Brett Brown praises Robert Covington

On Monday afternoon following practice, 76ers coach Brett Brown talked about the noticeable pep in his players' step as winners of two games in a row for just the second time this season and three of their last four games.

He also talked about the benefit of having a shooter like forward Robert Covington making the game a little bit easier for players like Michael Carter Williams and Tony Wroten. In the team's last five games, Covington has connected on 16-of-36 3-point attempts. This includes going 1-for-9 in the Sixers' 97-77 loss to Milwaukee last week.

"I feel like what you see in Robert in doses, imagine if you had, you know, a few more shooters like that," Brown said. "We have to focus our energies on the others improving their shooting because it is all about space. That kind of play creates it.

"Look at the team we're getting ready to face," Brown said of 29-8 Atlanta, the Sixers' Tuesday opponent at Wells Fargo Center. "They all can shoot and pass. It's not like they're rolling out NBA all stars. When you play that way it creates space for guys like Tony and Michael to let their games shine because they have more space to operate."

In 29 games with the Sixers, Covington – a starter in 15 – is shooting a team-high 42.8 percent from beyond the arc. He's also third on the team in scoring (12.6)

Brown said the Sixers (7-29) will get some more help from another shooter perhaps on Tuesday. Brown said following practice the team expects Hollis Thompson, out the last 11 games with an upper respiratory infection, to be available against Atlanta.

"He's another person who represents that type of shooter than can create that kind of space," Brown said. Thompson has made 33.3 percent (33-of-99) of his 3-point shots.