(Associated Press)

Moments before Jrue Holiday talked to reporters Thursday about making the All-Star Game, Andrew Bynum – the guy everyone expected to put up All-Star numbers – Velcro'd his way into a right knee brace in order to launch his shooting workout.

Talk about dichotomy.

Holiday was all smiles as he addressed the topic, of earning an all-star nod for the first time in his career. And, between questions about his trip next month to Houston, Holiday was asked about how different his season would've gone had Bynum been able to run alongside him.

“Maybe my assists would've went up and my scoring would've went down,” said Holiday, the only player in the NBA averaging at least 19 points and nine assists per game. “He attracts so much attention inside, offensively and defensively. He's, like, eight feet tall. It's not like you can take your eyes off of him. I really think my assists would go up and my points would go down.”

But would Sixers coach Doug Collins have been less likely to have put the keys to the Sixers' car, so to speak, in your hands? Maybe it would've been more of a shared role between the two?

“I don't think that would've changed,” Holiday said. “Me and Andrew would definitely have to be on the same page to where we have the point guard-big man connection.”

When Bynum eventually returns (and the injured center said he hopes it's sometime either before or after Holiday's trip to Houston), Holiday said he doesn't anticipate any sort of lag on the court. Even though the Sixers haven't had too many opportunities to work out with Bynum, who does most of his shooting on the side after practice, Holiday said the chemistry between he and Bynum is strong.

“I see him every day. He's a good guy to talk to,” Holiday said. “He's actually pretty funny. Easy to talk to, pretty sarcastic. My type of personality and a guy I can really connect with.”

As for Bynum's workout Friday, he didn't look at all hindered by the right knee brace. He told me that it's more for additional support than anything else. Bynum worked on a couple moves, namely taking passes in the chest from 10 feet away and working on one-dribble, turnaround shots in the paint. He tried his hand at bank shots from about the same distance. His touch looked solid.