The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Robert Covington is still streaky, and still really valuable

By Christopher Kline

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 15: Robert Covington #33 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts in the first overtime against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Wells Fargo Center on December 15, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Thunder defeated the 76ers 119-117 in triple overtime. 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 - DECEMBER 15: Robert Covington #33 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts in the first overtime against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Wells Fargo Center on December 15, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Thunder defeated the 76ers 119-117 in triple overtime. 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) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Robert Covington is streaky, but he’s still extremely valuable for the Philadelphia 76ers.

We all got a bit too exicted about Robert Covington’s shooting this year. He was on fire early in the season, hitting on 50 percent of his 3-point attempts through 10 games. That, naturally, led to some overreactions when it came to predicting his season-long output.

Over the last 10 games, Covington has regressed to the mean in a big way, hitting on just 32.2 percent of his deep balls during that span. He’s had some really bad outings mixed in as well, with last night’s 4-21 display in the Philadelphia 76ers‘ triple-overtime loss to OKC.

He’s streaky, and that’s something we should’ve expected all along.

More from Sixers News

Covington has always been like this — hot some games and ice cold in others. He was never on J.J. Redick‘s level as a shooter, and his high-volume, high-efficiency start never should have placed him among the league’s elite. He’s still shooting 41.1 percent from three on the year, but I’d expect that total to drop back towards the league-average mark — where his career percentage lies.

With all of that said, Covington being streaky doesn’t take away from his value. There are still nights where he’s a huge weapon with his shooting, and others where his defense is crucial to the Sixers’ competiveness. Even with his recent struggles, the team has performed a few points better whenever Cov is on the floor.

Part of that is the Sixers’ limited perimeter depth, but part of it is also that defense. Covington was fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting last season, and impressive feat for someone whose name isn’t mentioned all that often on the national stage. He’s among the league leaders in steals once again with 1.7 per game, and tallies just shy of a block per contest, to boot.

Defense is always what carried Covington’s stock. It’s what made him one of those must-keep guys last season, and what will continue to be his most valuable asset moving forward. Even with a slender frame, he’s long and quick enough to guard any position one through four — whether that means constant switching or locking down the opposition’s best player.

Related Story: Matching the Sixers to their Star Wars characters

Joel Embiid is the defensive anchor for this team, but Covington’s quick hands and extreme malleability is also crucial. Those steals create transition opportunities, while having someone who can put the clamps on elite offensive talent is something every competitive team needs.

It’s not like he’s a total dud offensively either. His threat as a shooter — even when he’s not hitting shots — keeps the floor spaced for the likes of Embiid and Ben Simmons. He has a confident stroke and the ability to hit shots well beyond the arc, which is more than enough to keep defenses honest.

They know that once Covington finds a groove, he can hit a lot of shots in a short amount of time. He’s not Andre Roberson.

Next: Ranking the Sixers' top 10 players, 27 games in

An elite defender who can hit shots at even a league-average mark has value. Don’t sour on Covington too much — he’s still the third best player on this team.