Sixers:

Yeah for real, just shut him down. Fuck the All Star Game anyway, who cares? It’s symbolic more than anything. He deserved to be named a starter, but playing in the actual thing doesn’t matter.

If Embiid doesn’t play, he gets seven full days off before the Sixers play Memphis next Thursday night at the Wells Fargo Center. Then it’s Boston at home on Saturday and a home-and-home with Miami before going to Dallas, Milwaukee, Indy, and Minnesota, so that’s seven out of eight against playoff teams exiting the ASG break. Philly is 38-19 and three games out of first place, so we’re approaching the stretch run here. We’re trying to land this plane, and if the Sixers can make a push, they won’t have to go to Milwaukee to open round two. Finishing strong is uber-important.

For what it’s worth, over the last five seasons, this is where the Sixers have been at the All Star break:

  • 2023: 38-19
  • 2022: 35-23 (finished as #4 seed)
  • 2021: 24-12 (COVID year, finished as #1 seed)
  • 2020: 34-21 (pre-bubble, finished as #6 seed)
  • 2019: 37-21 (finished as #3 seed)
  • 2018: 30-25 (went on huge late run to finish as #3 seed)


The second round curse might end if they can clip Milwaukee here and get home court.