ESPN's Zach Lowe released his All-NBA and All-Defensive teams and had Embiid, Simmons and Thybulle on the All-Defensive teams.
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As for Embiid, Lowe has him on the second team due to the number of games he missed this season. He also believes that will hinder his Defensive Player of the Year candidacy:
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A fully engaged Embiid is maybe the most intimidating and impactful defender in the game. Embiid is stronger than Gobert in the post, a little nimbler in space.
With a full minutes allotment, Embiid would have been right there for Defensive Player of the Year
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And some serious love for Thybulle (who he has on the second team All-Defensive team)
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Thybulle might be the best perimeter defender in the world. He’s one of the best perimeter defenders I’ve ever seen. Thybulle is some sort of phantom. He doesn’t move in normal ways. He’s in one spot, and then suddenly, without warning, he’s somewhere else 15 feet away — only not enough time has passed for any human to traverse 15 feet. Thybulle doesn’t move. He apparates.
He averaged five combined blocks and steals per 36 minutes, an absolutely absurd rate. He is straight-up destructive to your emotional well-being and physical safety. Having Thybulle on the floor is like playing with 5½ defenders.
This post was edited by Sixers on May 18 2021 09:06am