Chicago Bulls: Zach LaVine can’t escape Matisse Thybulle

Maybe the worst stretch ever in an exhibition circuit for the United States men’s basketball team arrived in the past four days. And the Chicago Bulls have a star shooting guard of theirs, Zach LaVine, taking part in some of the disappointment to start this pre-Olympic circuit of international friendlies.

On July 10, the United States kicked off their pre-Olympic circuit of exhibition games with a stunning upset loss at the hands of Nigeria. That looked like a slip-up where the United States could at least recover in the next couple of games. If nothing else, that loss didn’t impact the spot in the Olympic tables for Team USA.

Yet, while any additional losses throughout this pre-Olympic exhibition circuit also won’t impact the United States in the tables, it’s not a good look. It got even worse for Team USA on the night of July 12, with a loss to Australia by the final score of 91-83.

One of the driving factors to any struggles that the United States had on the offensive end of the floor against Australia was the defensive presence of key players such as shooting guard/wing Matisse Thybulle and point guard Patty Mills. Thybulle is a true force to be reckoned with on the defensive end in the NBA too.

Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine finding consistent issues with Matisse Thybulle

Thybulle gave LaVine some problems in this meeting between the United States and Australia. That is evident by the stat line that LaVine registered, with just five points on 1-of-4 shooting from the field (all attempts from downtown).

Named to his first All-Defensive Team of his career this season, Thybulle has truly established himself among the top perimeter/wing defenders in the entire league. Thybulle 1.6 steals per game and 1.1 blocks during the regular season, which is sensational for someone who only got roughly 20 minutes of playing time per game and spent most of his minutes playing at the two.

Thybulle is coming up big again on the defensive end of the floor, this time it’s just representing his country instead of the Philadelphia 76ers. He led Australia in both respects in the win over the United States on July 12, with three steals and two blocks. Thybulle often got in the passing lanes, making it difficult for USA guards like LaVine and Damian Lillard to move the ball around the perimeter.

LaVine has to be tired of facing Thybulle, who always seems to be matched up against him when the Bulls star is on offense. Thybulle arguably also plays some of his best defense against LaVine and the Bulls, especially during the 2020-21 regular season. Thybulle had more combined total blocks and steals against the Bulls than any other team he faced this season (seven steals and six blocks).

The Sixers were also one of the few teams that LaVine faced during the regular season where he did not have a single game where he shot better than 20 percent from beyond the arc and at least 44 percent from the field. He also had four turnovers in each outing against Thybulle and the Sixers during the regular season.

Thybulle’s defensive rating in three outings against the Bulls was also pretty solid, sitting at 101. He was able to limit the potency of the first-time All-Star shooting guard LaVine in two tries.

It’s not a coincidence that two of the eight total starts that Thybulle got during the regular season came against LaVine and the Bulls either.

Moreover, the United States needs to come up with a strong response in their next exhibition this week. Team USA is set to take on Argentina next, in another pre-Olympic international friendly in Las Vegas. Tip-off time between Team USA and Argentina is set for 5 p.m. CT.