The Sixer Sense
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Philadelphia 76ers’ Robert Covington Break Out Season

By Bret Stuter

Apr 12, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Philadelphia 76ers forward Robert Covington (33) makes a three point shot past the outstretched hand of Toronto Raptors guard Norman Powell (24) in the first half at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 12, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Philadelphia 76ers forward Robert Covington (33) makes a three point shot past the outstretched hand of Toronto Raptors guard Norman Powell (24) in the first half at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 1, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Robert Covington (33) sits on the bench during the first half of the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 1, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Robert Covington (33) sits on the bench during the first half of the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports /

Missing in Action

His early absence was ill timed to the fortunes of the team.   With a young and unfamiliar roster, Covington’s style of play of making up the difference where ever needed was visibly absent without his presence on the court.

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He was the glue on a team whose roster depended upon him more than it should have.  That forced Covington to try to do too much for the young team, and so his play waxed erratic.   Seven points scored one night followed by a 25 point outburst.  11 points scored, only to lead into a  29 point scoring outburst.

But the new year was the most obvious slump.   After the December 2015 month ended on a down note – a 10.6 points per game low average  with a huge erosion in his scoring – January 2016 began even worse.  His first 6 games of 2015 found his scoring average in six games plumment to 5.6 points per game.

On January 14, 2016, Covington finally broke the 20 points per game barrier, and finished a loss to the Chicago Bulls with a 25 point outburst.

He would be injured a second time, on this occasion in a rare late season win against the Brooklyn Nets.  In a freak accident, a tumbling Jerami Grant kicked Covington in the head. Covington injured his neck on the play and would miss another five games before returning to the team twelve days later.

All told, Covington missed 15 games for the Philadelphia 76ers, but the truer number was starting a mere 49 games for the team.

Next: the important uptick