The Philadelphia 76ers are currently the fourth team in the East with a 49-30 record.
After a productive season, a major trade, and some incredible work from Joel Embiid, the team is attempting to finally have the sort of playoff run that fans can be happy about.
But they just got some bad news about one of their most important players that could complicate all of that.
Matisse Thybulle will be ineligible to play in Toronto tomorrow due to him not being vaccinated.
If the season ended today, the 76ers would face the Raptors in the first round of the playoffs… pic.twitter.com/lH7dMWKApw
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) April 7, 2022
It is being reported that Matisse Thybulle is ineligible to play in Toronto this week due to him not being vaccinated against COVID-19.
This is the first news of Thybulle not having his shots and it complicates Philly’s postseason chances.
That’s because if the season ended today, the 76ers would face off against the Raptors in the first round of the playoffs.
That means that the team would be missing one of its best defenders half of the time in the opening round.
What Thybulle Brings
This season has been big for Thybulle, who has become a pivotal part of Philadelphia’s rotation.
He is averaging 1.1 steals and 1.8 blocks per 25.4 minutes per game.
According to ESPN, only seven players throughout the league are averaging at least one steal and one block per game and each of them have more minutes than Thybulle.
He has definitely become one of the best defenders in the NBA and that’s why Philly will miss him so much when they’re playing in Toronto.
When you look at the Philly roster, you don’t see many players who are capable of doing a lot of defensive work aside from Embiid.
As you know, Embiid has plenty more work to do on the floor so he needs a lot of help on defense.
With no chance of Canada changing its vaccine rules soon, the 76ers should be ready to lose Thybulle.
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