by Alex Fischbein

Draymond Green Strikes Again | TAF297

On episode 297 of The Atlantic Files, Draymond Green gets ejected yet again for hitting someone, the Los Angeles Lakers are the first champions of the in-season tournament, Patrick Beverley asking the real questions on ESPN, and more ejections across the league.

Draymond Green threw his limbs all over the place, yet again, and was ejected after hitting Jusuf Nurkic in the face. He says that it wasn’t on purpose which is why he apologized, but at this rate, there’s no benefit of the doubt. Green has hit enough opposing players to believe that this was no accident by any means. So, does he deserve the indefinite suspension that he received?

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers have officially won the inaugural in-season tournament championship. We’re going to call it the NBA Cup because it’s a lot easier to say. Either way, some have asked if it was fixed to get the Lakers as the very first champion. Now the debate is whether or not the IST ring counts towards a player’s resume and if teams should raise banners.

Even though Green deserved to be ejected, there have been a ton of ejections this season and the number keeps increasing. Players are getting thrown out just for disagreeing with foul calls instead of actual hard fouls or wrongdoing. If this trend continues, fans are going to get more and more upset with referees which is something the league does not want.

Finally, Patrick Beverley went on ESPN during the in-season tournament finals and had a conversation with Kevin Hart that ruffled some feathers. He asked about the Josh Giddey news and demanded some answers and opinions instead of political correctness. It was a great move and he’s now become famous for drinking a victory beer after every win.

Timecodes:
00:00 Intro
03:12 LeBron and the Lakers win the In-Season Tournament
15:30 Draymond Green strikes again
24:10 Ejections run rampant in the NBA
39:53 Patrick Beverley gets kicked off of ESPN
47:13 Outro

by Alex Fischbein

Tyrese Haliburton For MVP and The IST Playoffs | TAF296

On this week’s episode of The Atlantic Files, Tyrese Haliburton has been going off so is he a legit MVP candidate? Also, we talk about the in-season tournament playoffs, whether or not the Golden State Warriors are cooked, and if the Minnesota Timberwolves are legit title contenders as they sit atop the Western Conference right now.

Tyrese Haliburton has gone from a budding star to a big-time point guard who has exploded onto the scene. His run in the in-season tournament has been nothing short of outstanding and now the general public has shifted him into the MVP conversation. Does he warrant legit MVP conversation or is this too early to discuss his name on that level?

Speaking of deciding if someone is legit or not, the Minnesota Timberwolves are the top team in the West and boast the best record in the entire league. Is this team really a legitimate title contender or are we seeing a team that’s just surprising in the beginning of the season and will return to Earth later on? Time will only tell, but we give our opinions on it anyway.

Finally, we give our thoughts and opinions on the in-season tournament as a whole. Has everyone enjoyed the product and did the scheduling make sense? Also, will this stick and carry on to each new season yet to come? Let us know across social media and in the YouTube comments what you think!

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Timecodes:
00:00:00 Intro and Banter
00:09:49 NBA In-season tournament quarterfinals reactions
00:27:24 Is Tyrese Haliburton an MVP candidate?
00:46:15 Are the Minnesota Timberwolves for real?
00:55:15 Are the Golden State Warriors cooked?
01:04:20 Outro

by Alex Fischbein

Josh Giddey Rumors, Jordan Poole, Scott Foster’s Feud With Chris Paul | TAF295

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1k0UIQr0VaYupSo4bPtCQE

On this week’s episode of The Atlantic Files, Josh Giddey finds himself in troublesome rumors, Jordan Poole becomes a Shaqtin a fool MVP and Kevin Garnett says he doesn’t belong in the league, Scott Foster and Chris Paul’s feud adds a new chapter, and more!

Josh Giddey is currently under investigation by the NBA and the Newport California police department for allegations of an underage relationship. Obviously, this is nothing to take lightly especially because it could affect Giddey’s career and life outside of basketball. There’s still information coming out about the saga, so we give some thoughts on the matter.

