What can Philadelphia 76ers fans expect from the 3-and-D specialist?

The Philadelphia 76ers enter the 2018-19 season as one of the most anticipated teams in the NBA. That’s what happens who you possess two of the league’s most marketable stars: a do-it-all big with endless personality and a 6-foot-10 dynamo with shades of Magic Johnson.

With that said, their success will be tied to far more than Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. The Sixers need their role players to step up, especially if improving on 52 wins and the No. 3 seed is their goal.

Last season, J.J. Redick, Dario Saric and Robert Covington all put together career years. Redick averaged 17.1 points per game, good for second on the Sixers and the highest mark of his career. Dario went from a 31.1 percent three-point shooter to a 39.3 percent three-point shooter.

Covington, however, had the best season out of the trio. The former undrafted wing made first team All-Defense, emerging as one of the best defenders at his position. Alongside Embiid, he was the crux of an elite two-way team. His importance, far too often, gets understated.

Going into next season, Covington will need to continue his production on both ends. The Sixers didn’t make any marquee additions, but were able to revamp the bench with Wilson Chandler and Mike Muscala.

Keeping the offense clicking without Marco Belinelli and Ersan Ilyasova will be important, and Covington will play a big role in the Sixers’ ability (or inability) to do so. The Sixers are expected to rank among the best defenses in the league once again, to boot.

Here’s what fans should expect from RoCo.