<\/p>\n
Ben Simmons has seen his role drastically decreased in Brooklyn after struggling following the recent departures of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, while Matise Thybulle has an expanded role on a completely new team after being traded from the 76ers.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile Josh Green and Jock Landale look set to step up for the Mavericks and Suns respectively in the wake of Irving\u2019s arrival in Dallas and KD\u2019s arrival in Phoenix.<\/p>\n
Moves made ahead of the NBA trade deadline <\/a>have had a massive ripple effect throughout the league and it\u2019s certainly changed things for our Aussie expats with several more stars from Down Under having big roles to play for playoff teams, and others facing key challenges.<\/p>\n With the NBA world taking a deep breath over the All-Star break and things set to really start to heating up when play resumes as the postseason just around the corner, foxsports.com.au<\/i> has taken a look at how all the Australians in the NBA have been tracking in recent weeks.<\/p>\n Watch an average of 9 LIVE NBA Regular Season games per week on ESPN on Kayo Sports on ESPN on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now ><\/a><\/b><\/i><\/b><\/i><\/b><\/i><\/b><\/i><\/p>\n Westbrook to make the move to Clippers | 00:55<\/p>\n MORE COVERAGE<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n \u2018REALLY, REALLY GROSS\u2019: NBA legend\u2019s poor response to All-Star backlash after dark past revealed<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n \u2018I DESTROYED MY LIFE\u2019: NBA outcast returns two years after anti-Semitic slur<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n \u2018HARD TO WATCH\u2019: Aussie NBA legend reveals reason behind \u2018sad\u2019 Simmons struggles<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n BEN SIMMONS (Brooklyn Nets)<\/b><\/p>\n Simmons is back playing basketball after missing all of last season.<\/p>\n That\u2019s about where the positives have ended for the former All-Star point guard this season.<\/p>\n Coming off the bench in the Nets\u2019 last four games since the departure of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, his minutes are noticeably decreasing. Simmons is averaging a career-low in nearly every category with 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 6.1 assists a game.<\/p>\n Both he and his coach aren\u2019t sure what his role with the team will look like moving forward <\/a>now that he hasn\u2019t got shooters the calibre of KD and Kyrie to help space the floor around him as he continues with his offensive struggles.<\/p>\n Things only got worse for Simmons after last week\u2019s matchup against the Knicks<\/a>, a team the Nets had not lost to in three years, with Simmons displaying the same unwillingness to score that fans have been so accustomed to seeing from him since his meltdown in the Atlanta playoff series two years ago that marked the end of his time in Philly.<\/p>\n Following the game, the 26-year-old was brutalised by the US media <\/a>with the worst comments coming from ESPN<\/i>\u2019s Kendrick Perkins and Zach Lowe who labelled Ben as a \u201cscared\u201d and \u201cbroken player\u201d that has become \u201csad to watch\u201d during an appearance on \u2018NBA Today\u2019.<\/p>\n Simmons branded ‘a broken player’ | 03:29<\/p>\n To his credit he bounced back to show a glimpse of his old self in last Thursday\u2019s game against the Miami Heat<\/a> with a brilliant three-quarter pass to Bridges at the end of the third quarter for the quick score. Simmons finished with four rebounds, four assists, and two points in his 20 minutes off the bench, despite being booed by his own fans when entering the game. <\/p>\n \u201cWhat becomes of Simmons and the final two years and nearly $80 million remaining on his contract after this season is of course another dynamic to monitor in Brooklyn,\u201d Fischer wrote<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Nets are widely expected to gauge what trade market could materialise for Simmons after his disappointing campaign comes to a close. The three-time All-Star is still far from the form he exhibited during his best days in Philadelphia.\u201d <\/p>\n MATISE THYBULLE (Portland Trail Blazers)<\/b><\/p>\n It\u2019s been an up and down few weeks for Thybulle which is the perfect representation of his entire season to date.<\/p>\n In the final week of January, the 25-year-old guard had two of his best offensive performances of the season for the Philadelphia 76ers, scoring 10 points on 60 per cent shooting in games against the Nets and Magic.