Joel Embiid is a lock to make the All-Star team. Will he attend? | Off the Dribble

Good morning, Sixers fans. Things were going so smoothly until Thursday’s 121-105 home loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. The Sixers had no Ben Simmons and were playing the second game of a back-to-back, but Portland was without six injured players, including its high-scoring backcourt duo of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum.

The big scare came when Joel Embiid left the game in the first quarter after hyperextending his right knee, but he returned and dominated. Embiid scored 31 of his game-high 37 points in the first half.

Earlier Thursday, it was revealed that Embiid had the third-most votes in the first fan returns in NBA All-Star voting for Eastern Conference frontcourt players. The question is not whether Embiid is an All-Star, but whether he will participate in the game, which is expected to take place March 7 in Atlanta, although no official announcement has been made.

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After Thursday’s loss, Embiid was asked his thoughts on the apparent likelihood that there will be an All-Star game. He didn’t give a direct answer.

“I am not sure if I am going to make it, but hopefully I get the chance to be part of it once again,” he said. “I have always been conservative. I have always voiced my opinion since the pandemic started, starting with the bubble, wasn’t really all [for it] and then the season.”

In early July, before the Sixers left for Kissimmee, Fla., and the NBA bubble, Embiid voiced his opposition to the idea.

“I am not a big fan of the idea, but then again, you know I am going to do my job,” he said. “I am not going to let the city down.”

Embiid went to the bubble and played well, eventually averaging 30 points, 12.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots in the playoffs, but the Sixers, without an injured Ben Simmons, were swept in four games by the Boston Celtics in the first round.

Back to Thursday: Embiid continued discussing this year’s likely All-Star game.

“But I guess the league has been doing a good job this year as far as making sure there are rules in place and making sure everybody follows it,” he said. “I have mixed feelings about it, but you know hopefully if it does indeed happen, hopefully they take precautions and everybody stays healthy.”

If selected, would he participate?

“We will see,” he said. “We have a long season. I missed a couple of games due to back, stiff, tightness from the fall against the Lakers, so we will see how it feels. If it is an issue, if I am not 100%, I am focused on winning a championship and getting to the playoffs healthy so that is the main focus. I just got to keep doing the right things and take care of my body, and I should be fine.”

The fall against the Lakers that he was referring to came on Jan. 27 in the Sixers’ 107-106 home win. In the third quarter, Embiid was pushed in the chest by LeBron James, who was defending a dunk attempt by the Sixers center. Embiid landed hard on his back and stayed on the floor a few minutes. He eventually got up and made a few foul shots. James was assessed a Flagrant 1 foul.

Embiid played in the Sixers’ next game, last Friday’s 118-94 win in Minnesota, but sat out Sunday’s 119-110 victory at Indiana because of tightness. Since then, he has played back-to-back games, Wednesday’s 118-111 victory in Charlotte and Thursday’s loss to Portland.

The potential All-Star game hasn’t been heartily endorsed by everybody. None other than James voiced his displeasure.

“I have zero energy and zero excitement about an All-Star game this year,” James said in a Zoom interview after Thursday’s 114-93 win over Denver. “I don’t even understand why we are having an All-Star game, but it is the agreement the Players Association and the league came about.”

James did say later that he would go to the All-Star game if selected. Will Embiid?

Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet has shown that a player doesn’t have to be drafted highly to succeed in the NBA. Actually, VanVleet wasn’t drafted at all, but he has made his mark with the Raptors.

Before the season, he signed a four-year, $85 million deal to remain in Toronto. And VanVleet has justified the deal. He is averaging 20.4 points and shooting 38.3% from beyond the arc.

On Tuesday, VanVleet, who will turn 27 on Feb. 25, took things to another level. He scored 54 points in the Raptors’ 123-108 win at Orlando to set a single-game franchise scoring record. He was 17-for-23 from the field, 11-for-14 from three-point range, and 9-for-9 from the foul line.

The 54 points were the most by an undrafted NBA player ever. The old mark was 53 set by Moses Malone in 1982 with the Houston Rockets, the year before he joined the Sixers. (While Malone wasn’t drafted, he was an All-Star in the ABA before coming to the NBA.)

VanVleet had played 141 games in four seasons at Wichita State, and after going undrafted, he signed with the Raptors in 2016. He was a key reserve on Toronto’s 2019 NBA title team, averaging 14 points in the NBA Finals series against the Golden State Warriors.

VanVleet averaged just 2.9 points as a rookie, but has increased his scoring average and his profile each year.

Saturday: Brooklyn Nets at Sixers, 8 p.m., Wells Fargo Center, NBC Sports Philadelphia

Tuesday: Sixers at Sacramento Kings, 10 p.m., Golden 1 Center, NBC Sports Philadelphia Plus

Thursday: Sixers at Portland Trail Blazers, 10 p.m., Moda Center, NBC Sports Philadelphia Plus/TNT

Feb. 13: Sixers at Phoenix Suns, 3 p.m., Phoenix Suns Arena, NBC Sports Philadelphia Plus/NBA TV

Feb. 15: Sixers at Utah Jazz, 9 p.m., Vivint Arena, NBC Sports Philadelphia

Question: Why is the team chemistry better this year? On and off the court. What new guys played a role in puling the team together? — Tim Starr on Facebook.

Answer: Great question, Tim, and thanks for submitting it. I actually think the biggest reason for the chemistry is Doc Rivers. His previous success as a player and a coach brought immediate respect, and he has implemented a system that gives players more room to operate and succeed.

In addition, I think that Dwight Howard has been a good influence, especially on Embiid, and I think has helped bring out the best in his game. Danny Green is another veteran leader whom the players respect, because of his personality and his three NBA-championship rings.