March 31, 2022June 27, 2022 by Alex Fischbein

Donovan Mitchell a future New York Knick? | The Atlantic Files Ep221

On this week’s episode of the Atlantic Files, Donovan Mitchell expresses a lot of frustration with the Utah Jazz, Kyrie Irving returns for home games, Andre Drummond says he’s leaving after this season, Tyronn Lue roasts Joel Embiid and James Harden, Udonis Haslem, Jimmy Butler, and Coach Spoelstra get in a fight, and Robert Williams III goes down with an injury at the worst time.

In a postgame press conference, Donovan Mitchell expressed a lot of frustration after the Utah Jazz dropped a big lead and the game to the Los Angeles Clippers. He’s all too familiar with this song and dance by the Jazz and the frustration looks like it’s an all-time high. Enter the New York Knicks. All the rumors will be swirling and it won’t stop until we see something happen with Mitchell.

Kyrie Irving is officially back for all of the Brooklyn Nets home games! The hype hasn’t exactly matched the level of play the team is producing, but the playoffs should be much more interesting now. His teammate, Andre Drummond, doesn’t seem as excited about staying in Brooklyn after this season though. He talked about how he’s only there until the end of the season, so now what happens after that?

Tyronn Lue, after a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, made one of the saltiest comments of the season. He talked about Joel Embiid and James Harden not being top ten scorers if you take away their free throws. The issue was that even if you took away the free throws in the game they played against each other, the Clippers still would have lost. It’s alright coach, we all know losing can make anyone extra salty.

There’s trouble in Miami! Jimmy Butler and Udonis Haslem were getting into a huge argument and almost fight while in a timeout of a game. Then, Coach Spoelstra threw his clipboard and also yelled at Jimmy Butler. Is this the beginning of the end for Butler in Miami or will he finally break this weird cycle he’s in?

Finally, Robert Williams III suffered a brutal knee injury that will keep him out for four to six weeks. What kind of impact does that have on the Boston Celtics playoff and championship hopes?

Timecodes:
0:00 – Intro and Fantasy Basketball
5:47 – Will Donovan Mitchell force his way to the New York Knicks
20:16 – Jimmy Butler, Udonis Haslem, and Erik Spoelstra fight
29:59 – The Western Conference impact of Paul George’s return
33:59 – Tyronn Lue roasts Joel Embiid and James Harden
46:16 – Kyrie Irving is cleared for home games!
53:21 – Andre Drummond not staying in Brooklyn?
59:09 – The impact of Robert Williams III injury for the Boston Celtics

March 24, 2022June 27, 2022 by Alex Fischbein

Who are the true NBA Finals contenders? | The Atlantic Files Ep220

This week on the Atlantic Files, we talk about which teams in the NBA are the true NBA Finals contenders, LeBron James candidacy for undisputed GOAT, Jamal Crawford officially retires, Luka Doncic says it’s easier to score 30 in the NBA than EuroLeague, and we get sidetracked and talk all sorts of food!

The NBA Playoffs talk is heating up as the regular season starts to come to a close. Teams such as the Chicago Bulls are getting called fakers as they can’t beat the other Eastern playoff teams. Then you have teams like the Phoenix Suns who almost seem like a lock to make it to the Finals. What about all the other teams in between? Where would you put teams like the Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, Memphis Grizzlies, and others?

Jamal Crawford, who hasn’t found his way to a team in a couple of seasons, has officially retired from the NBA. His career was one of the most fun to watch and he was one of the best Sixth Men to ever play the game. Enjoy retirement Crawford!

LeBron James recently moved up to number two in the all-time scoring list in the NBA. He will end up passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar probably next season. Once he becomes number one on that list, does that make him the undisputed GOAT of basketball? We debate his candidacy along with Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and more.

Finally, Luka Doncic went on to JJ Redick’s podcast and talked about the NBA vs EuroLeague. Doncic talked about how it was easier to score 30 points in the NBA rather than EuroLeague, and everyone lost their minds. As the intellectuals we are, we took a deeper look at why he might say that.

Along with all of the basketball talk, we gave our opinions on burgers, Wawa, which ways to wipe, and more!

Timecodes:
0:00 – Intro
1:43 – Which teams are the true NBA Finals contenders?
45:53 – Is LeBron James the undisputed GOAT?
54:35 – Jamal Crawford officially retires
55:16 – Luka Doncic says it’s easier to score 30 in the NBA vs EuroLeague

March 17, 2022June 27, 2022 by Alex Fischbein

Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets get first laugh | The Atlantic Files Ep219

This week on the Atlantic Files Podcast, Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets get the first laugh as they destroy the Philadelphia 76ers, Kyrie Irving is on an absolute scoring tear, the James Harden honeymoon phase seems to be over, the New York Knicks are expected to keep Tom Thibodeau, and March Madness is set to begin!

Last week, one of the biggest regular-season games took place. Especially for this podcast, it was must-see TV! Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Ben Simmons all ended up getting the FIRST laugh by dragging the Philadelphia 76ers through the mud all game long. Durant even took some shots at Sixers fans after the game and the entire crowd couldn’t do anything other than leave with their heads down.

Kyrie Irving has had two 50+ point games in one week. One of those games was a 60-point outburst against the Orlando Magic. Once he’s able to finally play home games, the entire league could be in a lot of trouble when facing the Nets in the playoffs.

