Despite opportunity to shine as a veteran on the new 76ers lineup, Robert Covington is noticeably absent from offensive stats
Sometimes we get it right. Sometimes we get it wrong. But nobody could have expected the vacuum of offense from the likes of Robert Covington this season. Nobody whose reputation is respectable, at least. Robert Covington seems to be lost or missing in the early part of the new NBA season.
Somebody needs to put Robert Covington on a milk carton.
— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) November 3, 2016
Robert Covington was a cherished player to former president Sam Hinkie. And for good reason. His 13.5 points per game in the 2014-2015 season padded with 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.39 steals, and .44 blocks per game set him apart as a very versatile, and valuable player.
Covington followed that up with a 12.8 point, 6.3 rebound, 1.4 assists, 1.57 steals, .6 blocks per game season.
So far this season in 27 minutes per game? 4.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 2.5 steals, and .75 blocks per game. Meanwhile the Philadelphia 76ers are losing games by 6, 32, 2, and 14 points respectively. In those same games, Covington has scored 10, 0, 0, and 6 points.
Lord Invisible
Right now, Robert Covington’s offense has vanished. On a team in dire need of a veteran scoring spark, Covington cannot find his aim. So far this season, Covington is shooting 19.3 percent from the floor, and 19.0 percent from three point range. This is the equivalent to a severe drought. Unfortunately, the only true cure is to keep shooting:
Before tip, Brett Brown said message to Robert Covington was to keep shooting. Covington fires away, and hits 3fg for Sixers' first points.
— brianseltzer (@brianseltzer) November 2, 2016
As a matter of fact, the shots are still reigning. But the points simply are not coming yet. So far this season, RoCo has amassed just 16 points on 109 minutes of play. What could be the cause? Well he injured his right ankle in the last preseason game, for starters:
Covington sprained his ankle in preseason finale. #Sixers
— Tom Moore (@TomMoorePhilly) October 23, 2016
And with so many players already nursing injuries, the team may have pushed Covington to take the basketball court rather than heal. Was it a wise choice? Hmmm..
Limited Alternatives
We noted the lack of attention at the small forward position over the summer and questioned the wisdom. While the team needed help at virtually all positions in the offseason, the team focused on rhetoric over the center position, and signing free agents for the back court.
The problem compounded this season, when the team viewed Jerami Grant in a power forward role, a position filled with Richaun Holmes, Dario Saric, and eventually Ben Simmons. With Simmons out, the four was further diluted when Holmes slid to center. He was needed to take minutes there while Noel heals and Embiid and Okafor slowly increase playing minutes.
Season starter Dario Saric stumbled out of the gates this season, leading the team to trade Jerami Grant to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Ersan Ilyasova and a protected 2020 first round pick
The #Sixers will get a 2020 protected pick (1-20). If not conveyed, it would convert to two (2) second-round picks (2022, 2023)
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) November 1, 2016
Once more, the team has limited options at small forward. Will it need to do more? Perhaps, perhaps not. Nobody on the team has begun to panic just yet.
Playing Through
In a nice article published by Philly.com’s Keith Pompey, he spoke with Robert Covington about the recent slump and what he is doing to emerge from it’s paralyzing effects?
"“You just keep shooting,” Covington said. “That’s what you do. . . . Do I get discouraged about it? No. I just continue to play, and when the time comes the shots are going to fall.”"
Meanwhile, the team has fallen to 0-4. Is there light at the end of the tunnel?
Well there is always something positive from the mouth of head coach Brett Brown:
"He is becoming an elite defender at multiple positions,” Brown said of Covington, who guards power forwards, small forwards, and shooting guards."
Meanwhile the team will have other options down the road. When Ben Simmons returns to health, we will likely split some of his time in a point/small forward role as he acclimates to a point guard role. As the team grows more stable at the center position and minutes played, Richaun Holmes will become available for power forward, which will present the opportunity to rotate Dario Saric at the small forward role. Ersan Ilyasova’s arrival may make that opportunity sooner rather than later.
Next: Ersan Ilyasova is Only Going to Get Better With Time
For now, the team has been covering some minutes at the three with Hollis Thompson. Eventually, they could rotate Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot through the position. But the bottom line is that the role is still Robert Covington’s to lose.
If we can find him soon, that is.