Sixers' Robert Covington, Ben Simmons developing on-court chemistry
An offensive sequence during training camp practice shows how the two Sixers will work perfectly together in a game.
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Let's set the scene:
The Sixers were nearing the end of a five-on-five scrimmage, closing out a long day of practice.
Ben Simmons pulled down a defensive rebound and took off down the court. Robert Covington saw where he was going — right down the middle, drawing the defense with him — so Covington sagged off to the baseline corner.
Simmons is good, and he demands attention. You can't let him drive straight to the basket.
All of the defensive eyes were on the 2016 No. 1 overall pick, even those of Jahlil Okafor, who dropped off of Covington to help. But that left Covington open for an easy three from the corner — one of head coach Brett Brown's favorite shots.
It was a glimpse of what could be this coming season.
"Ben puts a lot of pressure on the defense," Covington said Wednesday. "A lot of the time the ball's going to be in his hands, so we're getting accustomed to him pushing the ball, attacking defenses, and everything. He's finding open guys, and our guys are getting the open shots."
Of course, there is more to look forward to seeing this season with the Sixers — Joel Embiid, Markelle Fultz, and much more. But seeing Simmons and Covington working so well together is a great sign for a team that has to create some on-court chemistry in a small amount of time.
"[Ben] feels prepared, and when you feel prepared you're confident, and I think that's now coming out," Brown said after the second day of training camp.
Sequences like the one seen at the Sixers' complex Wednesday show the confidence Simmons has and how his teammates are feeding off of it.
Simmons has said he is ready to be a leader for the Sixers, and Covington has naturally become a leader because he is the longest-tenured player on the team. Now, their leadership and their chemistry just have to translate to the regular season.
"I've waited, but now everything is starting to fall into place," Covington said. "Guys are making easy plays on offense, finding the open spots, and everything else will just follow from there."