After an amazing start, the Sixers and James Harden seem to be ending their honeymoon phase. They’ve had some rough games and narrow victories over the worst teams in the league. The chemistry doesn’t seem to be clicking as much as it was in the beginning. The smiles aren’t going around, the excitement isn’t there, and every game looks like hard labor.

The New York Knicks are always going to be crazy and make questionable moves. This is pretty much guaranteed. Now the reports are saying that Tom Thibodeau is going to stay with the team through next season. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that’s probably the wrong move.

Finally, it’s that time of year again! March Madness is here and we give all of our predictions in our brackets and talk about our favorite dark horses as well.

Timecodes:
0:00 – Intro
1:51 – Brooklyn Nets destroy the Philadelphia 76ers in Ben Simmons return
9:45 – Kyrie Irving and Karl Anthony Towns go for 60 back-to-back
16:59 – New York Knicks are keeping Tom Thibodeau around
21:13 – James Harden and the Sixers honeymoon phase is over
28:05 – 2022 March Madness predictions, cinderella teams, and more

March 9, 2022June 27, 2022 by Alex Fischbein

Bradley Beal to Philly too?! | The Atlantic Files Ep218

On this week’s episode of The Atlantic Files, we talk about the rumors from Andrew Bogut that Bradley Beal wants to team up with James Harden and Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons is filing a grievance against the Sixers, all of this hate against Russell Westbrook, Zion Williamson all of a sudden getting healthy, some Los Angeles Clippers conditionals, and who we want to start a team out of Ja Morant, Trae Young, or Luka Doncic.

What seemed to be out of nowhere, Andrew Bogut dropped a rumor on everyone that Bradley Beal now wants to make a super team in Philadelphia. He apparently wants to go team up with James Harden and Joel Embiid! Obviously, a lot of things have to happen in terms of the cap room and trades for this to happen, but the thought of it is quite crazy. That would be one deadly offensive team.

On the uglier side of all the trade fallout, Ben Simmons is filing a grievance against the Philadelphia 76ers to recoup some of the money that he lost in all the games and practices that he didn’t show up for. He’s reportedly going to use the reaction from the fans to prove how hostile the environment was so he has a more thorough case. Not sure what else to say other than, yikes!

Then, all of a sudden Zion Williamson is getting healthy, dropping some weight, and somewhat close to returning to the New Orleans Pelicans. Not sure how it all happened so fast, but they could be a dangerous team to face come playoff time if he’s suiting up!

Speaking of injured superstars coming back, there have been some videos of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard working their ways back. If they came back does this make the Los Angeles Clippers automatic title favorites?

Finally, we wonder which young star would be the best player to build a new team around. Would you take Luka Doncic, Trae Young, or Ja Morant? All three are incredible and playing some amazing basketball. Which one really could take your team to the promised land though?

Timecodes:
0:00 – Intro
4:20 – Stop with the Russell Westbrook hate
21:05 – Bradley Beal heading to Philly in the off-season
33:30 – Ben Simmons filing a grievance against the Sixers
48:13 – Zion Williamson all of a sudden coming back
55:09 – Los Angeles Clippers favorites with Paul George and Kawhi Leonard back?
1:02:48 – Luka Doncic, Ja Morant, or Trae Young?

March 3, 2022June 27, 2022 by Alex Fischbein

Brooklyn Nets becoming the next what if | The Atlantic Files Ep217

On this week’s episode of the Atlantic Files, the Brooklyn Nets continue to lose some needed ground in the standings as they await Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, and Ben Simmons to return, the James Harden experience is alive and well in Philadelphia, both the Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics are making playoff pushes, and the New York Knicks are stuck trying to figure out what’s going on.

The latest news coming out of the Ben Simmons saga is that now he has back issues and is regarded as “week to week.” Rich Paul even told Brian Windhorst that Simmons most likely won’t even be ready to come back in the month of March. Kevin Durant is finally coming back on March 3 while we’re all still waiting for a decision from the New York City Mayor on whether or not Kyrie Irving is going to be able to play full time again.

Let’s also not forget that the Nets are currently in the play-in territory, so if everything doesn’t go their way, they could be the next biggest ‘what if’ story for the NBA.

James Harden’s honeymoon period with the Philadelphia 76ers is going as well as anyone could have imagined! They’re now 3-0 since he’s been playing and he’s almost put up triple-doubles in every one of them. Joel Embiid has talked about the fact that he’s never been this wide open in his career and Tyrese Maxey is putting up more than 20 points per game as well. Is this all sustainable?

Coming from the depths, the Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics are both making playoff pushes. Which team can make it further come playoff time?

Finally, we have the New York Knicks, yet again, bringing up the rear. The team has been quite the dumpster fire this season. After such a successful season last year, it’s so disappointing to see it all just fall apart this year. What should they do for the rest of the year and into the off-season?

Timecodes:
0:00 – Intro
2:14 – Ben Simmons out until April, Kevin Durant coming back
15:47 – If the Brooklyn Nets don’t win a ring, are they a failure?
21:13 – James Harden in Philadelphia is off to a great start
32:17 – The better playoff team, Boston Celtics or Toronto Raptors
49:36 – What should the New York Knicks do now?

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Month / March 2022