only two shots – both 3-pointers – that he attempted in 17 minutes, which the Sixers cannot afford, and picked up five fouls. He had no cuts or leak-outs for buckets, either.
It didn’t help Thybulle’s cause that Harden picked up his third foul less than halfway through the second quarter and sat for the rest of the half.
The crowd-pleasing Maxey (5 for 6 on 3-pointers) picked up the offensive slack against Cleveland with 24 of his game-high 33 points in the second half for the 39-23 Sixers. He has made .649 of his field goal tries (37 for 57), including .700 on 3-pointers (14 for 20), and averaged 26.8 points with 18 assists and four turnovers in four games with Harden.
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“On any given night, it can be any of us that go off,” said Harden, who had 25 points on 6-for-10 shooting and 11 assists Friday. “Tyrese really picked it up for us tonight. His confidence, getting to the basket, getting to the foul line (and) his shot-making ability – he had five 3s tonight, which was huge for us.”
Rivers said he made a point of letting Thybulle know about it at practice Thursday when the third-year pro from Washington got down on himself after not converting a field goal attempt during a scrimmage.
“You could see him on the free-throw line having a conversation with himself on the floor,” Rivers said. “Like, ‘What is that about? You missed a shot. OK. So what?'”
For the Sixers’ first unit to keep defenses honest, they need Thybulle looking to score, even if he doesn’t make his first shot or two.
Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes; @TomMoorePhilly