<\/p>\n Then he only managed to score only nine points while taking just eight shots total across his next four games combined to cap off a frustrating start to the month of February which reflects his season as a whole, having struggled to crack consistent rotation minutes for Doc Rivers\u2019 deep side.<\/p>\n The defensive stud hadn\u2019t gotten a proper look in for the 76ers, averaging a meagre 11.76 minutes across the first five months of the season After Thybulle didn\u2019t reach a contract extension with the Sixers in the final season of his rookie-scale deal, the writing was on the wall that a split between the two parties was seemingly inevitable.<\/p>\n Then came the news that the former first-round draft pick had been traded to the Portland Trail Blazers as part of a three-team deal involving the Hornets \u2013 the only Aussie to change teams prior to the trade deadline.<\/p>\n On the surface, Thybulle has gone from a pereniall playoff team \u2013 who are serious contenders to not only come out of the East but win the championship this season \u2013 to a borderline playoff squad facing an uphill battle just to secure a play-in spot in the West.<\/p>\n However, from an individual perspective the move to Portland is a fantastic one for the Australian\u2019s career as he will be given a much more substantial role than what he had with the 76ers.<\/p>\n The two-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team player is a solid all-round defender and remarkable on the perimeter, boasting a +4.9 defensive RAPTOR this season according to FiveThirtyEight<\/i>. This means he improves his team\u2019s defensive performance by 4.8 points per 100 possessions while he is on the floor. Only one player that has played more than 330 minutes this season has a higher defensive rating.<\/p>\n Thybulle is sure to provide the Blazers with a much-needed boost on the defensive end considering they rank 27th in defensive rating (116.5) and opponents 3-point percentage (37), 23rd in opponents effective field goal percentage (55.3) and give up 115 points per game \u2013 18th-worst in the NBA.<\/p>\n Where the former Huskies product\u2019s inability to stretch the floor on the offensive end was a big factor in his minor role in Philly \u2013 due to opposition defences being able to crowd the paint around superstar Joel Embiid \u2013 it should be less of an issue in Portland thanks to their primary scorer being superstar point guard Damian Lillard \u2013 who is a terrific perimeter shooter with endless range.<\/p>\n The results so far have been mixed, with Thybulle scoring a season-high 14 points \u2013 including shooting 55.6 per cent from the field and nailing 4\/6 from beyond the arc \u2013 in a win over the Lakers in his Trail Blazers debut before following it up with a quieter performance \u2013 two points on 25 per cent shooting including 0\/3 from deep \u2013 in a loss to the Wizards.<\/p>\n However, in a hugely positive sign the shooting guard has averaged a season-high 28 minutes per game across his first two games with his new team prior to the league\u2019s All-Star break.<\/p>\n With Thybulle seemingly set for a substantial role in Portland\u2019s rotation and likely more consistent minutes moving forward, he can hopefully translate that into more consistent performances on the offensive end. <\/p>\n After returning from the All-Star break, the impending free agent has plenty of time to prove his worth, particularly if he can assist the team in their push for the playoffs, in the hope of securing a nice new contract at the end of the season.<\/p>\n LeBron, Tatum & Ja put on a dunk show | 00:37<\/p>\n Green was one of the big winners to emerge from the trade deadline <\/a>and now factors as a crucial role player for the Mavericks\u2019 playoff push after they went all-in on a title this season in trading for Irving. Although the guard out of Sydney was worried at first he was the one that had been moved on.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t have Twitter, so I had no idea [about the trade],\u201d Green told reporters early last week.<\/p>\n \u201cI was in the shower and I came out to like 20 text messages, and I\u2019m like, \u2018Oh, I\u2019m done. Like, I\u2019m traded\u2019.\u201d Green will only take on even more responsibility on the defensive end with Dorian Finney-Smith, the team\u2019s best perimeter defender, off to Brooklyn.<\/p>\n The 22-year-old has also taken a big leap as a scorer this season, averaging 9.