The Sixers’ Ben Simmons is dominating with his all-around game | Off the Dribble

Good morning 76ers fans. The all-star break is upon us after Wednesday’s 131-123 overtime win over the visiting Utah Jazz. The Sixers are leading the Eastern Conference with a 24-12 record, and Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons will be in Atlanta this weekend for Sunday’s All-Star Game.

Embiid was named a starter for the fourth straight year. Simmons was named by the coaches as a reserve, his third straight appearance.

» READ MORE: Savor Joel Embiid’s performance for the Sixers. And don’t forget the process that led to it. | Mike Sielski

For Simmons, it has been two seasons in one. Early on, he was not scoring much. Since Jan. 31, he has taken his offense to a new level.

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— Marc Narducci (offthedribble@inquirer.com)

In his first 18 games of the season, Simmons was averaging 12.9 points per game. He was getting to the basket but wasn’t finishing well.

Simmons after the first 18 games: 12.9 ppg.; 8.3 rpg., 7.9 a.p; 51.8% FG; 64.8%FT; 3.4 tpg.; 32.6 mpg. His average plus-minus rating was plus-3.9.

Then, on Jan. 31, Simmons scored a then season-high 21 points in a 119-110 comeback win at Indiana. His offense was needed since Joel Embiid missed the game due to back tightness. That was the beginning of his current hot streak.

Simmons from Jan. 31 to now: 13 G; 20.5 ppg.; 7.3 rpg.; 7.2 apg.; 63.9% FG; 69.7% FT; 3.3 tpg; 35.8 mpg. His average plus-minus in these 13 games is plus-7.5

Why the better offense? Simmons has gotten more comfortable driving to the basket because his free throw percentage has increased. He appears much more confident at the foul line and has lifted his percentage to a career best .671. While that still isn’t close to this year’s league average (.778), it is marked improvement for Simmons, who entered the season a 59.3% career free throw shooter.

» READ MORE: Three reasons the Sixers beat the Jazz in overtime

In addition, he is dunking more, the best percentage shot. According to basketball-reference.com, Simmons has 43 dunks this season. In going through his last 13 games, he has recorded more than half that total, 24. So his field goal percentage has benefited from more dunks.

Simmons entered Wednesday 57th in the NBA in scoring with a 16.1 average. But that is right near his career mark of 16.3 thanks to his surge in the last 13 games.

While he has had a surge in offense, Simmons, a first-team all-NBA defensive player last year, has been locked in on D all season.

Coach Doc Rivers feels Simmons is a frontrunner for defensive player of the year.

Through Wednesday, he was tied for first in the NBA with former teammate T.J. McConnell with 3.9 deflections per game, according to NBA.com stats.

Simmons was also tied for first with 1.4 loose balls recovered per game. He is seventh in steals per game (1.6). He has effectively guarded some of the best players, including all-stars Luka Doncic and Donovan Mitchell.

Putting Simmons’ offense and defense together, he has the profile of an All-Star. He’ll always be criticized for not shooting from the perimeter. For instance, this season only 29 of his 332 field goal attempts have been from 10 feet or more from the basket.

Yet his all-around game is why he is making his third straight All-Star appearance.

A lot of things have motivated Embiid toward his MVP run this season. Is one of them Keith Pompey, the Inquirer’s Sixers beat writer? Pompey addresses the issue after being called out by Embiid following Wednesday’s win over the Jazz.

David Murphy writes that the overtime thriller against the Jazz was a microcosm of the first-half Sixers.

The Sixers have the NBA’s best record in clutch situations, when the margin is within five points with five minutes left. It’s a major reason why they have the Eastern Conference’s best record.

Pompey reports on the NBA All-Star draft, when Simmons and Embiid will be opponents.

Mike Sielski writes: Savor Joel Embiid’s performance for the Sixers. And don’t forget the process that led to it.

Two days after facing his former Sixers team in a 130-114 loss at the Wells Fargo Center, Indiana Pacers backup point guard T. J. McConnell found himself in the record books.

McConnell came off the bench to record a triple-double with 16 points, 13 assists and 10 steals in 36 minutes, 27 seconds during the Pacers’ 114-111 win at Cleveland on Wednesday.

» READ MORE: Who’s a better MVP candidate: the Sixers’ Joel Embiid or Denver’s Nikola Jokic? | Off the Dribble

McConnell set an NBA record with nine steals in the first half. In addition, he shot 8-for-8 from the field. He was the first player to record a triple-double with steals off the bench.

It was a drastically different performance than during Monday’s loss to the Sixers, when he shot 3 for 9 and scored seven points.

This is McConnell’s second season with Indiana after four years with the Sixers. This season, he is averaging 6.6 points, 6.8 assists and an NBA-leading 2.0 steals in 25.6 minutes.

Sunday: All-Star Game, 8 p.m., State Farm Arena, Atlanta, TNT

Thursday 11: Sixers at Chicago Bulls, 8 p.m., United Center, (TV TBA)

March 12: Sixers at Washington Wizards, 8 p.m., Capital One Arena (TV TBA)

March 14: Sixers fans are back at the Wells Fargo Center -- San Antonio Spurs at 76ers, 6:30 p.m. NBA TV (Local TV TBA)

March 16: New York Knicks at Sixers, 8 p.m., Wells Fargo Center, (TV TBA)

Question: What can be done now to make sure the Sixers are the top seed in the East while at the same time making sure that Embiid plays in every playoff game? – Jim Schuck from Facebook

Answer: That’s a great question, Jim, and thanks for submitting it. Embiid has missed six games this season, and the Sixers are 1-5 in those games. He missed one with right knee soreness and the others with back tightness. Embiid is currently on his longest stretch of the season, having played eight consecutive games. It’s a really delicate balance because the Sixers understand the benefit of earning the top seed in the Eastern Conference (and not having to face the No. 2 or 3 team until the finals), and keeping Embiid fresh.

The second-half schedule is brutal with 36 games in 67 days, including nine back-to-backs. It would not surprise me if Embiid missed at least six games, likely at the end or the back-to-backs. If the Sixers notice any signs of fatigue later in the season, I think they will rest Embiid even more. I know he is making a run for MVP, but having him healthy for the playoffs is what matters most, and that will be at the forefront of any decision they make.