The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Three Reasons Philadelphia 76ers Robert Covington Starts 2017-2018 Season

By Bret Stuter

Mar 26, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Robert Covington (33) shoots the ball while Indiana Pacers guard Jeff Teague (44) defends in the first quarter of the game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Indiana Pacers beat the Philadelphia 76ers 107-94. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 26, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Robert Covington (33) shoots the ball while Indiana Pacers guard Jeff Teague (44) defends in the first quarter of the game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Indiana Pacers beat the Philadelphia 76ers 107-94. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 17, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Harrison Barnes (40) drives toward the net as Philadelphia 76ers forward Robert Covington (33) defends during the second quarter of the game at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Harrison Barnes (40) drives toward the net as Philadelphia 76ers forward Robert Covington (33) defends during the second quarter of the game at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports /

II   Defense

Another basic principal of any player hoping to get significant minutes on a Brett Brown coached team is the need to have defensive acumen. And the goal of Brown when working with Robert Covington is developing his defense first.

It truly was not so long ago that anyone setting up at the perimeter could practically count on a season or even career high scoring opportunity. And we were quick to point out the deficiency.

But things changed.

Turn Around

But to our credit, we were one of the first to point out the incredible turnaround.  Soon after, Sports Illustrated’s Jake Fischer wrote a great article about how Covington upped his defensive game to the high proficiency we now recognize and count on.  Then, and most importantly, Covington became an NBA film critic. Watching and analyzing tendencies of the player he would next face.

"“I know I guard different people throughout the game, so you gotta know whoever is in front of you,” Covington said. “You can’t sit up there and guess on things.” – per interview with Jake Fischer"

It worked.  Covington’s perimeter defense complimented the water-seal lockdown Joel Embiid imposed to anyone in the paint. But there is another piece to this puzzle, and perhaps the greatest of all.