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists while shooting a 41.1 per cent from beyond the arc \u2013 all career-best marks.<\/p>\n More recently Green has averaged 14.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists on 51.4 per cent shooting across his last 10 games, including a career-high 29 points, six rebounds and +39 in a recent win over the Jazz, elevating his game after stepping into a much larger to repay the Mavericks faith in him as a core piece.<\/p>\n If the 6-foot-5 guard can continue on his current trajectory for the rest of the season then he along with Luka and Kyrie could have a huge say in determining how far Dallas can go in the playoffs this season.<\/p>\n \u201cJosh has shown that he can play with Kai and LD,\u201d Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said recently. <\/p>\n \u201c… What Josh has shown just from just last year, the growth of being able to play make, he\u2019s not afraid of the moment \u2013 understanding that the playoffs are a little bit different than the regular season \u2013 but you can see he worked on his game (over the off-season). <\/p>\n \u201cHis teammates trust him.\u201d<\/p>\n JOCK LANDALE (Phoenix Suns)<\/b><\/p>\n Like Green, Landale should be the beneficiary of his team sacrificing depth to acquire a Brooklyn superstar in order to push for a championship.<\/p>\n Phoenix traded out Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson and Jae Crowder to land two-time NBA champion Kevin Durant as new Phoenix owner Matt Ishbia took a big swing to try winning the Suns first ever title.<\/p>\n In doing so they gave up valuable depth on the roster, meaning the players they already have in their rotation will likely see their roles increased moving forward.<\/p>\n Reserve big man Jock Landale should be one of those players.<\/p>\n The 27-year-old has continued his solid play off the bench this season, averaging 6.6 points, 4 rebounds and nearly an assist per game in 14.1 minutes prior to the All-Star break.<\/p>\n As the backup centre to former No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton, Landale is set to play a crucial role for the likely playoff-bound Suns and is only one Ayton injury away from becoming the team\u2019s starter.<\/p>\n The 6-foot-11 Melburnian is excited at the prospect of playing with new teammate KD.<\/p>\n \u201cGuys are running around like \u2018Man, I\u2019m playing with Kevin Durant now! I gotta step this thing up!\u2019 So everything\u2019s gone up a level, and that\u2019s what needed to happen for us to win this thing this year,\u201d Landale said recently on the \u2018Phnx Suns Podcast\u2019<\/a>. <\/p>\n Giddey\u2019s recent streak of 16 games with at least 15 points came to an end after he only scored 13 points in last Thursday\u2019s blowout win over the Rockets.<\/p>\n The 20-year-old averaged an impressive 18.8 points across that stretch to go along with 7.9 rebounds and 6.9 assists while shooting 52.2 per cent from the field and 80 per cent from the line.<\/p>\n However his three-point shot has dropped off, making just 22.7 per cent from beyond the arc in that time.<\/p>\n Giddey is finding ways to impact games during his sophomore season as he has emerged as a genuine playmaker and the clear second-best player behind All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on a young thunder side which currently sits 10th in the West but only trails the No. 3 seed Kings by four games. <\/p>\n The 6-foot-8 ball-handler ranks 25th in the league for assists per game (5.9) and 35th for rebounds (7.8) and leads the Thunder in both of those categories, but perhaps his greatest skill is his inbounds passing.<\/p>\n Giddey drew heavy praise recently from Fox Sport US<\/i>\u2019 journalist Yaron Weitzman who highlighted the often overlooked trait mastered by the Melbourne-born rising star.<\/p>\n \u201cThis season, Giddey, who will be participating Friday night in the NBA\u2019s All-Star Weekend Rising Stars Game, has dished out 35 assists off inbounds passes, according to data provided by NBA Advanced stats. No other player this season has tossed more than 26,\u201d Weitzman wrote. <\/p>\n \u201cIn his two NBA seasons he\u2019s racked up 92 inbound assists, for an average of .88 per game. For a snapshot of just how impressive that is, Chris Paul and Kyle Lowry are the only players who have recorded more inbound assists over the past three seasons, and neither has done so at a rate close to Giddey\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n OKC head coach Mark Daigneault also lavished praise on the former No. 6 overall pick\u2019s inbounds passing ability.