The Sixer Sense
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Sixers have 3 All-Defense worthy players

By Christopher Kline

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 3: Ben Simmons #25, Robert Covington #33 and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrate against the Indiana Pacers at the Wells Fargo Center on November 3, 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 - NOVEMBER 3: Ben Simmons #25, Robert Covington #33 and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrate against the Indiana Pacers at the Wells Fargo Center on November 3, 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 Philadelphia 76ers have put together one of the best defensive cores in the league.

As we edge closer to the postseason, it’s also time to prepare for NBA Awards season. The Philadelphia 76ers don’t have anybody in the MVP conversation, but they have a pretty steady balance elsewhere on the ballot

Joel Embiid and Robert Covington are legitimate Defensive Player of the Year candidates, while Ben Simmons should be the favorite for Rookie of the Year. On top of that, you could argue that T.J. McConnell is in the running for Sixth Man of the Year, even with his struggles and reduced role as of late.

The winner of tonight’s Sixers-Cavaliers game will take over the third seed in the Eastern Conference. The Sixers, sitting at 48-30 and in the midst of a 12-game win streak, are already on the verge of winning 50 games. We’re just two years removed from their infamous 10-72 season.

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A lot of that success is tied to their defense, which is why Embiid and Covington are in the discussion for league’s best defender. Most people tout Embiid as the favorite, but The Step Back‘s Kelly Scaletta made a convincing case for Covington as his superior here (even if he picked Rudy Gobert as the overall winner).

Regardless of who ends up taking that award home, though, both players deserve a spot on the All-Defense team. I think that goes without saying.

Embiid’s rim protection

Embiid — next to Gobert — is one of the most intimidating rim protectors in the league. He makes drivers hesitate, using his impressive blend of size and athleticism to alter shots on a regular basis. He’s also capable of moving his feet out to the perimeter, something most players his size struggle with.

Averaging 1.8 blocks per game, Embiid is the player that anchors Philly’s defensive success. Covington and Simmons thrive on the perimeter, but Embiid’s presence is the kind of safety net that can’t go overlooked.

Covington’s quick hands

For a solid chunk of this season, people were questioning whether or not Covington was worth the extension he signed over the summer. He had a handful of lengthy cold spells, which meant he wasn’t producing much on the offensive end.

The truth, though, is that we already knew Covington was streaky. That’s just the nature of his game.

Where he earns his money is the defensive end. At 6-9 with long arms, quick hands and killer instincts, Covington has remained one of the league’s best perimeter defenders.

He normally takes on the challenge of guarding the opposition’s best scorer, while his length allows him to switch from guards to forwards with ease. His also forces turnovers at a high clip, moving his feet well and finding ways to poke the ball away from unsuspecting ball handlers.

Once again, Covington leads the league deflections. The Sixers’ defensive rating is also better with Covington alone than it is with Embiid alone.

Ben’s versatility

Perhaps the only question is whether or not Ben Simmons deserves a spot. It might depend on where the league slots him positionally, but he’ll almost certainly get labeled as a point guard. He can defend just about any position, but has been the Sixers’ primary ball handler all season.

Most draftniks labeled Simmons as a defensive negative coming out of LSU, and that was understandable. He never cared enough to make much of an impact on that end in college.

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But what many failed to do was project his physical tools and instincts once they were surrounded by superior talent and the games mattered. Simmons was always a freak athlete with the speed and strength needed to guard five positions. He’s also an excellent roamer, sneaking into passing lanes and turning steals into easy transition buckets.

Simmons has all the physical tools you’d want in a switch-heavy defensive system, affording Brett Brown a ton of flexibility on that side of the ball. That, above all else, is what sets him apart from Donovan Mitchell in the Rookie of the Year race. He’s an elite two-way talent.

1st and 2nd team?

With the season coming to a close in the next week or so, here’s where I stand on the All-Defense teams.

1st TEAM ALL-DEFENSE

2nd TEAM ALL-DEFENSE

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Let us know your thoughts in the comment section and on Twitter @SixerSense!