Jordan Poole has been the center of a few memes so far this season. He probably will be the center of many more if he continues to play the way he’s been playing lately. So, what exactly is happening with him and the Washington Wizards? Are they going to finally turn a corner at some point?

Chris Paul was kicked out of yet another game due to a feud with Scott Foster which continues one of the craziest battles between a player and a ref. Apparently, there was a meeting about it and Paul even said that Foster brought his son into the mix. That’s a serious comment and this feud may never end!

Finally, we check in with the Atlantic Division and go over how the teams are doing thus far. The Boston Celtics are at the top and they’re doing exactly what we thought they would!

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Timecodes:
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:26 Thanksgiving leftovers debate
00:14:06 Atlantic Division check-in
00:33:08 Jordan Poole is doing stuff
00:42:16 Josh Giddey has some troubling allegations
00:56:52 Scott Foster and Chris Paul’s feud
01:05:18 Mark Cuban Selling a majority stake of the Mavericks
01:09:18 Outro

by Alex Fischbein

Zach LaVine On The Block, NBA Officiating Off The Rails | TAF294

On episode 293 of The Atlantic Files, Zach LaVine and the Chicago Bulls both have an interest in finding a trade partner for the All-Star guard, NBA Officiating seems to be going off the rails as more techs are handed out and more people are aggravated, James Harden gets obliterated by a Mavs broadcaster, Kelly Oubre Jr. has a scary situation, Zion Williamson doesn’t seem happy in New Orleans, and Jordan Poole is finding out quickly that Washington is not Golden State!

The Chicago Bulls and Zach LaVine are reportedly talking to teams about potential deals to move the All-Star guard to a new team. It’s unclear whether or not this is the start of a full rebuild, but the two sides have a mutual understanding that LaVine is now firmly on the trade block. We take a look at who should make a deal for him.

NBA Officiating has been the topic of many discussions in post-game press conferences, social media, and much more so far this season. There have been game-changing calls, ejections out of nowhere, and even more questionable events that have caused even coaches to say things and get fined for talking about the refs. Is it especially bad this year or just par for the course?

Kelly Oubre Jr. unfortunately experienced a terrifying situation when he was hit by a car as he was just a pedestrian walking around his residence. The good thing is that his injuries are not as severe as originally expected, but after such a hot start, he’ll now be out for a while to heal from broken ribs and other injuries.

Speaking of players that may be on the trade block, Zion Williamson seemed very unhappy with his situation in New Orleans during a post-game press conference. Also, Jordan Poole is finding out very quickly that the Washington Wizards are nothing like the Golden State Warriors and it might be pretty difficult to be the best player on a team.

Finally, we also take a look at the epic rant from a Dallas Mavericks broadcaster that was aimed at James Harden and everything he’s done since leaving Houston.

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Timecodes:
00:00 Intro
07:26 James Harden gets roasted
21:43 Zach LaVine on the trade block
30:33 Zion Williamson unhappy in New Orleans?
38:54 NBA Officiating is off the rails
47:40 Jordan Poole and the Wizards are awful
50:41 Outro

by Alex Fischbein

James Harden Unleashed & The Wemby and Holmgren Show | TAF293

On episode 293 of The Atlantic Files, James Harden says he was on a leash in Philadelphia and he isn’t a system player, Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren are putting on a show, two Atlantic division teams are at the top of the East while the others have shown a mixed bag, and the Milwaukee Bucks haven’t been as good as expected so far.

James Harden did his first press conference since joining the Los Angeles Clippers and he talks about how he was on a leash in Philadelphia and that he needs a coach that he can trust who will also trust him. This is news to all of us, including Joel Embiid who was confused by his comments and said that they gave him the ball on every possession. Make this drama make sense, please!

Damian Lillard and the Milwaukee Bucks have yet to show their full potential after suffering a couple of bad losses in the early going of this season. Inefficient shooting, poor defense, and ejections have caused the team to look like they regressed from last year. Is this team actually as much of a title contender as everyone thought or did they ship out too much of their depth to be as good as they used to be?

Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren have been garnering all the hype for quite a while now. Deservedly so, these two rookies have lived up to all of the expectations and then some! Both of them have turned into must-see TV and have raised the level of each of their teams. This race for Rookie of the Year may be one of the closest in a long time!

Finally, we take a look at the Atlantic Division so far and how they’ve fared over the first few weeks of the season. The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers are at the top of the division and the conference while the other three are all next to each other in play-in territory. This is shaping up to be a fun year!

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Timecodes:
00:00:00 Intro
00:06:07 James Harden on a leash?!
00:29:42 Damian Lillard and the Milwaukee Bucks
00:44:30 Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren are awesome
00:56:22 The Atlantic Division so far
01:09:31 Outro

by Alex Fischbein

Tyrese Maxey Shines, James Harden Traded, Week 1 Reactions | TAF292

On episode 292 of The Atlantic Files, Tyrese Maxey shines through his first three games while James Harden watches from the sidelines, Harden tried to come back and fly with the team before getting denied access to the plane, and the NBA regular season has kicked off with some big Week 1 performances while we give our reactions and thoughts on some fantasy basketball topics.

James Harden has finally been sent to Los Angeles as the Sixers and Clippers were reportedly coaxed into speeding up the trade talks. The Sixers finally don’t have to deal with the headaches and distractions of another player waiting to be traded and they got some decent rotational pieces in the process. It’s time to break down the deal, who won, and what the Sixers can do beyond just this trade.

Tyrese Maxey and Cam Thomas are two of the young scorers taking the league by storm and they happen to both play in the Atlantic Division. Maxey is looking like an All-Star and maybe even All-Pro, while Thomas has put up multiple 30-point games himself.

Finally, we take a quick look at the first week of the new NBA season and give our reactions and thoughts to the different games, performances, and happenings around the league.

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Timecodes:
00:00 Intro
02:16 James Harden traded to the Clippers
34:09 Sixers and Clippers trade timeline
37:49 Tyrese Maxey and Cam Thomas shine
41:08 NBA Week 1 reactions
48:16 Outro

by Alex Fischbein

2023-24 NBA Season Begins, Joel Embiid Trade Rumors | TAF291

On episode 291 of The Atlantic Files, the 2023-24 NBA Season kicks off with two big games at the same time we’re recording, Joel Embiid is back in trade rumors again and it involves the New York Knicks, plus we give some fantasy basketball advice for the new season!

The 2023-24 NBA season kicked off with a couple of entertaining games showcasing some of the league’s best teams. Then we had a huge 12-game slate with so much action it was hard to catch all of it. We gave all of our predictions for the regular season awards along with who we have winning the NBA Finals while we also took a look at the opening night games.

Joel Embiid is back in the news based on trade rumors to the New York Knicks. Apparently, the Knicks are prepared to offer a huge haul for the reigning MVP which may become enticing after James Harden finally gets dealt away from the team. Should the Sixers actually consider a trade inside the division or should they explore elsewhere for better deals so that they don’t have to play against him?

Finally, we go over our top 12 players for fantasy basketball this year in category formats. We’ll be dropping bits of fantasy advice throughout the season as well!

Timecodes:
00:00 Intro
05:12 Joel Embiid traded for a haul to the Knicks?
30:59 2023-24 NBA Season predictions
51:30 Our top 12 fantasy basketball players
55:09 Outro

by Alex Fischbein

Ben Simmons Revival, James Harden Speaks, NBA GM Survey | TAF290

In episode 290 of The Atlantic Files, Ben Simmons is starting to look like a legit basketball player again, James Harden breaks his preseason silence to talk about his relationship with the team, and we take a deep dive into the NBA GM survey results and some of their wild answers!

Ben Simmons has actually seemed to improve so far this preseason as we’ve seen some of his skills come back from his all-star seasons. He’s hit some fadeaway mid-range jumpers and his usual distribution skills have been on show. When the Nets took on the 76ers, however, Patrick Beverley took offense to his weak trash talk directed toward one of the rookies. So, maybe he isn’t much different after all?