<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t have a play on the side or under that doesn\u2019t allow him to pick something off if he sees it,\u201d Daigneault said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe realised pretty early (his threat in that department) because he just started quarterbacking over there, he is pretty surgical in those situations and so tall that he can see over defences. <\/p>\n \u201cAnd we account for it with everything we do.\u201d <\/p>\n Giddey himself recently spoke about his thought process in these situations.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m always aware of where guys are going to cut and where they\u2019re going to be,\u201d he said. \u201cSo I\u2019ve tried to kind of develop the different options in my head, you know, before they actually happen, and think about ahead of time where the defence is going to be. If they\u2019re not paying attention to me, I\u2019m gonna hit the guy with a quick back-cut or back screen.<\/p>\n However, the former Adelaide 36er believes teams have started cottoning on recently and are more prepared to defend against his not-so-secret-anymore weapon. <\/p>\n \u201cYou can tell they\u2019ve scouted it,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n \u201cTeams are starting to put a guy under the rim when we have a guy in the opposite corner, as a low man to kind of eliminate that basket.\u201d<\/p>\n Giddey impressed playing for Team Joakim in the 2023 NBA Rising Stars Challenge<\/a>, especially in his team\u2019s 40-32 semi-final win against Jason Terry\u2019s team where the Australian was dishing out dimes as he scored three points to go with six assists and three rebounds.<\/p>\n The rising Oklahoma City Thunder star even showed off his multi-tasking skills in the victory, running the offence while also speaking to the broadcast team while mic\u2019d up. <\/p>\n In his short time on the court in the Rising Stars Challenge, Giddey was a walking highlight-reel and earned widespread praise from rival players who spoke to The Oklahoman<\/a><\/i>\u2019s Joe Mussatto<\/a> on Saturday.<\/p>\n Knicks guard Quentin Grimes said Giddey was \u201calmost a walking triple-double every night\u201d while New Orleans\u2019 Jose Alvarado described the Australian as \u201cahead of his time\u201d.<\/p>\n Evan Mobley formed a strong connection with Giddey, who continually fed the Cavaliers forward the ball in the paint, with Mobley praising the Thunder point guard\u2019s passing ability saying \u201che has great vision\u201d.<\/p>\n Even the recently crowned NBA all-time leading scorer, LeBron James, spoke glowingly of the 20-year-old\u2019s ability on the basketball court<\/a> and forecast that Giddey would only continue to improve moving forward.<\/p>\n \u201cJosh Giddey\u2019s really, really good, man,\u201d James said.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously, a tall point guard. He\u2019s a triple-double type of playmaker every single night because of his ability to rebound at his size, his instinctive passing, and he has the ability to score in the paint.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he\u2019s going to continue to get better and better.\u201d<\/p>\n The former St Kevin\u2019s College product even received attention for his performance off the court over the All-Star weekend, turning up in a striking blue coat which he later explained was inspired by a post he saw from pop star Justin Bieber on Instagram.<\/p>\n \u201cI saw it on Justin Bieber,\u201d Giddey said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt came up on my Instagram randomly. I sent it to one of my guys and we got it custom made just in time for tonight. It\u2019s definitely the boldest thing I\u2019ve ever worn.\u201d <\/p>\n If Giddey can continue to be a dangerous playmaker and SGA can continue to play at an All-Star level for the rest of the season after the break, the Thunder will have a great chance to make the playoffs for just the second time <\/p>\n Best plays of NBA All-Star game | 01:58<\/p>\n MORE COVERAGE<\/b><\/i> CROSS-TOWN RIVALRY IGNITES: Russell Westbrook switching teams AGAIN\u2026 less than two weeks after mega three-team trade<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n \u2018THE WORST BASKETBALL EVER PLAYED\u2019: NBA coach scathing after \u2018horrendous\u2019 All-Star game<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n