Sixers' Brown has shown patience with Robert Covington

SUBTLETY is not one of Sixers coach Brett Brown's strong suits when it comes to expressing disappointment in one of his players' performance. Just ask Robert Covington.

The 6-9 swingman with the sweet jumper took a while to get going early in the season as he dealt with a knee injury. But once he got himself right and his body ready to play, Covington became one of Brown's most reliable and best players. During a 14-game span at one point, Covington averaged 15.6 points, was Brown's most consistent scorer and, with his outside shooting, was a key in opening offensive opportunities for the likes of Jahlil Okafor, Nerlens Noel and others.

Consistency and reliability are two attributes that keep players like Covington in the NBA. So when he recently hit a 13-game span in which he scored in double figures just once and shot only 14-for-49 (28.6 percent) from three-point range, Brown started to wonder how Covington could snap out of his slump.

"We haven't seen him for a while," Brown said while Covington struggled. Further pressed about whether he was seeing any signs of his forward getting back on track, Brown simply replied, "No."

The problem Covington was having wasn't just at the offensive end. Yes, that is where he will always make his mark in the league, as someone who is a very good outside shooter and a credible scorer. But when things go wrong, Covington's whole game appears to disintegrate. His rebounding dips. His defense becomes suspect. He fails to get out into passing lanes the way his huge wingspan allows him to. His head will often drop, and so does his productiveness.

Brown doesn't look back often, not with this team. Every day is a new one that presents new challenges to be conquered. So if you are struggling the way Covington was, there really isn't a better coach to have. Yes, Covington's playing time dwindled mightily. Two weeks ago, he played just over six minutes against Minnesota and, two games later, just nine minutes against Toronto. But the next game, against Cleveland, Brown - so good at reading the psyche of his players- threw Covington in for 32 minutes. It was a show-me-what-you-got trial.

Covington responded with a so-so offensive showing, scoring just seven points against the Cavs. But he did grab eight rebounds. He also dealt four assists. He showed more signs of life than he had done during the slump, and it was exactly what Brown needed to see.

The past two games, including Saturday's 114-89 drubbing of Portland, Covington has rounded back to form. He scored 25 in a four-point loss to Chicago on Thursday, making six of 10 threes. He followed that with 16 points, including four more threes, in the win against the Trail Blazers. Covington has gotten back his activity. And with it has come his shot, rebounding, defense and everything else that he will need to have productive years in the league.

"I think that coaches in general, I'm no different, you have a thought in your head how you're going to sub a game," said Brown. "You have a thought in your head sometimes that is not entirely fair if someone is in a slump. You see it a little bit more, you scrutinize maybe a little bit quicker and you have a quicker hook. I don't think he had been playing that well lately and then he did. So we rewarded it (with minutes), and we need him, too."

cooneyb@phillynews.com

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