Robert Covington started last season in a slump. A big slump. Through the first 18 games last year, the Sixers' starter at small forward was shooting just 30.8 percent from the field and 29.7 percent from three-point range.
Yet despite those intense struggles, Covington's start to last year was actually encouraging, because while his offensive struggles were front and center, it also became obvious early in the season that he had ratcheted up his defense to another level. If Covington straightened his shot out, with his newfound defensive discipline, the Sixers really had something on their hands.
And he did, as Covington shot 36.