James Harden finally spoke to the media this preseason about his situation and whether or not the relationship with Daryl Morey and the Sixers can ever be repaired. To no one’s surprise, he said nothing can fix it and he still stands by his trade request. He also says that he apparently wanted to retire in Philadelphia, but “the front office didn’t have the same plans.”

Finally, we take a deeper look at all of the questions inside of the NBA GM survey and see how many of them are either homers or just giving some wild answers. The defensive questions have been the weirdest ones yet! Let us know what you think of some of the answers either on Twitter or YouTube!

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Timecodes:
00:00:00 Intro
00:02:13 James Harden speaks to the media
00:18:42 Ben Simmons looks like a basketball player
00:29:02 NBA GM Survey deep dive
01:14:17 Outro

by Alex Fischbein

Tyler Herro, NBA Preseason, and Season Predictions | TAF289

On episode 289 of The Atlantic Files, Tyler Herro says he’s glad Portland didn’t want him and his goal is to become untouchable, the NBA preseason starts with some new faces and new drama already beginning, we also make our final season predictions, plus much more!

Tyler Herro had to sit through his name getting thrown around in every trade rumor imaginable for the last couple of seasons. Damian Lillard reportedly wasn’t going to move anywhere unless Herro was involved. Now that he remains in Miami and Lillard moved to Milwaukee, Herro wants to become untouchable so that he’s never part of trade talks again. The question is whether or not that’s an attainable level for him.

The NBA preseason has kicked off which means media days have already come and gone. We go over some of the top headlines from media day and the preseason as well as talk about some of our favorite players so far. Let’s also not forget that James Harden still hasn’t been traded to the Philadelphia 76ers are still in a state of flux.

Finally, we talk about the NBA GM survey where they answer a bunch of questions from who they think will the NBA Finals down to who they think will be MVP, Rookie of the Year, and much more.

SUBSCRIBE to Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you don’t miss a new episode!

Timecodes:
00:00:00 Intro
00:02:12 Fantasy Football talk: Week 5
00:15:10 Tyler Herro wants to be untouchable
00:27:08 NBA Preseason and media days
00:43:05 NBA General Manager poll and season predictions
00:59:24 Outro

by Alex Fischbein

Damian Lillard And Jrue Holiday Traded! | TAF288

On episode 288 of The Atlantic Files, Damian Lillard is traded to the Milwaukee Bucks and joins Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday heads to the Boston Celtics, we break down all of the trade pieces, and then we put together all of our divisional previews for one big preview episode!

Finally, we get a resolution to the Damian Lillard saga that has gone on for months. He’s on his way to join Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks to form a super-duo. Question marks still exist with this team’s health like that of Khris Middleton. Also, the team as a whole is getting older and older, so their window to win another championship is very short. Will the new coach lead them back to the promised land?

Another side of the trade was moving Jrue Holiday to Portland who then was moved to Boston. The Trail Blazers got some more assets out of it while Holiday moved to another Eastern Conference contender. His fit in Boston is perfect as he replaces the role that Marcus Smart vacated. With the addition of Holiday, however, that improves the offense in ways that Smart was unable to.

To wrap up this week’s episode, we stitched together all of our divisional previews from the past six weeks to bring one big preview episode. Let us know what you think of each division and who you have winning each one to make the playoffs this year!

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Timecodes:
00:01:51 – Damian Lillard traded to Milwaukee
00:10:40 – Jrue Holiday traded to Boston
00:20:15 – 2023-24 NBA Central Division preview
00:31:44 – 2023-24 NBA Atlantic Division preview
00:42:00 – 2023-24 NBA Southeast Division preview
01:01:25 – 2023-24 NBA Pacific Division preview
01:10:55 – 2023-24 NBA Northwest Division preview
01:24:48 – 2023-24 NBA Southwest Division preview