New Orleans Pelicans: Ranking the Top-Ten Backcourts in the NBA

#7: Ben Simmons and Matisse Thybulle, Philadelphia 76ers

“The Process” in Philadelphia was one of the more controversial strategies in recent NBA history.

The Sixers tanked for seven years straight in an effort to stockpile top picks. Even though they struck out on most of them, they were finally able to land All-Stars Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid.

Things weren’t necessarily going to plan this season, as the 76ers were just the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference heading into the hiatus.

Some are starting to question if the pairing of Simmons and Embiid can work, but no one is questioning the Sixers’ backcourt.

Point guard Ben Simmons has rounded into one of the best overall players in the league and will likely make his first All-NBA team this year.

He is a walking triple-double, averaging 16.7 points, 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds while swiping a league-leading 2.1 steals per game.

His size, passing ability and defensive versatility will put him in the running for several awards, including Defensive Player of the Year.

Matisse Thybulle is the lesser-known commodity.

While he only averages 4.7 points per game off the bench for Philly, he plays elite defense and is only going to get better.

Simmons and Thybulle form the best defensive backcourt in the league, and if the 76ers are going to break up “The Process” it will likely be Embiid who gets jettisoned.

The Sixers would be smart to build around this backcourt, which is young, big and ascending.

Argue all you want, but defense matters and these two can play it.