Sir Charles in Charge
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2018 NBA Playoffs: 8 X-Factors to keep an eye on in the first-round

By David Early

CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 06: Robert Covington #33 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts after a play against the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center on March 6, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 06: Robert Covington #33 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts after a play against the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center on March 6, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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Robert Covington, Philadelphia 76ers

If you’re not a Sixers fan, Robert Covington might  be “a good 3-and-D wing” that was there through all of the Process losing. If you are a Sixers fan, you might be used to debating just how good he is at staying in front of his man or complaining about how insane his “streakiness” makes you.

But it really is time to end the Covington slander. For all of the ink spilled on Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and “The Process” that brought them to Philly, they’re not a 52 win team without this undrafted kid.

He’s 7th in RPM, behind only some super popular All-Stars. He finished 4th in voting for Defensive Player of the Year last Spring, and today ESPN’s Kevin Pelton says he should be the starting small forward on the 2018 All-Defensive team. His NETRG has been Embiidesque all year, in that he’s essentially irreplaceable for his own coach, Brett Brown, as The Ringer’s resident scout Jonathan Tjarks noted in his piece on how critical this player-archteype is now.

His on-off splits are comparable with some superstars, at about one-third the price.

But it’s playoff time and Covington needs to be even better. While Embiid will not be healthy to begin the series vs. Miami, and Ben Simmons will need to do some really special things, Covington’s burden has risen. Often tasked with covering the opposition’s best perimeter player, RoCo does much of his best work off ball while hawking, helping, spying, and being 1st in the league in deflections. Erik Spoelstra is a great coach, and Miami doesn’t have a predictable attack like some teams because they’re so well-rounded.

Brett Brown will need RoCo to hit some 3’s and be “Sir Bobby Deflectington” if they want to advance. I’m excited to keep an eye on how Brown deploys his combo cornerback/free-safety. Does he play him often on Josh Richardson, Miami’s biggest threat on the wing, or does he get sneaky and put him on a James Johnson or Justise Winslow and encourage him to help a bit more? Slowing Miami without Embiid will depend in large part on the play of this guy.