The Portland Trail Blazers went 2-1 this week with blowout wins over the Milwuakee Bucks and Washington Wizards broken up by a loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
As the Blazers continue this late-season push for NBA Play-In Tournament seeding, there have been a number of players who have stepped up during different games. A different player has led the charge each night. With that being said, this week’s Blazer of the Week is Matisse Thybulle.
Thybulle averaged 9.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game this week while playing just 19.0 minutes per game off the bench. Thybulle’s role has been a simple, yet incredibly important, one this season. He is a defensive specialist who disrupts the flow of the opponent’s offensive gameplan. His ability to force turnovers and tip passes makes it a gamble to throw the ball in his general direction.
On offense, Thybulle’s game is limited. However, he was able to thrive in his opportunities this week. He shot 62.5% from the field and 55.6% from three-point range. Thybulle is worth his minutes even when he contributes nothing on the offensive end. When he is able to hit a couple of shots, his impact becomes that much greater.
A role player like Thybulle is incredibly important for a team looking to make a little noise in the postseason. The simplicity of the role does not take away from the impact. For a Portland team desperate for shooting wherever they can find it, having Thybulle get hot from range adds another dimension to the offense for the Blazers while not sacrificing the defensive end.
This week’s honorable mention is Scoot Henderson.
Henderson averaged 17.7 points, 4.7 assists, 2.7 rebounds and just 1.7 turnovers per game this week. He shot 42.9% from the field and 33.3% from behind the arc. While it was not his most efficient week overall, Henderson posted a pair of 20-point performances to overshadow a down game in the loss to Dallas. He also showcased the ability to draw contact and get to the free throw line. He attempted 19 shots from the stripe, making 18 of them.
Henderson is clearly adding skills to his game and starting to become more and more polished. However, he still makes mistakes. A lot of mistakes. The next step in his development will just be to make those good games happen more consistently. Cutting down on turnovers this week was a good start as he grows into a player who will hopefully be able to lead the offense at a high level. Being able to be on the court for more than half the game would also help him find his rhythm on this Blazers squad.
Which Blazer impressed you the most this week? Let us know in the comments below!