The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Philadelphia 76ers space has trey shots locked into trending-up position

By Bret Stuter

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 25: Robert Covington #33 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts after a made three point basket in the first quarter against the Houston Rockets at the Wells Fargo Center on October 25, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 25: Robert Covington #33 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts after a made three point basket in the first quarter against the Houston Rockets at the Wells Fargo Center on October 25, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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The fans of the Philadelphia 76ers had waited for years for the right players to develop the right skillsets to run head coach Brett Brown’s “Pace Space Pass” system. The current team has locked in the three-point shot

“Please place your trey’s into the locked and trending up position as we prepare to touchdown.” While this is a parody of the important safety messages you hear in any commercial aircraft, it also works as an opening line to the phenomenal improvements to the Philadelphia 76ers three-point shooting accuracy.

This is a story that has evolved over the past four seasons.  Evolved, in that it has not been a steady uptick each year.  But it has improved each year.  Some would argue that the three-point shot is simply because President Bryan Colangelo targeted three-point shooters in free agency.  That does correlated to the perimeter acumen of players like J.J. Redick with 42.4 percent shooting, and Jerryd Bayless with 42.2 percent shooting.  But that is two of five players. Where is the sudden uptick?

Lord Covington

Part of the answer? The miraculous performance of undrafted Robert Covington.

You know former executive Sam Hinkie raved about the upside of Covington.  But Covington is not the only marksman on the team.  Right now, the Philadelphia 76ers have a 40 percent accuracy from three-point range.  Non-free-agent players exceeding that mark includes Covington (50 percent), T.J. McConnell (50 percent), and Dario Saric (40.4 percent).  Even players not above the team average are shooting well: Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (37.5 percent) and Justin Anderson (33.3 percent).